DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 September 1926, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

[BY TELEGRAPH PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

VITAL STATISTICS

MALE AND INF ANTI LI MORTALITY.

AVELLINOTON. September 10.

During August, the total births registered for the urban areas ol the Dominion amounted to 1.149, as against I ,fMi in July, an increase of 63. The dentils in August were 672, a deeiease of 131 as compared with (he pre\ ions mouth.

Of the total deaths, males contributed 331. and females 291. Ninety-five of the deaths were of children under five years of age. being 11.13 per cent, of the whole number. Seventy-one of these were under one year of age.

CITIZEN’S GOOD OFFER. HAMILTON. Sept. 16.

The Hamilton ratepayers recently turned down a loan for municipal buildings. An offer of £5,000 for buildings has now been made by a Hamilton resident, conditional on the citizens contributing £20,000 within a few months. The donor suggested that it would lie unfair to appeal to the ratepayers for a loan, and that mothers should contribute by gifts towards the rest. Other conditions arc that the site lie, determined by a town-planning commission and that the architects and other professional services should he given free.

DAYLIGHT LIMITED

WELLINGTON, September 17

It is officially announced it lias been decided to reintroduce the running of a daylight limited train into the AA’cl-lington-Auckland railway service during the appro-aching summer months. December Kith has been pencilled as '.lie date for the first trip.

SHIP TROUBLE ENDED. AVELLINOTON, September 17

The trouble which ..occasioned a hold up of the Union Company’s steamer Maliono at Wellington lias been definitely settled and the vessel is due to sail from here this morning for Sydney.

TWO EXPLOSIONS

WELLINGTON, Sept. 17

Two violent explosions alarmed people in the city yesterday. One occurred at tho Corporation destructor in Clyde Quay, two workmen being injured and the other was on tho top floor of a building formerly occupied by A'citeh and Allan, drapers, in Cuba Street. In this ease one workman was injured. Both explosions are uncertain in origin. At the destructor trade refuse was being destroyed which had been brought from one of the warehouses, but a careful examination of the remainder of tho refuse failed to disclose any sign of an explosive. D. Mahoney was rather badly burned about tile face, neck and arms and J. C. Hodderwick unstained injury to ono of his eyes (possibly caused hv a piece of living debris), hut was otherwise uninjured. At A’oitcli and Allan’s building workmen were in the course of alterations engaged in fixing a new corrugated iron ceiling on the top floor where the explosion occurred. Lamps and gas fittings were removed and it is thought that a leak which had been occasioned hv this caused the trouble. It is said one of the workmen was smoking and a flame from the match came into contact with a gas fume. A window of the new cafeteria adjoining the front of the building was smashed to pieces and Mrs Cox (manageress) who was decorating a window at the time had a lucky escape from flying glass, and \Y. Black-more, employed by Wellington Gas Coy., was slightly burned about the hands and face.

tomatoes frosted. NELSON. Sept. 17

Heavy late frost, a most unusual visitation, following snow in the high country yesterday, caused a partial disaster to the tomato industry. It is estimated fully fifty per cent, of the glass-house plants and young plants put out to hnrclon under scrim, have been destroyed. The difficulty will lie in replacing the glass-house plants destroyed. These catch the early markets.

LOSS ON BUSES.

AUCKLAND, Sept. 17

The Government Auditor intimated to the City Council that in addition to a loss of £18,767 on Afunicipnl buses for the past year, provision should be made for depreciation at the rate of 12.) per cent, for the years 1025 and 1026 representing an additional loss of £0,822. Tims the net result of capital expenditure on buses alone of £55,720 plus nearly £BOOO on auxiliary plant and equipment has been n. loss of £28,000. WHEAT SAVINGS. BLENHEI.M. September 17. According to replies to specific questions on the subject a representative meeting of Blenheim Farmers’ Union gave it as its opinion that a very great ■ leal more wheat had been sown in Marlborough District this season, compared with last. It was stated for a fact that sufficient seed bad been sold practically to double the acreage, in addition to which many farmers keep their, own seed.. PRODUCEIIS’ REQUEST. SYDNEY, September 17. The Central Executive of the Primary Producers Union resolved to suggest to the Minister of Agriculture the necessity of urging the Commonwealth Government to prohibit the importation of New Zealand potatoes into Australia owing to the risk of introducing new diseases. AfELBOURNE. September 17.

