DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 January 1926, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

[tty i’KLEOHiPH—PEB PRESS ASSOCIATION.] STAMPS, MAILS AND TELEGRAMS. ’XMAS BUSINESS SHOWS INCREASE. WELLINGTON, January C. The sale of stamps in eighteen of tho principal offices in New Zealand during the holidays reached £27,824, an increase of eight per cent. The number of bags and hampers handled was 75,852. an increase of 24 per cent. Telegrams also show a considerable increase.

In Wellington 1,329 parcels were bandied in one day, which is a record.

BOY CYCLIST’S DEATH. WELLINGTON, January !. Because be feared a. dog which had attacked Him a few days previously. X'orman .Mahon Marshall, a lad of 11 years, residing at Waterloo road. Lower TJutt. lode bis bicycle on to the footpath on. New Year’s Eve to avoid the animal. On account of high gorsc hedges, lie did not perceive that Colonel Chesiicy was driving bis ear .out on to the road, the bicycle striking the side of the motor and throwing Marshall to the ground. The boy got up. and was able to wheel bis bicycle home, but later in the evening he became restless, contracted cerebral haemorrhage, and died early on Saturday morning.

Evidence of this character was given al the inquest before Mr W. G. Biddell. S.M.. Coroner, yesterday, when ii was shown that, when struck, the lad appeared to he quite unhurt. He

was not badly cut by tho fall. The coroner returned a verdict that deceased met his death from cerebral haemorrhage and shock following injuries received in the accident. VALUE OF LUPINS. WELLINGTON, January 4. proposal of the Manawatu County Council to bring lupins under the Noxious Weeds Act, has recently been exercising ihe minds of Foxton beach residents, who realise the great value of holding together the numerous sand dunes in Ibat vicinity. The matter came before the annual meeting of residents of the Mamiwatu Heads on Saturday evening, when mention, was made of a letter which had appeared in the Press from the lion. Edward Newman. .M.L.C., an authority on tiie value of lupins for the purpose mentioned.

-Mr Naim stated that lie considered the Manawatu County Council’s proposal‘was detrimental lo the interests ol residents of the beach. The eoneen~u- of opinion was that the lupins had lullillcd a good purpose in arresting the sand drift, and thus enabling grass to Like hold on places that were previously shifting sand.

It was unanimously decided that a deputation should wail upon the Manaivatu Counly Council at: its next meeting to urge that the question of the usefulness of the lupins as a shelter in the adorestatiou scheme which is being carried out on the bench from Foxion to t!i<> Rangitikei River should be oine into before any drastic steps are taken in the direction proposed.

ARBITRATION COURT WELLINGTON Jan. -!

Hi a lev. (hn-. noiiiiiqilious "ill hi tailed tor (la- positions of nsw-ssui’ and acting assessors on the Arbitralio; Court, as the present appointment lapse next- March. At the last, meet ing ol lhe Wellington Trades and Lab our Council ij was decide 1 to unmiu ate Mr A. !.. .Monfeil.li. who was re centlv ilcteulcd us member for Welling foil East in lire House of Bcnresenta lives, as employees' asossnsr. Mr Moil teitli i-sued a circular denning his pol icy as a nominee. The preseni work ers’ representative is Mr Hiram Hun icr, who lias served on the Court I'm the past three years.

Mi Hunter lias circularised the various unions soliciting further support this year, as he is willing to accept: nomination for a second term. lie stales, inter alia, that lie thinks lie can fairly claim that the decisions of the Court, during the past, throe years will compare al least favourably with those given dining any period since the Court was established. It. is anticipated that nominal ions will also lie made for the position of workers’ assessors from Auckland and Christchurch. Air T. Hloodworth is mentioned as a possible nominee b,v Auckland unions, and MV C. Benn by Christchurch bodies. There is also likely to be a. contest for the office of deputy-assessor for the workers, to act in the event of the inability through sickness or other cause, of the main assessor Lo sit. The present occupant of this office is Air M. E. Sill, of Christchurch.

