DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 August 1924, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT. FA It KY .MARK KT CAR DKXIXC, AUCKLAND, Au;tist 2(1. Karly potaloes Inin; high prices, anil the earliest district arminil Auekluud is in the T'itiran;i ttml AYaitakere ran;e.s. One lot of “ earlies " is reported to have brou;ht !)d ))er pound for the Chri'teliureli market. A paragraph referrin; to potiitoes in the Runeiman district caused all Oratia man to remark: "Call that early!' Up in the hills wo (lit; our early ‘spuds’ week's a;o.” It is not ;eaerally known to city lieople that a belt ol eountry aloti; the ran;es never lias frost, and, while the city and suburbs experience frosty ni;!its, the warm air that has risen with the apprpaeh of evening lies along the northern fact; of Hie ranges. It is a common experience for the hilldwellers to note the difference when travelling home from tlie city. 'This belt of frost-free country is about aOO to (io() feet above the sea level and the soil is rich, semi-volcanic loam. As the district is specially suited for lemons, oranges, early potatoes, passion fruit, etc., and produce can Is* taken into the city ill forty-live minutes, hy motor-lorry, it will probably be extensively developed in the near future.

FATAL ACCIDKXT. DUNKDIX, August 27. . (I'eorgo Webster, a greaser on the a Rtialiinc, which is liertlied at l’ort i- Uimliiier.s, fell dimvit a ladder into the - loreeastle, and died of a fractured skull. Deceased was a single man, aged ml years, and a native of Scoti,i land. * COAL MIX'K IDLK. fXYKRCARCII.L. August 27. i The Linton Coal .Mine is idle, owing e to the iniuci's demand fur increased ' ]ay for solid and ] iliai* working. The ” trouble is regarded as vmt, likely to spread. DKFKXCK MIXISTKR. ; ORDKRKI) A RKST. 1 WMI. 1,1 XOTOX. August 27. Acting on the orders of liis medical , adviser, the Minister of Dcfrnce. lion. Sir R. Heaton Rhodes will leave ini' Christchurch to-morrow night to take a week's lest. The Minister lias denied a rumour that he i.s reconsidering his previ hi- ly :innonik cd intention not to .stand for rc-olt'tion ta Parliament at tin- next general election. Sir Heaton Rhodes stated that lie had already infrniicd his constitlieilts at KHesmerc that lie "as txt going to stand again, and lie would not now go back on that a’.iaamieenient. XC.UO STRAMIKD. XKLS’OX, August 27. The heaviest leg ex|ci iem ed at Xelson for many years sett'ed down last evening, and eoiitifined till 10 o'cluck this moniiug. Sliij ; ing had great dil(i nitv in lindiiig the eiilrani'e to the Inirbarr. tlie Xgaio hovering oir for several hours. The fil'd launeh went cut In elide. iveiir li give the direct ion. and while st doing in the tlihl; log direilel the Xgaio slightly to the southward. and at lmlf-past nine the ves- -.-! grounded on a sand hank on the other side of the channel. Owing to file ebb tide the ves*e] was tillable to get. oir. and wi’l remain there until three (T'liH; this aft el noon. The passengers were taken to the wharf 1 1 v the Regains. The sea. i.s beautifully (aim. and it i- not expeefe | that there \'. ill be any damage. The Vessel is e.xre-icd to sail for Wellington this evening as usual. REFLOATED. NELSON". August 27. The Xgaio was rell(ial"d on the in((lining till.'. She sailed as usual for Wellington this evening. ( OM PLAINT AOAIXST 111 "ITT IFRS. CHRISTCHURCH. August 2S. At a meeting of Hie Xnrth Canterbiirv llraiudi of the T'armer.s' Union, n letter 1 1 mu the Oxford hralich stat'd llistt- the position with regard to the ■ sale of both veal and pork at tlie Addington market wax inistiti.sfarlory to producers. Instead of these eoiilicodi lies being submitted to the lompetiiien ef I lie several bulehcrs, ii up) ear* tliat in each ease the butchers have (i.n'.liiiied and up] oinied a buyer vie. buys fer each and :dl, thereby ehii’ ,* Hating both (omietition and getting the stiilf at his own price. The matter was ii'ferivd to the dairy coinniittee.