DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 December 1923, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

rit v TELEGRAPH-—PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

MAiirjA iiot springs. REEKTON, Dee. The little known hot spring- in the Ahinliu district, which i- the Wo.it Coast counterpart of the thermal region on the opposite side of the ranges, are attracting some attention this year. Ii is now realised that they have great potentialities as a cure lor rheumatism and other ailments, and they will probably attract increasing numbers ot touri'i-.

The Alaruia district is t?M miles Iron; lieefton. and the valley extends lor till miles. The sulphur springs are about eight miles from the Springiuneiion post office, which is at the entrance to .Manila. It is necessary 1.. engage horses for the trip to the springs, as the .Maruia river has to he lorded. Part of the track is in good order and passes through superb scenery. An accommodation hut has been built at the sulphur baths for the convenience of visitors, and at present workmen are engaged in laying down baths in concrete.

This district is expected to become a favourite holiday resold, as apart from the hot springs, the bush section is very attractive. The. Ada country and Lewis Saddle can lie seen towards the cast. Tiie visitors’ hook shows that tourists have been to the springs from [daces as distant as Singapore and Ireland, and the remarks indicate satisfaction with the visit. In the district it is believed that ti,.‘ main road from Canterbury, under the main highways si heme. will past Uir.mgTi Alarum, and if it does, great timber iv-iuiroes will he lapped. The motor-ear road from Reelton. which [lasses the Alexander reel's, provides good access to the district.

A I>Y ERTISIXG OX TRAAIS. WKLI.IXOTOX, Dee. 7. Tramway advertising has been 'he subject of a gi.#d deal of eritiei-.i.” lately on the ground that Lite City Council' (otidnet of matters cunneetei) with i his ha- not been in the best interests of !he ratepayer". The critics complain Dial the com: eil’s propo-als for Die neeeptanee of a !!(•’.', eon tract will iuveh, e ratepayerin an inn.roper burden ol L-DOo :r LllitJU. A legal firm has now written to Dm Council on helmil ol certain object j". intimating that unless t l.e prop.)-.,.,-; are rescinded action will lie taken u prevent the completion of the mtu-act with the tenderers, whose offer is about Lmilli!) less than that of ■oitiji Img linns. DEPORTATION. WKI.LIXCTOX. Dee. 7. Percy Heiiam, aged till. ehaig"d with assaulting a man as well as ol m r charges. was lielore the rnurt. S ,h----lii'peetor Cummings said the aeeu-ed was ;i notorious criminal on the oilier side. Tlio police would end--, vour to get him deported back to w:-i -a m. He was remanded to enable the \o nudities to be complied with. THE C ROCKICV TRAD!-:. ACCKI.AXD, Dee. r. The effect on the business ol inanufactuiefs as a result of price-cut ting 1 by retailers »>. brougitt under the notice of the exeetive of Du- Industrial ('orpnrai ion of New Zealand by the New /.eaiaml .Master Croerr.s' .C----seel.ll leu. The latter asked tlmi le11 l*i •• nla lives ol the eor[io|-ml ion he present at the Association's conference, opening here on January L’-'th, so that the vexed question. of [nice regulation might la- discussed.

Till. |n 1 r.miK'iit (.Mr Alliiiii) said ii should bo iii-niiisslblo (’or trades to coiabiiir- to !ix prices in the interests Of their industry ■ -übii'ct to invcstigaLion i.y file Itoaid ot Trade. It Mas liecn lei t to ml vise tile Association Unit tlie .scope of tlie corporatimi did not endirac;. the question of price fixation, lint the corporation would he represented at the eotdereti'-e. KAH Winy l-TiO.M lIOAIE. AYELLIXCTOX, Dee., 7. Cattle and sheep and other domestic animals, says the "Post,” arc common freight l,y oversetis vessels coniine to New Zealand, so that they soon lose their novelty and are regarded in much tlie same 1 ity 1 11 as a piano case of a box of hardtvare. Insects, however, which require careful attention throughout the voyage, are another matter, .included in the cargo list of the Huaiiine. uhich is mm discharging l.omlon mc-rehamlise at Wellington. is an entry for two cases of earwigs, sent from Home to the Cawtliron Institute at Xelson. .Many and varied were the ins! ructions lor feeding the insects on the passage, and it is io tl:e credit of their attendants that the majority, at least, have reached the Dominion safely. Several of those which died were eaten liv their fellows.

It is stated that this particular brand ot earwig is intended tor usi' in apple orehards, w here it is very effective fit eotiiii iMiietin.y apple blight. STERILISATION OF Tiff. I XFIT. WFI.UXCTOX. Dee. t;. •It" Hoard ot Health hits given lengthy i orisiderat ion to the question of sterilisation of the unfit, and has decided to ask the -Minister t„ ask Dr •I. S. Elliott and the lion W. 11. 'lnggs, AI.L.C. to represent the Hoard ■ lit the committee of departmental experts which it is proposed to set up lor the purpose of reporting on the subject

C ROAIWELL FLAT SCHEME. DI'XFDI X, Dee. 0. The eflorts ot the Cromwell Development Company to irrigate Cromwell Flat with water from the Ivawarau river, have at last been brought- to fruition, the pumping plant having been Wednesday, and delivered the' Uiueli desired water to the tint. The successful culmination of the scheme may lie regarded as a matter of importance, not only to the Cromwell district, hut to the whole of the province. Io ninny who have taken an interest in the development of Central Otago it is the beginning of an era of prosperity which will assist Otago to regain her commercial prestige of other years, and to rival our sister cities of the north, which in many ways have outdistanced us. The importance of the scheme may he gauged by the fact that when the plant is it; full working order, it will irrigate no less an area than -1000 acres. At present the district is chiefly devoted to fruit growing, hut it is probable that dairying and other branches of fanning may be introduced after the place has been irrigated. "The' turning on of the water," said Air I*. R. Sargood, of Sargood. Soil and Ktven. who has been the leading spirit in the concern, "will mean the beginning of a new era. We have waited for th* water for a long, long time, operations first being commenced about If) IT." A NIGHT PROWLER. C'HRISTCHrPiCIT, Dee. S. Albert Smithson, aged 28. was charged with vagrancy, and with being found at mid-night roaming about

the fire escape of the Salvation Army People's Palace, minus his boots, which lie had placed at Die bottom of the ladder. A constable said he found him leaning through the window of two young women. Evidence was aDo given by a woman hoarder that he had refused to leave her window unless she kissed him good night. None of the witnesses knew tiie accused. The deli-nee was that he had been drinking after coining in from Hie country, but lie admitted that lie had exhibited a certain amount of cunning in removing His hoofs.

He was convicted and remanded lor a week. DPI I’M CARRIER. PALAIERHTOX X.. Dee. 8. At the Alagistrate's Court. Anadtasios Alakres Jierdebcs. a Creel;, ph-aded guilty to being in possession of opium suitable for smoking. Counsel explained that a Chinaman gave the accused the opium to sell. The accused was an ignorant man. knowing little English. He became frightened, and did nothing. He had the opium in his possession when arrested. The police stated the. accused was not so simp-le as lie made oul, and was trying to sell the opium, whose value lie knew. The accused was lined Toil. the. opium to he handed i the Customs authorities. I-IRK AT HTXTI.Y. Al t ELAND. Dec. 8. The Miners' Hall at Huntlv liebeen destroyed by lire. The insurance on the hall is CtkIJT; that mi tne luruiture £1101). and on the plant TJOO.