DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 February 1924, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

OPIUM HEALER FTNMI)

CHRISTCHURCH. 'Fob. H. As the result of a police raid on a Chinese meeting hull in .Minims St. yesterday, when it big haul of opium was made. l.on Kon fihonng was lined £d(> and rests, the maximum penalty, J on a charge of being found in possession of opium in n form suitable for smoking. He was lined £A ior unlawfully smoking opium. The prosecution Stated the accused had been doing a retail trade in opium. Apparently lie brought, the opium from Wellington. SACK OF ROMNEY SIIKKC. INVERCARGILL. February R. The dispersal sale of the RMnfield Romney stud eontmeneed to-day. Th - attendance was very large, nil parts < 1 Uie Hum inion being -represented r.s well as South American and Chatliam l.slainl breeders. The slmep were, penned in good order and were a credit to the breeder, Mr A\ . I). Hunt. Ridding wa> lively from the outst’t and big prices were paid for the best pens, the record of 2-t guineas being secured by Wright. Stephenson and Co., while other prices in the twenties also were laid. Towards the completion of the ran, .sale, prices flagged considerably.

ns the sale was held far too early for ! Ita al men. The average for 080 thick | ram-, was 8:1 guineas. Thirty rams go] to the Argentine, including the toppriced pens. Gisborne, Tolaga Ray. Wanganui. Auekland and Chatham Island breeders all nought heavily. The top priees for two-tooth ewe.s were 1, guineas per head, several pens reaehi) g this figure, Southland buyers securing those. Messrs boisel and Holden Poverty Ray, also secured outstanding pens. To-day’s sale netted £701)2, the average per sheep being Of) Ms A MUNIFICENT REN EFACTii ESS ASlilU'liTOX. Eeh. 11. The gift of JSitlOO sterling to A-h----burtou Public Hospital retails the characteristic generosity of the donor. .Miss Jane Chalmers. This brings her total hospital benelaelions to t'oOiM within two years, including £-*'p!:l lor tile women’s wa:d. and £100.) lor llie jmnv operating theatre. The latest gif:, permits the completion of the women’s will'll, whose cost exceeded the estimate. The Chairman of the -Building Committee stated that .Miss Chalmers' manner of giving was the nicest thing he ever experienced# Mis- Chalmers is the representative of a pioneer Canterbury wheat growing lamily still residing at the original homestead, established In the early days In her late uncles. The Government, subsidies I ling illtotal up to eleven thousand. COST OF THE RAILWAYS, IH'NEDIX, Feh. 11. The Hon J. CL Coates received a number of deputations this morning, regarding local matters. The Otago Expansion League asked encouragement for the tourist trallie at Wakatipu by means i,f week-end excursion rates fimii the first Saturday to the first Wednesday in each month after (lie tourist season was over. .Mr .iteVilly stated that the Department, tried its utmost to induce trallie In this line with dismal disappointment, ami could not justify the cool inn:! t ion el Ihe arrangement, which result."d in a loss. The Minister staled that he and Mr MeVillv were going over all the New Zealand lines to conn: to a decision icgarding the deviation. duplications, electrifications, etc. There were great. diHieulties. as the running cost had risen I rum Is 2d per mile to Ills 2d.

THE 1.1 ABBOI'R TRAGEDY. WELLINGTON, l-'el.. 11. The inquest on Mary Ihmlcn McArthur. one of the two vielims of Eriday night's harbour tragedy, has opened. Edgar Percy Hailey, stoker of the cruiser Chatham, one of the launch party, said that the ferry Cobar was too close when seen for the launch to evade her, and apparently tin* Cobar made no attempt to give vva.v. When the launch humped, Miss Day jumped overboard and the others fell out. Witness got the launch dinghy and picked it]) Miss Day and another stoker. Me asked the Captain ol the Cobar for a boat, as the dinghy was half full of wider. The Captain replied that In' had not enough men, only two dock hands. Passengers volunteered to man a boat, hut the Captain said that was against the rules of the Ferry (Ymipany. Other witnesses gave corroborative evidence. All said there wars no liquor .aboard the launch. The inquire was adjourned for a weelc. WAXOANTI WOOL SALK. WAXGAXLL Feh. 10. The third wool sale of the season commenced on Saturday night, with a full bench of buyers from till countries, itnd the catalogues were fairly representative. The wool consisted mainly of late shorn clips, which were somewhat dull in appearance. Although light in appearance, it fair amount of seed was noticeable, and generally speaking the wool was rather tender in staple. The total catalogues to be submitted amount to 16,000 bales-, of which over “000 were auctioned on Saturday, equalling ff-j per rent of the offering. Competition was general and frilly keen. A feature of the sale was an exceptional demand by the French houses for good style lambs' wool. Cruteliings also met a keen demand. Competition for fleece wool and pieces, in comparison with the sales in other centres, was well maintained and the prices showed a decided increase on those of last Wanganui sale. Ten halos of merino realised 27.R1 per lb. Slipe lambs’ wool sold up to 28!d.

TELEPHONE COXXECTIOX. XLI..SOX AXD WEST COAST. XELSOX. February !). Application lias been made by Mr H. Attnore. M.P. for Xelson, to the Postmaster-General for teleplione connexion between Xelson and Westport and Greymoutb. 'Die position at present is that Xcbon can communicate with Christchurch but- not with the West Coast towns mentioned, though Westport and Greymmul. can eommnnicate with Christchurch. In view of the extensive trading done between Xelson and the Coast, it is felt that these places are entitled to 1«? connected up by telephone, and it is hoped that the representaions being made by Mr Atnioro will have the favourable consideration of the' Postmaster-General.