DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 January 1927, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

[uv TCr.I'OUAPa —5U.11 PRESS ASSOCIATION.] THE ROTOMAHANA KHIPBREAKKR’S LOCKY KIND. DUNEDIN, January M. it is many years since the trimlybuilt Rotomuhana sailed on tJio New Zealand coast, where she was recognised as about the fastest steamer then owned by the Union Steam Ship Company. She was transferred from tlie New Zealand service to Tasmania, where she added further to the laurels she had gained in New Zealand as a record-breaker. For several years the vessel was laid up in Melbourne, and recent advices state that: she was sold by the company for breaking up. and that in the work of destruction the new owner made a lucky discovery. It appears that in the bottom of the hull there had been placed some 201) tons of lead, presumably for ballast, and that it had been put there so long ago that its presence had been forgotten. Discovery by the ship-breaker of this lend, with the other parts for which he was able to find a ready market, is said to have enabled him to make a cool CIO,OOO on his trail suction.

A TOUR ABROAD. A PRIEST'S IMPRESSIONS. AUCKLAND, January If. The Rev. Father O’Hara, of St. Joseph’s, Waihi, has just returned from a nine months’ holiday during which he visited Ireland, England, America, Holland and Germany. Referring to the conditions in Ids native land. Father O’Hara said the outlook was bright, and that the establishment of the Free State was one of the finest things that could have happened for Ireland. Ireland, like many other countries affected by the war, was heavily taxed, and. being purely a fanning community, the burden fell very heavily. Nevertheless, Hie people wore cheerful and happy.

When in Germany Father O’Hara was much impressed with the fact that every aero of land capable of cultivation was made use of. He found no resentment against Britain, but there was some hostility against Franco, especially in regard to the employment of coloured troops in the Rhineland patrol.

Father O’Hara addressed numbers of college students during his travels. He found the only knowledge many boys had of New Zealand was that it was the place the butter came from.

FIRE EQUIPMENT INSPECTION WELLINGTON. January 14.

That periodical inspections l>e made of the fire equipment of public institutions. such as hotels and boardinghouses. and that a charge be levied for the services rendered, and the material used, was a suggestion made to the Wellington Fire Board to-day. It was decided that the superintendent he authorised to make investigations and report to the Board as to the proposed system of charges to be levied, in view of the varying nature of the equipments.

IMPRESSIONS OF TRIPPER. ■WELLINGTON, January in. Mr E. P. Taldwyn. New Zealand manager of tMe Commercial Bank of Australia, recently returned from an extended trip abroad.

Me said that economically the countries ho visited seemed better olf than Britain. In France the official figures showed only a few hundreds of unemployed, whereas in the United Kingdom the authorities were still struggling with a number approaching two millions. In Britain many modern conveniences noticeable in Australia and New Zealand were conspicuous by their absence. He noticed a number of lamp lighters in Regent Park, where apparently one man could have done the job. Many other old-fashioned methods were seen. “ But at the same time,” he said, “these to some extent constitute the charm which is the heritage of the Old Country.” TIMBER TRADE. WELLINGTON, January 13. It is customary during the Christmas holidays for the New Zealand sawmills to close down for a fortnight, lrat . this year fully 50 per cent, of the mills will remain idle for at least a month. This action has been taken in order to allow a clearing of accumulated stocks to be made. Mr A. Seed, secretary of the Dominion Federated Sawmillers’ Association, stated to-day that the position had been accentuated by the, large importations of timber from overseas. MOTOR FALLS 150 FEET. GISBORNE, Jan. 17. This afternoon a motor lorry driven by W. 11. Priestly, while passing a ear a few miles on the Gisborne side of Morere, went over the hank and, fell 150 feet. A not her ear. passing later, picked Priestley up amt took him to Cook Hospital. where lie was found to ho suffering from a broken cdllar hone. GARAGE FIRE. GISBORNE. Jan. 17. On Sunday morning, a garage at Ormond .containing a five seater Dodge ear, the property of R. Statham, was totally destroyed by fire. The ear was insured for £l3O in the Standard ollicc. There was no insurance on the building.