DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 January 1926, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

[BY TKLEOIUPH—PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.}

THE SHIPPING STRIKE. WELLINGTON, January 7. When the strike on overseas vessels fizzled out two months ago, fears were expressed that it would lie impossible to get sufficient tonnage to London and hack in time for the usual New Year rush for primary products. The situation, however, is so satisfactory from a tonnage viewpoint Unit one large overseas steamer lias actually had to wait oil the coast for cargo to (ill up this month.

Several causes contributed to solving flic problem which a month ago seemed to he serious for producers. The meat season has heen backward, killings at

New Zealand works being' smaller than at the same period last year, while the slump in dairy produce on Ihe Ui'Ygfisb market caused shippers to cancel space hooked for January. The Dairy Export Control Hoard is regulating shipments this season, so that Britain will receive supplies of New Zealand dairy produce nearly the whole year round instead of shipments tor the .season being practically completed in June. It. is intended to regulate them in order to maintain supplies throughout July. Then the new season’s production will commence in

August. This year has been poor for dairy output. The first month’s figures showed a 14 per cent drop on the. whole Dominion, and the position has not improved. Though the country south of Onmaru Is looking well. Canterbury. Wnirarnpa and North Auckland have been suffering from lack of rain. WEATHER IN DECEMBER.

WELLINGTON. Jan. 7. The following is the Government Meteorologist's siiiiiinnrv of (be weather during the month of December:— Warm, dry. and windy weather was

experienced during the mouth in most parts of the Dominion, hut the contrast lietwcen the East Coast of the ’North Island and the West Coast of .the Smith Island was most marked. The former had hardly any rainfall, and suffered from drought, while the latter had much more than its large average, on account of deluges from two severe westerly storms, which particularly affected Westland and the Southern Alps. The snow melted on the mountains from the combined effect of the warm weather and the Kohn wind, and on the East Coast of the South Island rivers were flooded h.v them without anv local rainfall. The first flood came from the heavy rains which set in on the evening of December 3, and continued on December 4, the totals for the two days being 3.63 inches at Greymoiitli, 4.(50 inches at Ross, 1(5.30 inches at Otira. and 10.98 inches at Arthur's Bass. For tne three days, December 9. 10. and It, the sums of the falls were 3.83 inches at Greymouth, 5.48 inches at Ross, 14.20 inches at Otira. and 11.88 inches at Arthur's Pass. The rainfall was excessive along the high country from Tophousc to Queenstown, hut deficient on the east side of the ranges. 1 lie vegetation of these regions shows a very pronounced and prcnianoiit demarcation, which, is brought into notice by these two westerly storms. There were other westerly disturbances (luring the month, and only one ex-tropical disturbance, which passed too far north to benefit Hawke’s Ray. A thunderstorm there, however, on New Year’s Eve. brought some temporary relief from the long spell ol drought.

A HRAYE BOY

, AUCKLAND. January 7. A thrilling rescue from drowning wus vlfected nt Judy’s Hay. Pmimk-11. by Albert Weaver, aged about 12 years, tvbo saved a companion. Ambrose Death, a wed 12, who was sinking and being carried to sea. Ibe incident through the foolish prank <d some throwing stones at Death, who * was paddling about in a small punt some yards off the beach, and a tragedy was averted only by the promptitude of Weaver, who carried out an a almost impossible rescue single-handed. + When the boys began throwing stones Death bent low to avoid them, and in doing so capsized his small craft. Me was precipitated into the water and was soon in difficulties, not f«?ing able ,to swim. An ebb tide was flowing strongly, and he was carried well out of bis depth. The boys who had been ■the cause of the trouble made no effort to attract attention, but Weaver appeared on tbo scene and without hesitation, and fully dressed, secured the punt and swam with it to Death, who was now drowning. Weaver reached bis friend as he went down, and. grasping him by the liair, struggled to keep < bis bend above water. For ten minutes the young hero battled, and finally managed to get Death into the punt and bring him ashore. By this time assistance had arrived, and Death, who was unconscious was subjected to artificial respiration, which proved successful after an hour’s work. Weaver was exhausted after his plucky rescue, hut recovered later. The boys who had thrown the stones did not remain to hear the comments made regarding their conduct, hut it is understood that the police will take some action against them.

i MAGISTRATE’S COURT CASES. WELLINGTON, January 8. Law offenders were dealt with by Mr W. 0. Riddell, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court yesterday ns follow:James Reginald Revernall, a. commercial traveller, charged with obtaining goods valued at £32 os, tho property of George and Doughty, bv means of a valueless ohecpic, pleaded guilty. The magistrate imposed a. sentence of three months’ imprisonment. Lawrence Uacßendy, found unlawfully on the premises of the Central Hotel after hours was convicted and fined £l. Further charged with drunkenness he was fined 10s. James Joseph Clarence McLaughlau, a baker’s roundsman, aged 25 years, charged with the theft, of £2l, the property of Catherine Ward, pleaded guilty. The accused was remanded until Friday next. Janaury oth. for .sentence, pending a report from the probation officer.

PAKAPOO FINES. WELLINGTON. January 8. A police raid in Raining and Taranaki streets yesterday resulted in tho arrest of five Chinese on charges of keeping gaming houses, and three whites and two Chinese for holing found on the premises. All pleaded this morning before Air 0. S.M. < The police said that paakpoo was mcreasing and getting a big hold on Europeans. Mr A. C. Mazenghrb. for the defence, said that in view of other forms of unlawful gambling connived at bribe State, there was nothing alarming in the increase of pakapoo. Big lotteries were allowed by people in high places, whose duty it was to enforce the law. The gaming laws needed amendment before respect could he expected from the Chinese community. Four Chinese keepers were each fined £25 and the other £4O. Fines of £2 each were imposed on those -y found on the premises.