DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 January 1927, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

P.T T£LEGIIAPH —PRESS ASSN., COrVIUOUT

BATHERS IN PERIL

RESCUE WORK AT WAIHI BEACH. AUCKLAND. Jan. 3. Tills danger of venturing beyond recognised limits when surf bathing was illustrated at Waihi Beach yesterday, when two young men, J. Keoghan, ot Waihi. land A. Hargreaves, of Paeroa, got into difficulties and together with another man, who went to their assistance, were finally brought to shore in an exhausted condition. Keoghan and Hargreaves swam out into the big breakers and were being buffeted about with apparently little chance of regaining the shore before their plight was recognised by W. Heath, who went to their assistance. Unfortunately Hdath himself got into difficulties, from which lie was rescued by his brother, F. Heath, who is a powerful swimmer. By this time others had noted the plight of the bathers, and a live-saving reel was run out. The belt was thrown to Hargreaves, who, however, failed to grasp it. G. .Morton, who had been holding it. lost possession and got into trouble. Another Alan, McLeny. went t„ Morton's aid. and brought him to land after a strenuous fight with the breakers. A vomig man named Hulton was next 'to join the rescue party. Donning the lifebelt, he made for Keoghan, Ale Lea v following him with the lifeline. ' Bv the time AM.cay reached them Hulton and Keogliau were clinging together, and in serious trouble, but AfcLeay succeeded in gripping Keoghan’s bathing suit, and dragged him back through the boiling surf to bathers who hind come out as far as possible to help. Keo"ha 11’s condition, when the beach was reached, was such that rosusmtative measures had to ho taken, ;” 1( ‘ half an hour elapsed before lie regained consciousness. Tlulton was much exhausted. and AfcLeay was showing signs of liis strenuous efforts. Hargreaves was still battling for his life, and finally succeeded in getting to within reach of the rescuers, about ‘AGO yards further down the beach, where ho was dragged ashore by Messrs AY. Henderson and H. Thompson in a state of complete exhaustion. i A NEW INDUSTRY.

1000 SHARKS A DAY. AUCKLAND, Jan. 3. New Zealand is shortly to see a new industry tlirit will depend upon the shark for its product's, according to Dr Alfred Ehremoich. F.R.G.S., the greatest living authority on sharks, who arrived from Vancouver by the Aorangi tn-dav. Dr Ehrenreich, wlio is managing director of the English linn of .Marine Products. Ltd., is a. Doctor of Science, and W member of the American Academy of Science, as well as a member of many other scientific bodies. r Dr Eliienreicli stated that, lie had studied sharks and t.lieir habits for twenty roars, knd although lie had never before been to New Zealand he knew exactly the kind of fish inhabiting its waters. He had come to the Dominion with the Idea of opening up works here for making use ol shark products. Products from shark included leather, fertiliser, valuable oil, glue, land a substance from the pancreatic gland for medicinal purposes, “t hope to have factories established in New Zealand in a year’s time and ; our aim is to catch K)00 sharks n day, stated Dr Ehrenreich. “'I Ins is an m--1 ilustrv that has progressed wonder--fully in other parts of the world, ami these waters abound with fish. ’ . Describing the methods ot catching that would be employed by the componv Dr Ehrenreieti stated that th • fish'would be taken in nets and drowned There was no fear, as in the ease ' Of whales, of killing all the sharks off. The more sharks that were caught the ' more tliev would breed. At certain i stages of their lives they wore lunnihals, and killed each other off i» ; enormous numbers. Dr Elironreich will remain m Aew ‘ Zealand a. few weeks, and will then proceed to Australia. ! ! BAD WEATHER.

AUCKLAND, Jan. 4The. Provincial Lawn Tennis Championships which were to commence yesterday morning were again postponed. Xo nlay has yet taken place in the tourney. Tf the weather permits a start will be made in the morning.

Owing to unfavourable weather the annular eclipse ol the sun was not seen in Auckland.

A SLIGHT QUAKE. WELLINGTON, .Tan. 4. A slight earthquake at 10.15 last evening was immediately followed by a more severe iolt, but not of sufficient severity to cause damage. DECEMBER WEATHER. WELLINGTON. .Tan. 3. The Dominion Meteorologist's summary for December states that the month proved to_ be a coal one with dull and changeable weather, quite in accordance with general backwardness of the season. The average temperature was 58.7 degrees which is below the average. Tito maximum temperature was reached on December 29. when 7-1.7 degrees was recorded. On the morning of December 4 the lowest reading (41.3 degrees) was registered. There were no frosts on the grass during tho month. The month’s rainfall was half an inch over tho average, the total being 3.78 inches with a maximum fall of 91 points on December 11. There wove four days without any bright sunshine at all, the total for the month being 211 hours 10 minutes, over 28 hours less than tho average.

