DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 February 1926, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by telegraph PER press association.] FLOUR DUTY. £•;>, PER TON IMPOSED. AA'ELLIXGTON, February 22. lion Air Haw-ken, Minister of Agriculture. announced to-day in connection with the wheat problem that the Government has decided that the present duty on wheat of 2s per cental (10011) avoirdupois) will remain, together with a duty on Hour of 93 per ton, and on bran and pollard of .91 per ton. INQUEST ON CAMERON SMITH. CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 22.

Summing up the evidence tit the inquest on E. Cameron Smith, chemist, who was drowned in the Waimakariri River, the Coroner stated that Smith’s iveal name was Ernest Smith, but lie carried on business under the name of E. Cameron Smith, which was his father's name. Death had been caused by drowning, but it was questionable whether Smith had committed suicide. Smith, he said, had been a sufferer from insomnia, blood pressure, and diabetes. He bad been melancholic at times, but h.e was not considered a ease for restraint, since he gave no indication that he was thinking of suicide. He had been cheery prior to the fatality, but on the day of Ids death ho had eertaienly acted in a strange manner. The evidence seemed to point out that Smith was not in his right mind when they saw him in the water. It might be that Smith intended to commit suicide, and then repented, for lie was seen to make an <dlorb to reach the bank; or it might be that his mind was deranged, and that he acted in this strange and peculiar manner without intending to commit suicide. The evidence that he had tried to swim out. seemed to bear out 11 1 is fa: t.

I lie veriet was one of death by drowning, there being no evidence to show whether if was accidental or otherwise.

LYTTELTON WATERSI HERS. CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 22. A stop work meeting of the Lyttelton wnlrrsilois was held to-day to consider the qivistion of the Saturday hull-holiday, and Ihe agreement mado recently in other ports. It is understood that no action was taken except that a small committee "'as set iiji to go into the question. HIGH COM A USSR IXKRSHIP. SI () XIFIC AX T ST AT E AIE NTS - WEI.L.NGTON. Fcl>. 23. Rumour.-, o! a pending appointment of a High Commissioner in the place of Sir James Allen has been .strengthened by tin' activities noticeable in tjhct Ed oi electorate. Sir James Parr on his return to Wellington yesterday from Auckland stated that lie was not in a position (o give any information. The Premier (Air Coates) when asked said lie expected to be able to make an announcement, about a week- lienee. APIA DA.MAGE. AUCKLAND, February 23.

A report from Apia slates the damage by the stnrm on IsL January was not so great as was supposed. The most that the gale did was to break olf young leaves and uproot old trees. Colieroft estimates his losses at forty acres. ITamapu plantation recently taken over bv Dr Lockhart, Cottle of England, was badly affected, not so nun'll in the planted area as in the Imsh land where hundred of trees wore laid Hat. On the east, coast of Savaai the damage was comparatively small.

A RESERVED DECISION. GREYMOUTH, Fell. 23. (living a reserved decision in the case Route versus Armstrong, milling ease. Warden Aleldnnn to-day awarded Boole and Party 92903 sterling damages for coal taken out of their area. A BIG SHARK. AUCKLAND, February 23. Oil' Cape Brett yesterday, Air Deaton of Australia. captured the first thresher shark of the season, a monster of 120 pounds, length of body 7l't and tail tilt loins. It was hooked through the lips. The shark is being sent to the Aloerewa freezing works and thence to the AYangamii Museum.