DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 August 1926, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

[IIY TELEGRAPH—PEIt PRESS ASSOCIATION. POTATO MARKET. CHRISTCHURCH, Aug. 20. The value of potatoes lias touched practically the lowest point of the year. Coastal business has been done at £.5 f.o.b. s.i., for this month. The depressing influence is the quantity of tubers iiu stock at the ports, which is preventing northern operators coming on the market. Just sufficient shipments have been going north to meet the demand, and with Hie knowledge 0 f the accumulations at northern ports there is no incentive for the ordinary order of business. It, is reported that a. fair quantity is being rebagged for the next Svdney boat on the 2Gth inst, and that so far few fresh arrivals from, the country are taking their place. The only firm element in Urn present position is the grower who is not a seller at the nominal value ot £li 15s a ton of trucks. The interesting possibility is that with so many “paper” potatoes being thrown on the market the actual stulF to cover may he securely held by the grower.

TM FOR TEI) Cl A’ DES DAT ,ES. AUCKLAND, Aug. 22. Five pedigree Clydesdales, two stallions and three mares, are on board the motor ship Porr, Dunedin, winch reached Auckland from Liverpool on Saturday afternoon. One of the stallions, Brunstane Duplicate, is a full brother to the champion stallion, Brunstano Again, which is valued at over £4OOO. and which won the first prize at the Highland Agricultural Show, the highest award that can be obtained by a Clydesdale horse in Scotland. Brimstone Duplicate and the three mares on 1 mid-d have been purchased by Mr J. Young, of Otira. near Dunedin. The mares' are by the same sire as the stallions, and they are all in foal to championship stallions. The other stallion on board tbe vessel is Baron Fergus. and is lialf-brotlier to Brunstane Again.. He has been purchased by AH Ferguson, of Rangiora. The horses have reached port in splendid condition. BOY MISSING. WANGANUT, Aug. 22. A boy named Wallace Lacey, aged seven, lias been missing from bis Home at Aramoho since nine on Saturday morning. Tie was last seen on the bank of the river. Drowning is feared.

ESCAPEE RECAPTURED. AUCKLAND, Aug. 21. A chase over the bills in the TCaipara. district during the past few days resulted in the capture at Port Albert of a Maori named Tua Taakn, who escaped from custody at Afaungnturnto on Sunday evening. Tie made for the Mari In hill country, and,' catching a horse, put further distance between himself and bis pursuers. Two constables who promptly took up the hunt were equally energetic, and effected a strategic movement by following converging roads, with the result that they centred on Tua on the Port Albert wliurf. and at once placed him once more under arrest. OVERSEAS STEAMERS. AUCKLAND, Aug. 21. Six large overseas steamers are expected at Auckland during the next few days. The Commonwealth and Dominion Lille’s motor ship Port Dunedin will arrive this afternoon from Liverpool and during the week-end the American steamer Dewey should arrive from Pacific Coast ports, and Hie Baron Kelvin from Montreal. On Monday, the New Zealand Shipping Company’s steamer Opawa is clue irom Liverpool, and llie A. am! A. Lines chartered steamer Keeping is due about the same time from New York. The sixth steamer is Hie Shaw Savill and Albion liner Corinthie, with over 500 passengers, as veil as a large quantity of mail and cargo. The latest wireless report states that she will arrive on Tuesday evening. OLD MAN’S FALL. AUCKLAND, Aug. 22. An clderlv man named Thorpe, aged 81 years, fell down the steps of the members’ stand at Ellerslie, sustaining somewhat severe injuries to the bead and body. Ho was taken to Ins home at Epsom. • REV. JOHN SMITH DEAD. AUCKLAND, Aug. 21. An old colonist., the Rev John Smith, who had laboured long ill tbe Methodist ministry in New'Zealand, died on Thursday at. Remuera. Mr Smith was borne at Prince Edward Island, Canada, in 1835. He arrived in Auckland in 1859. and in the following year entered the ministry. Tlis first charge was New Plymouth, where lie was assoc i; ited with the Rev John Whitelev, who was killed by the Maoris in 18(53. Air Smith was associated with the late Rev TV. Gi'ttos, at Tvaipara, ill Alaori mission work, and later continued in that work at Raglan, assisted by two Alaori ministers. Subsequently, Air Smith occupied charges in different centres of both the North and South Islands. His last charge was at Kmnara, Westland, from which he retired in 1899, anil went to reside in Christchurch, lie came to Auckland thirteen years ago. Mrs Smith died in Christchurch in 1899. Two sons survive. Air G. A. Smith, of Opunake, and Afr F. f. Smith, of Auckland.

A WRONGED WIFE. CHRISTCHURCH. Aug. 23. To end her life Helen Margaret Peard, a married woman, swallowed some aluminium paint at New Brighton on August 6th. Her life was in danger i hut she recovered in Christchurch Hospital, and is quite well now. She appeared on remand to-day before Mr H. P. La wry. S.M., charged with having attempted to commit suicide. She pleaded guilty, Sub-Inspector Matthew said that the accused had left a letter in her room containing the following words: “Dear Beit.—Forgive me for what I have done, I can’t go on living like this any longer. Be good to the children. God bless you all.—-TdTie.” .1. M. Cardnle. Secretary for the Society for the Protection of Women and Children, said that she had visited accused’s husband on two occasions, and, lie had admitted to witness that he was living with another woman. He had the children with him. and there was another child in the house in a shocking state of eczema. He was making good money at tree felling. The woman was convicted and ordered to pay £2 expenses. She will remain with the Salvation Army in the meantime. HYDRO SCHEME. NEW PLYMOUTH. Aug. 23. The completion of the Taranaki Power Board’s work at. Tariki was brought appreciably nearer to-day, when the Motukawa Tunnel, one pud three-quarters miles long, was pierced. This marks the completion of all the several main tunnels. This tunnel will eventually convey water from th<? Wanganui River to turbines developing four thousand horse power. The Engineer stated to-night that there was n possibility of the scheme being in operation before Christmas. At noon to-day. the two tunnelling parties who have been working from either end removed the last barrier, a result for which they have been working for two years.