There wtas less wind than usual, the daily average velocity being 40 miles loss than the average. The daily average was 233.) miles with a maximum of 593 miles on December II and a maximum of 36 miles on another day. The barometric pressure fluctuated between 30.512 indies and 20.001 inches tho average being 29.935.

j TRADE DEPRESSION. IN UNITED STATES. AUCKLAND. Jan. 3. The United States of America is passing through a period of depression, especially in the farming areas according to statements by passengers who arrived from Vancouver by the Aorangi. “Tilings are not booming in America as they were, and it is gratifying to note on the other hand that England has turned the corner,” said Mr R. J. Coates, of Auckland, who returned from a world tour. “Depression is particularly noticeable in tho fanning districts of the Middle West, where land is siilt valued at a high level, while prices for products have dropped. Quo cannot help noticing that almost anything, from clothes hangers up, can be purchased oil the hire payment system, and in times of stringency tlie goods fall back into the hands of tho manufacturers.” England, Mr Coates said, was now out uf the throes of the coal strike, and renewed activity was to be noticed on all sides.

Mr Coates was particularly astounded at the volume of business being done in the motor-car factories. One firm alone had 150,000 orders for 1927. while others were similarly besieged with orders. Tn many respects Engand mas now changing from a freetrade to a protective policy. Under the McKenna Act. a duty of 33 1-3 poire nt, was imposed on motor-cars, and while that was bad for America it was proving beneficial to British firms. Amends was badly handicapped on the Continent by protective duties and that not doubt, aggravated the depression. A duty of 62 per cent, was imposed on American cars in Germany, 60 per cent in France, and 55 per cent in Italy. “The large exporting business ot the United States is falling away and she is now being forced back on her internal trade,” Mr Coates said.

KILLED BY LIGHTNING. AUCKLAND, Jan. 3. On the afternoon of December 28, n violent thunderstorm passed over .Suva during the course of which a lad, Jack Shepherd, was killed by lightning, opposite the golf house. The, hoy, who was twelve years of age, with othel caddies, took refuge Under a tree when rain fell. The bolt which killed Shepherd did no injury to his associates. \ FATAL ENDING. STRATFORD, Jan. 4. A young man, Ivan Hart, who s-us-taino two compound factures ol the right leg ill a collision with a motor car while riding a motor cycle on Sunda ynight, died at the hospital this morning. DAYLIGHT SAVING. AUCKLAND, Jan. 3. “Alter seeing conditions in America, England, and on the Continent, 1 mil greatly in favour of any Daylight Saving Bill,” said Mr 11. J. Coates, o Auckland, who returned from a world tour by the Aorangi. “In Detroit, for instance, I root <i workman from the Ford Motor Works, who stated lie commenced work at i .30 a.m., and finished at 3 p.m. with half an hour break. When I saw him he was off to play baseball. In England one sees young men oft' to play tennis before 4 p.m.” A STOWAWAY. AUCKLAND. Jan. 3. When the Aol’aligi was one day out from Vancouver, Harold Frederick Stoneman, aged 19, surrendered himself, having stowed away., In the Police Court to-day, the third officer said that Stoneman had worked well on the voyage to Auckland, and had behaved himself equally well, giving entire satisfaction. The police said that Stoneman was born in London and went to Canada in 1921. Being unable to secure employment he came to New Zealand Imping to find work. The .Magistrate said he did not wish to send Stoneman to gaol, neither did ho wish to fine him, as ho had no money. Ho would be remanded for one week. A WEIRD EXPERIENCE. AUCKLAND. Jan. 4. The feat of accomplishing a climb to the Girdlestono Peak, Mount Ruapehu, during an unusually heavy thunderstorm, was achieved during the holidays by a party of five men. led by Mr Ifoil. of Auckaiul. Added to tho unpleasant weather, the party had to contend with very h.ird climbing conditions. Ihe ascent was made from the south-eastern arete leading up the ridge that .borders the Wahianoa Glacier. Startling uccounts of the effect oi an electrical disturbance are given by the party. Lightning, it is reported, appeared to he striking the peak and when within 150 feet of the top. shocks were experienced by every member or the party. Further phenomena to test the mettle of the mountaineers came in the way of Inn extraordinary buz/.mg Irom the steel parts of the ice axes, while on reaching the summit the rocks which apparently were charged with electricity, wore hissing like gas ids. NT) VIEW OF ELLIPSE. WELLINGTON. Jan. L The Government Meleorlogist. (Dr