DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 January 1926, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TEr/ECRArn —per tress association.]

AMERICAN TOURISTS. DISAPPOIXTED VISITORS. CHRISTCHURCH, January 27. “Sew Zealand hotels arc—now what shall I say—they’re not—well, I can’t sleep in the beds, anyway.” “Go on, what do you expect? You’re not hack home now. voa know. New Zealand’s only got a little over a million of a population, and, considering that, her hotels are not too had.” That’s a portion of a dialogue which took place between one of the American tourists who arrived in Christchurch last evening and his wife, when they were asked how they were finding things in the Dominion. Of course, the lady had to have* the last word, and she just said “apple sauce.” “ I’m not complaining about your country.” she said. “I believe that the man who labelled it ‘ Clod’s own ’ —and I’m told that someone did—was not far out. But the hotels, they’re a disappointment. They’re so very different from what we are used to in the States. Why don’t you build some decent skyscrapers ?” “Simply because they’ve not got. the tourist traffic here to justify the outlay,” said the young woman’s husband, who had a business head.

“ But look, just a minute.” replied the lady, with the intensely satisfied air of one who is about to score a point. “ff there were decent hotels out here, at which people might stay, they’d get more tourists.” “Well—or—yes; but are you sure you’re not confusing cause with effect?” rejoined the husband. “ Certain of it,” said the lady. “Well, that’s that!” said the husband, resignedly. “I guess that’s one to me.” said the young woman—and there were others in the party who agreed that ii was.

STATE FORESTRY. WORK OK SIB HEATON RHODES. WE EL INO TON, January 27. ' In the period during which Sir Keaton Rhodes held Ministerial office as Commissioner of State Forests the total revenue of the State Forest Service increased fivefold and the total area of State Forest plantations has increased from 39.000 acres to 79,000 acres. This fact is among those mentioned in an illuminated address, which was presented to Sir Heaton to-day on the occasion of his bidding good-bye to the Forest Service, which now passes to the Ministerial control of the Hon <). J. flnwken.

The presentation of the address, was the subject of some valedictory remarks by the Director of State Forests. Mr E. .Mclntosh Ellis, and the secretary of the Department. Mr E. Phillips. Turner.

The address cites a number of facts showing that the retiring Minister’s administration, 1921-192(1. had been an outstanding one in the history of forestry in New Zealand, and conveys a hope “ That in another place you will still ho able to give valuable aid to the cause for which you have already done so much.”

TWO CARS COLLIDE. TE KUITI. January 27. A violent head on collision occurred at Otnrolmnga Rand, near Otorobangn. yesterday afternoon, between a service car hound for Hamilton, driven by Humphrey limes Jones and a private sedan, driven by C, M. Moore Jones, of Reimiera, Auckland. Both drivers escaped injury, but Mrs M. Bedford and Jessie Wood, aged eleven, of New Plymouth, passengers in (he service ear. were badly cut by broken glass. Mrs Moore Jones was severely cut about the face and Mrs M. A. Cullen, of Auckland, a passenger in Mr Moore Jones’ ear. is suffering from shock.The fronts of both ears were reduced to scrap iron. GLEXIIOPE FATALITY. XMESON, January 27. Thomas James Francis, died in the hospital as Hie result of injuries receives! through a fall of gravel in a railway gravel pit at Glenhope. XOT A HAPPY FAMILY. MAX A WATT A. AND P. ASSOCIATION. PALMERSTON X., .Tam 20. When Mr W. M’Konzio, one of the most successful past presidents ol the Mnnawatu A. and J’. Association, warned the general committee at a recent meeting that the alleged unpopularity of certain officials with the general public as well a.s exhibitors, was doing harm, the broad hint was not taken kindly by other of the society’s prominent members. At a meeting, to-day, Mr J. Jf. Per-i-ctt, the president, regretted the statements, which. lie said, had been broadcasted throughout the Dominion, and he suggested retraction by Mr M’Kem/.ie.

This the latter refused to do, and tendering his resignation, which was accepted, left the meeting. Subsequent discussion pointed to the general opinion being that the remarks were uncalled for, although Mr M’Kenzie declared that lie had been congratulated on all sides on bis attempt to infuse new blood into the society.

Eater, when a prominent Friesian breeder was called on to show cause why his prize money should not he impounded because of his failure to show his animals in the grand parade there was a sharp passage between him and another well-known breeder, but the intervention of several members ol the committee effected a reconciliation. Consternation was expressed at the proximity of the Royal Show dates to the Manawatu fixture, the opinion being that the Royal Show would be held first. so that animals would not be with-held from exhibition at Palmerston. It was decided, however, to adhere to the dates and make representations to the Royal Show Society.

( A FAMOUS BARQUE. ! fate of the retriever. AUCKLAND, Jan. 2G. Very little is left of what was once the barque Retriever. The remains of her hull had rested in shallow water at Pi no Island in the upper Waitemata for a considerable period, but during the holidays she was set on tire by some picknielcers, and all the woodwork of the hull above water was burned. The fate of the Retriever is of more than passing interest, as she is the vessel referred to in Peter B. Ivyne’s novel “Cappy Ricks,’’ which is being presented as a play in Auckland. The Retriever was a vessel of 548 tons, and was built at Seabeck. Washington. United States, in 1881. After being condemned for sea service she was used for a long time as a coal hulk in Auckland Harbour, and was subsequently towed to Pine Island, where she was stranded.

FARMERS CLAIM DAMAGES. HAMILTON", January 2G. A case of some interest to users of party telephone lines came before the

■■ ■ ... J Magistrate’s Court at Hamilton to-day, when Donald M’lntosli and L. 0. osl)orne proceeded agaisnt H. Livingstone, J. H. Gore and IT. T. Kent for damage for inconvenience alleged to I have been caused through the defendants’ act in severing the lines, giv-j ing their two neighbours, the plaintiffs, communication with the outside world. The parties are farmers at Tukikara- ' ' mea, about nine miles from Hamilton. 1 I Negotiations were entered into for a j party telephone line connecting nine ' r neighbouring farmers with the Kamil-, J ton exchange. The party lutes were J private lines, erected by the subscri-! J hers themselves. The plaintiffs’ obj'ec- : I tion was to paying twice as much as I was originally agreed upon. The case l was only party heard, the defendants r agreeing to re-establish the plaintiffs’, f connection with the main telephone : system. 1 *'