DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 June 1926, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

[By TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.} A PECULIAR BURGLARY. ASHBURTON, June 28. A Burglary presenting unusual features is being investigated by the police. The thief entered H. C. Percy’s Tobacconist shop, taking about £35 of which only £5 was in cheques from the safe. A peculiar feature is that at night Mrs Percy heard a noise in her bedroom but did not awaken her husband who knew nothing was amiss until lie opened the shop as usual. On returning to lunch Mrs Percy informed him that a burglar had been in the house as the window had been forced. Investigation showed that the thief •entered the dwelling, crept along tkc passage, .and extracted the keys from Percy’s coat, hanging two feet away and then went to the shop where the door and safe naturally proved easy of access. The thief then returned to the house and replaced the keys in Percy’s coat.

A FORGERY. DUNEDIN, June 28. Knowing that a woman with whom he had kept- company was receiving letters from, a man in America, Ernest Rasmussen forged a re-direction order so that the letters would come to his hands. Rasmussen pleaded guilty this morning, and was committed for sentence. The woman Vivienne Beech, was married, and was separated from her husband. Sl.o stated she had known the accused three years and had received financial help from him. The accused’s statement was that he know she got letters from America and was jealous so put in a re-direction order, and had ho got any letters lie would have sent them to her after getting the information ho wanted. The Counsel for the accused commented on the fact that the Magistrate hadn’t power to deal with a case like this where there was no motive of material gain. Yet he could deal with like cases where defraud was intended.

DISTRIBUTORS LTD. NEW PLYMOUTH, June 20. The Taranaki Chamber of Commerce reoenlly drew flic attention of the Government to the fact that Distributors, Ltd. had terminated . the agency held b.v a, local firm, apparently because one of its heads, as president of Die chamber bad protested against the flour duty and embargo.

A reply has been received from tbi? Minister of Industries and Commerce saving that Distributirs, Ltd., wore within their legal rights in terminating Die agency. A furllwr protest has boob sent- to the Minister directing bis attention to a circular sent by Distributors, Ltd. to their agents stating that “it has come to tho company’s notice that derogatory statements have been made against thn company and the directors consider it an unfriendly act, and unless it ceases at once it will result in Ihe cancellation of the agreement, with the parties responsible.'’ Tlv chamber reiterates its protest against the attempt to baulk public discussion in a matter of such vital public interest as duties embargo on imported (lour.

SEA LEOPARD. AUCKLAND, .Tune £ _>o. The sea leopard I bat was captured at Otaliubu last Sunday afternoon is taking kindly to ils new abode at the zoo. and after a stay of six days is eating both meal and fish. It has been provided with very comfortable quarters in the soil pond, a portion of which has been specially partitioned off, and has now every chance of making himself at home. 11. is believed t!i .-1 l if he can only gel over the diffi- • ult. period of becoming accustomed to limited quarters mid strange conditions, be will become a permanent inhabitant of the zoo. He is a very big beast and fully adult. Those who endeavour to secure sla b animals for eiptivity have found that as a rule when the adult stage is reached sea leopards do n.,L survive if placed in e.iplivify. Temperature does not affect (hem, but they me unwiohlly animals and depend to a pertain extent upon marine growths for their nourishment. AY lien they are captured 111 the prime condition of the one at the zoo they cm live for some time on their on tat, and it is too early yet to decide whether Auckland is likely to keep its sea leopard for more than a limited period.

FROZEN MEAT SEASON. WELLINGTON. June 26. By selling their meat at the freezing works, farmers bad the better of the deal in the season just closed. Many exporters are making a loss on the year’s transactions notwithstanding the fact that the exporters have been very cautious in their purchases. This season the prospects are not bright, for apparently they will not

have a very big margin to work on. Prices paid for-fat stock during the season were considerably less than prices paid during the previous year. Many factors contributed to this. The climatic conditions in Great Britain last season were very favourable for fattening, with the result that larger quantities than usual, of Homo grown meat were sent to Smithfield. Towards the end of 1925, the output of lambs from the Commonwealth was considerably .ahead of the two previous seasons. In an ordinary season the output is reckoned at one million lambs, whereas this season’s shipments will reach 1,900,000. Australian lamb commences to go on the London market at the end of October and the greater quantity is off the market before our main shipments reach there. Owing to the strike last October, the usual shipments were delayed, with the result that eonsiderale quantities of Australian lamb were still on the London market when our main shipments commenced to reach there. The. shipping strike had the effect of upsetting the shipment of the balance of our old season’s kill. A considerable amount of beef and veal lias been shipped to the Continent. particularly to Genoa, and arrangements'have been made for further shipments before the present season closes. The total value of our exports ot frozen'meat for the year ending March 31st, was £10,126,095.