DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 July 1925, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

BY TEDBGEAPH —PBESB ABSS-, COPYEIOHT. HONEY POISONING. AUCKLAND, July 19. Messrs .1. Ren ton I and E. A. Karp, of Auckland, who have heen in \\ hakatane investigating the cause of honey poisoning in that district, had a long conference with Dr Wadmore and Mt P. Keegan, when poisoning both from bush and apiary honey was tolly reviewed.

Many cases of poisoning have been reported since the district was first settled, but no deaths have occurred except among natives when medical kelp was not available. The area affected was very limited, most of the eases being within a radius of 20 miles. Various causes have been suggested by local observers, but all have boon exploded by scientific investigation, and after 30 years the cause of poisoning remains a profound mystery. Nearly every-lease occurred through eating hush liotiey. The Health Department is now considering the advisability of making a thorough investigation by n trained botanist.

When a person has eaten honey that has been poisoned there are no evil effec ts till about five hours after, when the patient falls down in violent convulsions which last for several hours, the effects usually working off after a few da vs.

the. new party. WELULNGTDN, July 21. Mr Wilford. the Leader of the National Party, addressing the executive of the 11 lit b branch of tin 1 National Party last night, sa.id the National Party should break up any partnerJdp between money and power and in that way lies the gates of liberty. Under the National Party all could work for the «lmle ol the people and not some of the people. lie denied that the Liberals' bargaining for office in any new National Government formed by Mr Coates was the obstacle to fusion. Mr Coates had absolutely a free hand to select wliat Ministers he pleased.

LIGHTNING CHANGES. MR WI LEO I! I) AND MR COATES. AY ELLINGTON. July 21. “The Prime Minister," said Air Milford to-day, ‘‘was on very dangerous ground when he spoke of “lightning change artists at Palmerston North. We do not forget his lightning change in 11112, when he early in that year voted e infidi'itrr in l lie Reform Goveruiitonl against, the I.iherals; and the public will always remember his lightning changes and side-stepping ill the fusion negotiations. He stated ill flies" negotiations that his party was in favour of fusion. Inti when I said it should lake place immediately lie made a lightning change anil said he must carrv out Mr Massey’s programme first, and then he would consider the dal. again. When I pointed out that lie had the Minister’s resignations in his pocket fora reconstruction, he changed lias aft i I tide in a moment, and said that reeunsl ruetion was not practicable be thought. How you could have fusion nil bout reconstruction was a mystery to, Ilie. and. finally, when I told him I would leave the quest ion of purlin I i is eu reconstruction entirely to him he made a lightning change and ill dined absolutely to reconstruct. Surely il is dangerous for Mr Coates to talk ol lightning change artists. •■Mr ( nates lias certainly been plasticine ill I lie bands of a lew ot bis part v." roneUuled Mr Milford.

AY HALE STR.AKDKD. AUCKLAND. July 21. A rorqual whale, between lolly and fifty feet, in length had been stranded near the month of the. T'amaki river. The body was scarred, possibly the result, of attacks by sword-fish nr sharks. The whole is claimed by two men. Morgan and Bennett. CHARGE ADJOURNED. CflRrsTCnnUTI. July 21. Bert M'illiam Alimas, a private inquiry agent, was charged this morning with nine breaches of the Licensing Act. The case was adjourned fill July 29 th. OpoßSU.\r POACHING. •JoI SKINS FORFEITED. HIGH PRICE EOR SKINS. WELLINGTON". July 21. Spurred bv the knowledge licit good priie.s were obtainable for skins some opossum trappers decided to emulate the early bird and did not wait lor the official date of the trapping season in the Wellington A( elimaGsation district. Rangers .suspecting the occupants ot a camp in flu' Wairarapa were engaged in poaching opossums made a raid unheralded. and found 20-l skins whfifi they seized. The two l rappers subsequently laced the Magistrate, who ordered them to pay tines of live pounds each and directed that skins be forfeited. The skins were subsequently sold and realised seven shillings each. The lines and receipts from the sales went into the Aeeliinat is'it ion .'society's rollers. The season begins on Ist. July and lasts six weeks, and a license costs .iOs. in addition to which one shilling per skin in royalty lias to be paid. The number ol licenses issued this season, dl. is a record.

Tbe skins bring good prices and it is recorded that some which were sold by trappers lor a lew shillings two seasons ago were shipped lo New A oik where they realised 95 IBs each.

THE RAILWAYS. THE CARRIAGE OF GOODS. WELLINGTON. July 21.. The transport of goods (111 the radwavs. was the subject of a question m the House of Representatives recently, when Air F. J. Rollesion (iimarti) asked what was being done in the matter of extending the cash on delivery system. Inquiries at the Railway Department indicate that in ordei to g"e an efficient and up-o-daie service to users of the railways, facilities had already been put in operation. I here was'a svstem for the collection ol carriers' 'charges on consignments entrusted to t lie derm runout for delivery at office rod stations. Under this arrangement any carrier is able to onlee, Iron, the Railway Department all charges for the conveyance of packages j to the forwarding station, the latter, aiding this charge to the amount collected from the consignee at the iceeivino station and refunding the carrier’s charge to him. Many people were alread v availing themselves of this facility, and the convenience it presents in the transport of goods is causing an expansion of railway business over various sections. THE C’.C.C.'s Rr.GREIts. CHRISTCHURCH. July 21. ' The Council of Christian Oongrega,j,„s >-ist evening adopted a report ealiiuo" attention to Sir George Clifford’s statement that more racing days would be requested as well as the ietnoviil of certain restrictions. "<? no- . • i rc ,,r ret.*’ continues tlse lepoit. “that “the Premier’s association with the turf is quoted. AYc are slow to beMr Coates will signal,se h.s accession to office by flinging w.de the I ( i oo rs for further gambling.