Wheat is quiet, nominal 6s 7)d. flour £ls 10s. cash £ls ss; oats, milling. Bs, 3s fill; feed. Bs. 3s Id ; barley, English. -Is (id, 4s fid. Cape. 4s 3d. potatoes £lO 10s, £ll. onions £lO 10s. £2O. THE INJURED ALAN. GISBORNE, September 17. Russel C'ossey. the chemist, murderously attacked at Auckland, was well known in Gisborne. A tew weeks ago he left for Auckland on holiday, but became a victim of influenza. Just recently he recovered. He was extremely popular and took an active interest in various sports. GTS BORNE. September 17. Snow was reported on the hills round Gisborne this morning at lower levels than for twenty-one years. A NARROAV ESCAPE. WELLINGTON. September 17. While engaged digging a trench at Wellington College War Alemorial Hall Construction works yesterday, AA alter Bedford was completely buried under a. twelve foot bank which, without warning fell on him. Assistance was immediately forthcoming from his followworkmen. but was it quite two minutes before his head was uncovered and seventeen minutes before he was fully released. Beyond a shock Bedford did not sustain any injury. TAVO BURGLARIES. AUCKLAND, Sept. 17. On Tuesday evening the premises of W. W. Platt, furrier of AA’eJlesley 1 Street West-, were entered by burglars -and furs valued at £l5O were

stolen. Tho door was forced with a jemmy in a professional style. On AVednesday night the premises of Humo Pipe and Co., at Penrose, were broken into and gelignite, detonators, fuse and caps were- stolen. On AVednesday night two offices in a building at tho corner of O’Connell and Shortland Streets were entered by burglars who found nothing they wanted.

PRICE OF BUTTER. AUCKLAND, Sept. 17. The price of butter has been reduced by a penny a pound to superfine Is 7cl, first grade Is (id, secynd grade Is sd. There has been a good deal of price cutting lately. COLD "WEATHER. TAURAXGA, Sept. 17. Not for many years lias Taui'iuga experienced such a cold snap as yesterday afternoon and during the night. A strong westerly wind increased late ill" tho afternoon bringing with it heavy showers. This morning there was a liberal coating of snow oil all tho hills .surrounding the town which tho bright sun soon dispelled. ROTORUA, Sept. 17.

A severe cold snap was experienced in Rotorua district. The hills surrounding the town arc covered with snow this morning. Four degrees of snow were registered yesterday afternoon. AUCKLAND CRITICISM. AUCKLAND, Sept, 15. Strong criticisms of the attitude of Canterbury members of Parliament toward the proposal to establish an Agricultural College for New Zealand near Palmerston North was expressed by Professor F. P. AA'orley, who presided over a combined meeting of the Auckland Chemical Society and the Auckland Agricultural Science Club. Professor Worley said that one. of the mhin advances in educational matters in tho Dominion during the past year was tho decision of the Councils of the Auckland and A'ietoria University Colleges to establish an Agricultural College of national status, instead of separate provincial colleges. However, tho scheme had almost been wrecked by tho attempt of Canterbury politicians to defeat tho recommendations of experts for the establishment of a college- near Palmerston North. These experts had selected a site as tho one best suited to the needs <>t New Zealand as a whole, but Cm-, terbury members of Parliament, lor purely selfish and provincial rdasons. attempted to frustrate the scheme and have the college established at Lincoln. If their efforts were successful, the result would bo disastrous. Tn 'addition to tho disadvantages of location, it was considered by experts that Lincoln College would suffer from the additional disadvantages of its traditions. More than one visiting export had regarded tho college merely m a jest. Professor "Worley said that even the strength of the Prime Minister had not been equal to tho task of suppressing tho self interest of tile southern politicians. “AVc have no desire to fight the south,” he said in conclusion. “but if they want to fight us, t.he.v will find people hero quite prepared to meet any of their attacks:”

DAIRY PRODUCT'

THE SEASON’S PROSPECTS. DUNEDIN, Sept. 14

Information gathered to-day "'arrant* the statement that the dairy produce stvisen in lho South Island this year is going to he particularly earl\. Fair quantities of butler are already being received into stores at Dunelin, Tiniani and Lyttelton. It is learned further Hint London credits have been established in various Dunedin Rinks to meet the advances against store warrants and shipments.

“Since last season’s New Zealand butter stored in Loudon began to he forced into the market at much less than the reserved prices fixed for it, tho fiict line been recognised that some of the butter will not realise tlvo amount advanced against it. Some of tho dairy factory companies that stored this butter for high unrealised reserve prices will now have to meet heavy reclamation claims." Such is tbo wording of a telegram, from Wellington. Standing b.v itself it may arouse anxiety, but enquiries in Dunedin bring the assurance that nobody need become excited. It is assumed in the Wellington message that some factories took an advance last season greater than tbo present market value, and that if they sold to-day they would lie indebted tn the Tooley street merchant who made tne advance. But the fact remains that large, quantities here have been sold at prices equal to the advances received, and if any factory was over-advanced last season the difficulty can he overcome |.,y the factory giving on order to the Dairy Producers Board to pay tho merchant out of til is season’s advances. Aforeover. there is the possibility that tho market may improve, and. if that happens, all tho misgivings referred to will turn out so much moonshine.