DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 July 1926, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

[nv TELEGRAPH —rER PRESS ASSOCIATION. WRESTLING. AUCKLAND, July 17. The Auckland Association is making every endeavour to sign up Ike Robin to wrestle Zybszko for the world’s title and £IOOO at Auckland. Zybzsko is willing to return from Sydney. A delegate is leaving for Napier to induce Robin to wrestle in Auckland instead of Sydney. His backers are confident that if Robin trains to the condition he was in when he won all his matches last year in Australia, he has a great chance of winning the title. <

ARAPUNI WORKS. AUCKLAND, July 18. 'l’lie Arapuni hydro-electric scheme entered a new phase , yesterday, when portion of tho intake dumpling was removed by explosives, turning a. portion of the river into the diversion tunnel, and the outlet dumpling was completely removed by the explosioof over a ton of blasting Igeatine. The chief problem had been the removal of the outlet barrierr without causing displacement of the hanging ponntry. The method adopted was io lay the charges in perpendicular pipes, going down to an average depth of tweirty feet. There were sixty-four of these,, and the explosives they contained were equivalent to a little over onepound per cubic yard. The intake charges, laid in horizontal bores, were designed to remove six feet from tho top of the lip. The clay was broken, hut not displaced, by the explosion, and a gang of men was put on to open the channels, which wore quickly scoured. The tunnel was full in an hour.

When the second explosion (sixtyfour mines fired simultaneously) was set off. there was a most spectacular burst, debris rising 500 feet. The explosion was completely successful, making a clear canal of running water by tlie time the smoke had cleared. There was no dislogment of any moment of the adjoining country.

COLLEGE SITE. WELLINGTON, July 38. It is expected that an announcement will be made very shortly about the site of the Agricultural College. It was hoped that the Minister for Agriculture would have been in a position to make a statement some time ago, but various considerations prevented him from doing so. Tlie Government has now come to a decision, .and, ‘as the Ministers whose Departments arc chiefly concerned all appear to be ready, Mr Hawken might bo beard from this week.

It was thought for some time that Weraroa. where the State lias long maintained ran experimental farm, would be the chosen locality,but later information is that the site is likely to be nearer Palmerston North. In fact, certain interested persons are convinced that the site is very close to Palmerston North.

SMALL BANKS FAIL. WELLINGTON, July 17.

It is learned from one of the Wellington banks that the trust company referred to in a mesage which announced the failure of a number of banks in- the State of Georgia is a comparatively unimportant concern, having its headquarters in Atlanta, the capital city of the State of Georgia. Apparently it is a company of recent formation, posibly one of the results of the recent boom, as tlie latest American banking directory, published only a few months ago, does not give any such name among those of the banks and allied companies operating in Atlanta. There are hanks and banks. The failure of a certain type .of “one-liofse hank in America means little more than a private failure. This fact has to- be remembered when one reads that 49 banks in Georgia had already closed their doors.

The American Banking Directory’s Georgia list shows that one banking company lias a capital of 1500 dollars, its loans total 40,000 dollars, and its deposits 40,000 dollars, say £IO,OOO. There is another county bank with V a capital of 2000 dolars, and a. number of banks with a capital not exceeding 15,000 dollars.

In its report for June, the National City Bank of New York states that the way in which Florida lias quietly flattened out without serious consequences is a reassuring demonstration of the in■flucnce of an easy credit situation in facilitating ordinary liquidation. AUCKLAND, July 17. Not “ cabbages and kings,” but cabbages and kisses, were the strangfe combination featured in a case at the Hamilton Police Court. A married man who entered a shop yesterday to. purchase a cabbage found a liftcen-year-old young lady assistant more attractive than tlie vegetables displayed, and, feeling somewhat amorous, despite liis fifty-two years, and the fact that he has a wife and large family, could not resist the temptation to kiss the girl. His attentions were resented. and, as a consequence, he was charged this morning with assault. Accused pleady guilty.

The Bench remarked that it was an awkward case, but they were inclined to give accused the benefit of the advantage under the Act. Accused was old enough to have known bettor. The case was dismissed.