DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 May 1927, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

[bt telegraph—rEß press association.] N.Z. PASTURES. WELLINGTON, May 10. fit their report to the Research Council on New Zealand grasslands, Dr C. IT. Cockayne and Mr Levy state that 91.2 of our total exports depend on pastures. The report deals with the nutrient context of pastures from four aspects.

(1) The highest potential food value mixture it is possible to secure on each soil type. In connection with this they are inclined to the opinion that the perennial ryegrass and white clover are the dominant pastures, and are the highest in food value, particularly for ntilk production. 12) Determining tbe optimum mill: producing life and stages of herbage of the component species of pasture on each definite association. (•') Determination within each grassland species of the context alterations that occur as a result of top-dressing with artificial manures and witli liming.

(•I) Determination on certain soil types of mineral deficiencies that result in definite stock malnutrition. MOTORS IMPORTED. A HEAVY DECLINE. WELLINGTON. May IC.

The number of motor vehicles imported into New Zealand during tbe first three months of tbe year was 8608, as compared with 6951 in the corresponding period of last year, tbe contraction being equal to very nearly of) per cent. The values, which are based on current domestic prices, phis 10 per cent., were .-0564,208, against £1.032,171, a shrinkage of £407,963. This reduction in imports is very significant, for it indicates that so far as motor vehicles are concerned. New Zealand has for tbe present- at least reached the saturation point. Th sources from which the vehicles have been imported (the figures include cars and car chassis) are as under: 192(1 1927 United States ... 213“ 1528

The decline in the imports from Canada is somewhat striking, since the Canadian car has tin advantage over the American machine in the matter of preferential treatment under the tariff. There were only 29S car chassis imported during the first quarter of the year, and of this number 101 came front the United Kingdom. 84 front Canada, 64 from Italy, 18 from the United States, and 5 from France.

FIGURES FOR APRIL. WELLINGTON. May 16. The number of motor vehicles registered in the Dominion up to the end of last month totalled 163,371. For the previous month the figures were 162,311. I The April return is made tip as follows : North Island—Cars, 65.756: trucks, etc.. 15,859; cycles 19.346; total 160,961. South Island—Cars, 49.734; trucks, etc.. 7108: cycles. 14.571: total, 62.413. ELDERLY MAN’S DEATH. WELLINGTON, May 16. The body of Alexander Scryntgoour. an elderly man, who lmd been an inmate of the Salvation Army Home tit Miramar for the past few days, was found in the water alongside the steps of tbe Miramar wharf at 12.15 o’clock this afternoon. His head and .should ers were under water, and appearances pointed to his having slipped while walking across the lauding at the foot of the steps. Dr Rawson was immediately summoned, and artificial respiration was adopted, Init without success. The hotly was removed to the morgue.

SCHOOLS SYLLABUS. WELLINGTON. May 16

The Syllabus- Revision Ciniimitee sol up by the .Minister for Education to review tlio whole subject of education and make proposals for the improvement of the national system, will resume its sittings ill Wellington on Tuesday next. The committee has already sat twice, but further sittings are necessary by reason of the magnitude of the task, and arrangements have been made for addresses to the Committee by prominent individuals, leaders of thought in the business world, including the professional, commercial, and industrial branches.

GOVERNMENT OFFICER’S DEATH. -AUCKLAND, May 10. The only passenger to disembark from the Sussex, which arrived from Calcutta yesterday, was Airs C. Fisher Clark, formerly Miss Speight, of Auckland, who has been living in Singapore for nearly two years, where her husband, the late Captain "William Fisher Clark, was drowned three months ago, while investigating rubber smuggling by bands of Chinese. Captain Fisher Clark saw submarine service in the navy during the war, and subsequently entered the mercantile marine Latterly lie was appointed to the dharge of one of a fleet of nine large motor-boats operated by the Government for the suppression of smuggling. Mrs Clark frequently accompanied the expeditions up the .7o-

liore coast, and recently the revenue tleet broke up some large organised bands of Chinese and Malays, who were engaged in smuggling dutiable supplies of raw rubber to the Fast Indies. On llier last trip Mrs Fisher Clark stayed in Singapore, as her husband was intent on the capture of a smuggling gang which was operating on the Johore coast, about eight hours’ run from Singapore. With the informer, two Malays, and the captain of another vessel, he left the launch in a small boat at night. The party was proceeding up a wide river when the boat was swamped. Captain Fisher Clark vanished in the darkness and was never seen again.

