DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 February 1925, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

BY TELEGRAFH— TRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT. BREEDING EWES. BIG MOIJS FOR ADDINGTON. GISBORNE, February 2. Within the next three weeks close on ,’’0,001) breeding ewes, drawn from all parts of Poverty Bay, will he shipped to Lyttelton, for sale at Addington. Never before have so many sheep been shipped from the district in so .short a time, hut the unprecedented demand for good breeding ewes has caused local breeders to rush the southern market. Tn former years many ewes have been sent to the South Island front Poverty Bay, hut the usual practice lias been to spread the shipments over a period of about three months. The market at Addington is particularly good this year, and farmers are therefore desirous of getting their stocksold a.s early as possible. Already several shipments 'have been made, ai the price at which the ewes have been sold represent a fair profit to the vendors.

By far the greatest proportion of the sheep leaving the district will he shipped from Gisborne. 'Flic Parera will probably load at Wnikokopu, the present intention being that she will lift a load of about 1500 next Friday. There are now about 10,000 sheep on the way hack to Gisborne from Wnikokopu. Three of the U.S.S. Company’s steamers will he employed in the work, the Rakanoa. Flora, and Wannkn, and they will make repeated trips to Lyttelton. There has each year heen an exodus of breeding owes about this time, but never previously lias it been so substantial, for in addition to the shipments to the South this year, there have heen many thousands of ewes sent through to the Waikato. It is almost certain that there will he a shortage of ewes later in the season, hut the effect of prices remains to he seen.

SWORDFISH AND SHARK. AUCKLAND, February 2. Mr Marsden Caughey, who caught the lirsl swordfish of the season is still putting up a record, having on Thursday last in the launch Phillis lauded alter an hour’s exciting play the largest mako shark so far captured. It tipped the scales at 32011). One the same trip he also caught another mako shark weighing 1701 b. These fish were got off Cape Brett ami Bird Rock. Mr Samuel Ludhrnok, of Gisborne, in his launch Ozone, also had good sport, capturing on Friday a 21!)lb mako shark after thirty minutes’ play. Its length was 7ft 7in and girth 3ft Min. A well-known big fish sportsman, Mr Alma Baker, of Malay States, accompanied by Mr Znno Grey, the author, is expected here some time in March, which is about two months too early to give the American a whale, but a big swordfish will lie thrilling enough for even the writer of “Wildfire.” AUSTRALIAN LAMB EXPORT. WELLINGTON, February 3. The Now Zealand .Meat Producers' Board has received a cable Imm its representative in Australia advising that 1 1,205 carcases of Ia mb were exported from Australia for the fortnight ended January 3, I!I25. \ GENEROUS OFFER. WANGANUI. Fch. 3. A Palmerston sportsman lias written tin., “ Chronicle ” sporting editor, stilting his willingness to stake CIO!) on behalf of Hannan for a sculling race between Hadlield and Hannan, over nny three and a quarter mile course, the Wanganui, for preference. The sportsman, who desires to remain anonymous in the meantime, says he is unacquainted with Hannan. hut makes the offer in the interest nf sculling generally, and with the desire to see the championship of the world won fiv a New Zealander.

COM/ rxQriKV board. W FSTPORT. Feb. :l The Railway Coal Inquiry Ihiard. which has been visiting (he local nines in the Hnllor district, opens its inrjuiry ni, Westport to-morrow morning. A M.VCIT.STRATFkS ACTION', v Ei/rriAAf. Fob. The press was excluded from the Juvenile Court to-day by Air Alowlem, Ft. Al.. when a telegraph messenger was charged with stealing a gold engagement ring from a tea room, where he had called for refreshments for the postal staff.

Two hoys were also charged with unlawfully taking a. motor ear. One of ilie latter"i.s already on probation. The Magistrate refused to admit three press representatives, and the cases were heard in chnmbeds, although the charges were more or less serious. I'nder Section 125 of the Justices ol the Peace Act. a. Magistrate has no power to exclude accredited ueuspapei representatives. The decision reopens the controversy which arose in Auckland some months ago. fn all other towns the press are admitted to juvenile proceedings. When the Court resumed the Magistrate made no announcement as to his decision to the reporters, who ascertained that the ring theft charge had been dismissed. In the motor ease, toe previous offender was admitted to probation for three years, and the other bov for one year. A PRISONFP KILLED. WELLINGTON'. Feb. -L

A tragedy occurred at the Terrace Gaol. A prisoner, Harry Brown, single, aged 52. and who was serving a sentence for vagrancy, was employed picking day from a bank about, nine feel high on the gaol grounds when a tall of°carth buried him up to the neck. He was extricated without delay, hut succumbed to his injuries.