DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 January 1926, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

[BT TELEOB APH PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.!

B A NKING R IST URNS. LAST QUARTER’S ADVANCES HEAVY. WELLINGTON, January 12. The Dominion hanking returns for tlie December quarter show the following figures:— Free deposits 25,189,553 Fixed deposits 20,840,809 Government deposits ... 3,(596,531 Note circulation ••• 6,947,677 Coin and bullion ... 4(5,(527,0.0 Discounts 1,927,357

The figures provide a very interesting review of the financial position and show money was not nearly so plentiful as it lias been. The December quartci always shows a heavy drain on the banks funds for financing the gathering and marketing of the season s produce.

In the September quarter there was mi excess of deposits over advances of £2.778,065. hut the December quarter exhibits an excess of advances of £2.524.065, which means the hanks have been drawn on to the extent of £5,302,130. Besides producers’ requirements some of this has been needed to finance importations which are on the heavy scale at present. A WARNING. ELECTRIFICATION OF FENCES. WELLINGTON. January 21. A more or less jocular theory is being circulated of a farmer who cured a fence-breaking cow by electrifying the wire on the fence, hut the electrical authorities take a very serious view of it and have issued a solemn warning

■gainst anything of the Kind. Both men and animals have been killed by r ence wires accidentally electrified and the authorities consider this bad enough without deliberately inviting risks from the 230 voltage.

FIRE AT PAHJATUA. PAIUATUA, Jan. 11. Fire on Sunday morning destroyed the premises occupied by Mrs A. J. Riggar. as tea and dining rooms, in i.lie centre of the town, 1... Hartley’s adjoining drapery and millinery preliises were partially burnt. ’I he stock .uffered extensively. F. (5. .Moore’s. Cosford and Russell’s premises, and stock were also affected. Steps were also taken to remove stocks from Bad■er's. stationers, hut the lire was got in dor control. There was no wind. •Iherwise the outbreak would probably have been disastrous. The firo had a trong hold in Kiggar’s when disovered. /VII the premises except Rudder's were owned by Roliert Hannah, A'ellington. The insurances wore:— iliggnr’s shop fittings anti stock £306 Commercial Union), Hartley’s aggregate £2BOO (Liverpool, London, Globe, ;)coan and Commercial Union). '1 he risks held by the other firms affected various offices. The brigade did splendid work. MAX INJURED. DUNEDIN. Jan. 12.

Robert Stalham. 48. sustained injuries to his hack through Icing struck hv a fall of sand while working in a sandpit at Anderson’s Bay yesterday afternoon. The injured mail was hospitnllcd.

CHILI) SCALDED. DUNEDIN, Jan. 12

Inn George Clark. 15 months, sustained severe burns to the body lirough falling into a hath ol water it his parents’ residence. Mount Royal (Palmerston) yesterday. The child vas admitted to the hospital. LATER. The infant. lan Clarke, who was admitted to the hospital badly scalded lied this morning. I;KXDERED UNCONSfIOIAS. TUESDAY. JANUARY 12th. William llarvev. 49. employed as a ganger by the City Council's lighting department, fell into a. declivity in a track leading to Speights’ Brewery vesterday. He wa.s rendered unconscious and admitted to the hospital suffering from injuries to the head, also shock.

ArOTOR-BUS CONTROL. WELLINGTON, .Tan. 8

Feh. 4th. was yesterday fixed as the late for the conference at which various parties interested will discuss the ■lraft regulations for the control of public transport by means of motorbuses. The regulations wore discussed ■it a recent, meeting of motor-bus proprietors. and the opinions then oxnressed iuilicated spirited hostility towards the proposed new rules. Attending the conference on February tth. will he proprietors of tramways, the principal vehicle licensing authorities, and Representatives from the Omnibus Owners’ Federation, Public Works’ Department. Internal Affairs Department, and Railway Department. TARANAKI OIL FIELDS. WELLINGTON, Jan. 8. The Taranaki Oil Fields, Ltd., report that the drill at Taratn is sunk to .1140 feet in shale. At Afoturoa the 6', in. diameter easing lias been drawn. The hole is apparently slightly out of line, owing to the presence of a boulder a few feet above the bottom, Tt is now being straightened preparatory to the easing again being run.