No intimation lias been made by Mr Yd. Scott, the employers’ nominee, on tho Court, that lie is not prepared to net for a further term, and ii: is not considered likely that be will be opposed. Nor dees it seem probable that there will be any other nomination for Hie position ol acting-assessor Ilian that of Mr B. !.. Hammond, who has acted on occasions in the course ol the past three years in the place of Air Keott. ATHLETICS. AUCKLAND, Jan. 5. The. liner Niagara, which arrived this afternoon from Vancouver, brought the American athletes. Jackson V. Sobol/., and Lloyd Hahn, who are to tour Now Zealand. Schulz is the world's greatest sprinter, while llaliu is a great distance runner, am! lias twice beaten the records*?iehl by Nurmi. When seen on board the boat, the Visitors reported a great trip, and said that they were in excellent condition, and were looking lorward to their tour of New Zealand. They were met on arrival by Air W. Alorlon (Secretary ol the Auckland Centre ot the N.Z. Amateur Athletic Assoeiatoin), and Air Guy (a member of the N.Z. Council, Welington). Arrangements are being made to give the visitors a fitting welcome.

Abb WOOL BACKS. WELLINGTON, Jan. 4. The question of manufacturing the new all-wool packs in New Zealand mentioned at the last meeting of the Poverty Bay Farmers’ Union, received further consideration, -when replies were received from six of tho eew Zealand mills.

None of the mills had seen samples of the new packs, so they were unable to give any estimate as to the probable cost of 'manufacture. One of them said that if the price in England was to be 18s 6d the bales would have to be used more than once. The manager of the Kaiapoi mill struck an original note when ho said: “ALiy I suggest that I think farmers would do much greater good and improve the value of their wool more ii they paid a gieat deal more attention to the uool befoie it reaches the bale, and not worry so much about- the bale.” It was to bis mind rather ridiculous to suggest that most of the crossbred wools which had seeds and other foreign matter in them should be packed in woollen bales. PORT OF AUCKLAND. AUCKLAND, Jan. 2. Importations of almost every kind of manufactured goods into the port of Auckland increased during 1925 as compared with 1924. Although the trade of the port has not been abnor-

mal, it has shown a steady increase. The German trade has been growing steadily since the war, but it is by no means large. The great bulk of imports come from Great- Britain and tlie United States. The importations of motor vehicles during 1925 increased about 10 per cent, on tlie importations for 1924. It is estimated that the total value of motor vehicles imported into tlie Dominion during 1925 will approximate £4,000,000. There are many new makes coming on ttlic market, and this in some measure lias accounted for the increase. It is expected that the importations of tyres during 1925 will lie nearly doubled as compared with the previous 12 months. Importation of electrical machinery into the port of Auckland has been well maintained, and in view of the hydro-electric development, it is confidently anticipated Hint the importations will increase greatly during the next few years.

Importations of tobacco and spirits have also boon well maintained. The rate of duty on tobacco during 1925 was 8d per lb. less than during 1921, but on account of the increased importations the revenue for 1925 lias not depreciated to any great extent. Importation of sugar has shown a fair increase, and the importations of drapery, soft goods and motor spirit all show marked increases.

THE RECENT EARTHQUAKE WELLINGTON. Jan. G. The seismograph records of Monday’s earthquake were not completely satisfactory, but Doctor Adams says the indications are that the shake was only moderate and local. Its action was mione vertical iilian horizontal. Naturally, people in the tall buildings on reclaimed ground felt the vibrations more severely than the others.

THE TAHITI TROUBLE. WELLINGTON, January G. The Tahiti, which had trouble with her crew at Sydney over their Christmas dinner, which the men considered was unworthy of the occasion, came to Wellington without the crew, being worked by officers, engineers and sonic volunteers among the passengers who had sea experience. A difficulty cropped up here yesterday in securing a complement to carry the ship on to Sail Francisco, no one offering for awhile, but a.t last sufficient men were obtained by tlie exercise of the spirit of compromise on either side and the steamer got away at 8.45 for Rarotonga, Papeete and ’Frisco. As she was pulling out her siren jammed, and the Tahiti left the harbour with her whistle sounding a blast that continued till she was well down the harbour. It seemed as if she bad taken the role of a chanticleer crowing defiance to anv who should attempt to delay Iter going upon her lawful occasions.