DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 December 1924, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

DY TELKGRAPn-— i*ltE33 ASSN , COPYRIGHT. COLONEL COLLINS DEAD. )\ KLIXGTOX, December 2. The death i.s recorded of Colonel R. ■f. Collins, C.M.G., T. 5.0., who was prominently connected with j-itic shooting competition*. Deceased was Controller and Auditor-General for a number ol years, hut retired some mouths ago on superannuation.

A BIG SUIT. AUCKLAND, December 2. Evidence for the plaintiff was commenced, including that of the Doctors. The case was adjourned, and will be continued to-morrow. FATAL QUARREL. GORE, December 2. A meeting near Gore, between two farmers, neighbours, in Feindale disirie 1 last night had fatal consequences, Donald Cameron losing his life in a fracas which developed, .lolin .luuor met Cameron whom he states was the worse of liquor, and the two had a few drinks. A dispute developed over the question of coming to Gore, Jnnor in a statemen to the polic-c, saying Cameron issued a threat that he would thrash .Timor for not obeying him. Blows were exchanged, and .Jtutor, in. self-de-fence, struck Cameron pretty hard twice, Cameron falling on the road. Cameron rose and rushed .furor who defended himself by striking again and Cameron fell on the metalled road and did not rise. Assistance of a traveller was obtained and a doctor was called hut life was extinct, .furor says Cameron and lie were the best of friends, lie hit Cameron only in self-defence.

An inquest will he held to-morrow. Deceased was about 1(1 years of age and n married man. r LOGGING FATALITY.

COROMANDEL. December 2

fn Mahakirau hush on Saturday, while lowering a log down a gully by meals of a wire rope. T. Egan met with injuries, which resulted in his death in the hospital. Owing to tin* weight of tli" log. Egan was unable to retain his hold of the rope, the end of which struck him on the head.

A EIRE. AUCKLAND. December 2. A lire yesterday afternoon destroyed an incubator factory at Ellcrslie, the property of .1. A. Pond; also the stock ami fittings. The loss is estimated at about £I2OO. Insurances total £OSO. in a New Zealand office.

A PERTINENT QUESTION. AUCKLAND, Dec. 2. Sir Harold Beauchamp, in an address to the Industrial Association, pointed outi that when wool was realising L'S 0s Sd per hale, exchange was 12s (id. equivalent to Is (id per hale. To-day the same wool was valued at £lO and the exchange per hale is 225. or 20s (id more.

Which, he asked, is the better low prices fur wool end low exiTiange, or high prices and high exchange ! lie intimated there would hi* a surplus of exports over imports this year of lit millions, which while increasing the exchange difficulty, ought slili to place the country in a very comfortable position.

AGRICULTURAL PANIC SCI IKM I* AUCKLAND, Nm. 28.

I’inaiiee was the chief need of settlers to-day. said the lion .1. G. Coates, speaking at Waimaukn yesterday, and the money was wanted at a reasonable rate of interest. At the same time it was no use toying with schemes-such as the proposed farmers’ hank unless there was a reasonable chance that it would make ehenpnr money available, and he could see no prospect that such a scheme would do so. It was no use saying that either lie or Parliament was out of sympathy with agricultural hanking. Farmers were the most numerous class in the House, and they were inilv too anxious that money

si Id !,<■ fool'd I'nr land at a reasonable pi i,. 1 1 bad not yet been shown. Itov ever. Inm money could 1,.. nblaiiied mme , beaply b\ a farmers' bank. Il was no ii-c starling a fiasco 11 1 :• I w ould not luce! Ihe farmer’s need. Mr Coates said he was not going into the arguments fur a farmers’ bank, but be was for it if it could be shown to be of use. At the same time, the fanners could not ask the rest of the Dominion to guarantee a scheme to lend money cheaply, or for nothing at all. and accept an unlimited liability; otherwise they would be giving to one class what they could not- give to another. The Prime Minister was ready to liud up to CISD.OJO for a land banking scheme, but be could not mortgage lbi> country for £23.1 11>3.1 HI!I or (.'2.1.333.33. even if lie Were prepared to. The scheme showed no prospect ol providing money cheaper nr as cheap as it could lie got from other sources.

INQl"l’>T ON JOCKEY. AUCKLAND. December ?. At tin* imruest 'on the jockey. McFl.vnii. Doinluoski said he lode Golden Sovereign in the Melrose Handicap. MeFlynn was riding Passionate and was just in front cl him. lie was un the rails. Riyce was riding Mereiilean. about two lengths in front of Passionate. Witness saw Herculean fall ami he seemed to cross his legs and roll round towards the rails. MeFlynn swerved but was unable to avoid a collision. Passionate fell under Herculean wlm threw MeFlynn on to the rails. Witness’ horse fell umbo- lietwo lueses and In* was thrown. M’hcre tile horses fell the course was al raigli l. The inquest lias been adjourned sine die.