N AIT MR HOSPITAL STAFF N AITFR. May 10. A somewhat serious state of affairs at Napier Hospital, duo to the fact that the stipendiary medical and surgical staff are “desperately over-

worked,” was brought under the notice of the board to-day by the honorary staff, who complained that an administrator had not been appointed, ns recommended by them, to tide over the period of absence of the resident medical superintendent on leave in England. In consequence of the report the board, following a lengthy discussion, decided to appoint Dr ,T. P. D. Leahy temporary salaried superintendent, and also immediately to consult the chairman of the honorary staff relative to the appointment of an anaesthetist. MAORI CHIEF’S DEATH. AMATROA. A lay 16.

The late Ihaaka AVhaanga was buried at Nuiiaka in the presence of the largest gathering ever seen there. The funeral was a full military one. Indirection of the Government, a. firing

party being provided by the old Maori Pioneer Battalion. Every local body and sports organisation was represented find Natives from all parts of the North Island were present.

NEW STEAMERS. AUCKLAND, May 17. At the annual meeting of the Northern Steamship Company, the Chairman announced that to meet further developments in its cargo trade and to prepare for the replacement of tlicCompany’s passenger and cargo steamers with modern freights, the Company was having built in Scotland a shallow draught steel oil vessel, fitted ■ with fully-powered twin internal combustion engines of tbe latest type. The vessel, which bad been named the Tanturu, was launched on April 7, and was now ready to leave for Auckland. T„~ addition, the Company was having built in Auckland a wooden vessel ot the Otimai class, but larger.

THREE YE A lIS IMPOSED. NEW PLYMOUTH. May 17. At the Supreme Court Archibald Cameron and Edward Joseph Rourke, who pleaded guilty in the lower court to serious charges of theft, forgery, uttering, and false pretences were sentenced to reformative detention at tbe Borstal Institution not exceeding three years.

FTR-E AT NAPIER. NAPIER. May 17

Damage to the extent of nearly ton thousand pounds resulted from n fire which broke out in the premises of Darby’s Stores, Ltd., fancy goods retailers. early this evening. The shop is situated in the centre of Hastings Street and tbe outbreak was seen within a quarter of an hour after closing and then lmd a strong hold. The flames spread through the building with remarkable rapidity and quickly consumed practically the whole stock valued at about C< 0(40. During the last few days a start bad been made to remove to new premises and it was tbe intention to vacate tbe present shop at the end of the month. The building was of brick, two storeys high and tbe interior suffered considerably. Only silght damage'was done to the adjoining buildings. The insurance on the building and fittings was L’3500 in the Guardian Insurance and on the stock £3500 distributed in tbe Guardian, Phoenix and United Offices The insurance on tlu stock were reduced by two thousand just a month ago on account of the quantity on band at the tittle having been somewhat less titan usual.

ACQUITTED on re-trial. AUCKLAND, May 17. Tbe re-trial of Ernest Edwin Leaning. a well-known eity bootmaker, on two charges of indecent assault on a young man, ended to-night in a verdict of not guilty.

ANOTHER RKQU-Xr. AUCKLAND. .May 17

Mrs Margaret Fotheringham, aged 80, years, whose death occurred last Sunday has bequeathed one hundred pounds t) the Auckland Hospital Board to endow a cot in memory of her husband. I ho late Joint Stewart Eolberingham. After providing for some persona! bequests, the balance -f Ibc estate is to go to the Leslie Presbyterian Orphanage at Auckland. Tt is estimated that the amount for the Orphanage will be about one thousand pounds.

Canada :?sn2 J110 I'nitod Kingdom ... 80 o 70-1 T tal v 87 ]St Belgimn 2 — Franco 33 22 Total GOol 3003