DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 September 1924, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

nr tkleguaph—muss assn., cocyrigut. PACT Elo CONFERENCE. AYELRINOTOX, Septeinlior ]•">. Speaking of the recent Conleix-nee at Honolulu, one of the New Zealand representatives, Mr (!. M. Thomson, who returned liv the Makura, said ho thoupiit tlio C'onferonco had been suceossful and useful. Among the subjects discussed of great importance lo the country was tlio preservation of whales, seaßand other fur-hearing animals in the Pacific. This, he thought, would lie arranged eventually by an international agreement. The closer study of ocean currents, as they alfeeled the distribution of food lish, was likely to eventuate as the result of a discussion, and il would he of use to New Zealand. The quarantine section discussed parasites to cope with insect pests. It seemed to him that New Zealand was regarded as fairly clean, so for as fruit diseases are concerned, and that there was plenty of scope in New Zealand for apples. It was remarked that the supervision of exported apples at Auckland was scarcely severe enough. If the fruit were properly examined at this end, there was room for a much lugger trade in apples from New Zealand than at present.

He had deiinite information that the foot and mouth disease ill California had originated in garbage from army transport being fed to pigs. I he Hawaiian authorities had decided to preserve a stiiet quarantine for a future period. SIR JOSEPH. WARD. AVEiIjUXGTON, September 15. •Sir Josef Ii Ward returned from Australia to-ilav. Sir Joseph stated that he was struck with the advance ami the expansion of the Australian cities, particularly of Sydney and Melbourne, lie spoke of the danger of drawing too many people from the country to the cities. It would 'he an awkward problem to solve. lie spoke also of the currency question. and said that- if the note isMic in Australia, the limit of what was fixed, is now greatly extended, it- was to lie feared that there would lie ail inflation of values. Speaking relative to the high exchange rates, which have tig gravated the- [sisition in Australia and New Zealand, he stated this was having a pnjudicinl ell'eel ill tt.ll purls where miiiTi conditions prevail. •‘This question of exchange, must be grappled with." said Sir Joseph, “on a new basis.” He dot lined to discus's politics. LYTTELTON TENNER. CHItISTCJIL'ROII. Sept. 15. A public meeting to-night, attended by about lEOH representatives of town and country interests, adopted a resolution urging u[on the (hncrniiieiit the imperative necessity for the immediate duplication of the J.yttelloii Tunnel, it ml the electrification of the Port Railway Line, ami that 'ell'eel should he given without delay, to the repeated recommendations in this connection of the General Managers of Railways during tlie last decade. * The .Mayor of Christchurch ['resided, and suppei ting speeches were made by representatives of the Progress tl.ciigiie. Chamber of Commerce, and other city and provincial organisations ami local bodies. I.etleis supporting the agitation were l eiei' ed I l oin the Otago Expansion League. The Mayor ol Timani. ill..Mayor of Ashburton, the Chairmen of (lie Westland County ami the AYestl:tml Chamber of Commerce. SERB )ES CONS EOF ENCiKS PREDICTED. ASHBURTON. September 15. The decision of the Ashburton Electric Power Board to supply the Chairman. Mr E. W. Watt, with free power, in addition to his rennmeration of £20(1 a year, may have serious consequences. The Electric Power Boards Ait. 1013. seems clear on the point that the members milking the decision, and the chairman himself, have rendered themselves liable to disqualification from holding office, as well c.s lo lines id £.io each. It is understood that the matter lias come, under the untilo of llie Public Works Department, and that its undersecretary has written the Board enquiring if the decision is as stated. If such is the case, he points out. the provisions made in the Alt' applicable to sue.li a ease. Aloreuver. he emphasises that it is the duty of the Board to sell I'mtivr. not to give it. away, ami that l.he Chairman's roiiiiinornt.ion has Boon specihi idly limited to L"2do a year by the Minister of pitldie Works. The pprtioits of the A't cited are: Section 15. (Tause (i). sub CTan.se (g). THEFT CHARGES. DEN EDI X, September 15. John Selivyu Matthews, a Maori youth, was charged in the Police Court to-da.v. with having broken and enteroil Heaelilf Railway Station on September u. anil .stolen the stun "I CD IDs fid. the property of the Government, anil one gold expanding wristlet watch, valued at I'M, the property of tin Postmasler-Goiiornl, the total value being LID Ms (id. lie was charged with" on or about 22nd August, breaking ami entering the shop ol Alexandei Crow, of Soai'lilf, and stealing there from L's, one electric torch valued al I Is. the total value being L's I Is: am also with breaking and entering tin same shop in Eejitemher, and stealiu one box of chocolates, two padlocks one eh'i-t ri < - torch, two si 1100 l hags, : number of slumps, and three tliousain

rounds of ammunition, the total valm being L'S 2s. Accused pleaded guilty, and wa: committed for sentence. Bail in sell LSO, and one - surety of LAO was allowed.

ROBBERIES. AUCKLAND, Sept. 15. Erie Thompson, 21, charged at the Police Court with the theft of £IU 7s li-L the property of AV. and R. Fletcher, Ltd., pleaded guilty. Jn a .statement to the police, he sail that lie had taken the money at various times, hoping to repay it. He liai spent the money on pleasure. He was committed for sentence. GISBORNE. Sept. 15. The Post Office tit Mumituke was broken into on Saturday. Two par. eels, stamps, ami 35s in money were taken. The police arrested a younp native Ifore Akitira who was to-day remanded for a week oil a clr.irge ol burglary. ELDERLY LADY DROWNED. WIIAKATAXE, September 15. Ait elderly woman, M.iss Eileen Eras er, was found drowned in the AN haka lane river. .Site had been suffering from insomnia. A NIGHT IN THE SCRUB.

11.-ADY TKA.AIPERS’ 'EXPERIENCE. AYELLINGTOX, Sept. 10. Two young lady trampers left AN ellingtun on Sunday morning, intending to walk to Red Rocks round the coast, via Island Bay, past Happy A'alle.v. Front Red Rocks they .set out Millie head of the long gully, a rather strenuous walk, which, if continued, leads to Mount Hawkins, the highest peak behind. Instead of going on in this direction the girls decided to make for the Karori reservoir. They became tired and had to make a bivouac in the scrub for the night and- then managed to make their way home yesterday. Meantime their parents and friends became alarmed and organised search parties, whose services, happily, were not needed. hut the brother and father of one of the girls spent a night in the scrub, searching, and had a rough experience.