DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 October 1927, Page 4

DOMINION NEWS.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) SHEEP RETURNS. WELLINGTON. October 3. A total increase of 744.023 sheep is shown in the annual return tabled in the House of Representatives to-night, the total number of sheep in the Dominion being 25,049,010.

In the North Island there were 13.957.820 on April 30th. this year, an increase of 127.570 compared with 1920. The largest number in any one county is 1.189,825 in Hawke's Bay, a decrease of 10.797. The next largest number is -in Rnngitikei. where an increase took place. An increase of 010.453 was recorded in the South Island, which had 11.091,196. The largest number in any one county was 1,107,510 in Southland. an increase, of 10*2.751. Auckland district had 3531 sheepowners with 2.289.-188 sheep; NapicrGisborne district 3599 owners with 6.317.884; Wellington-West Coast 4459 owners with 5.350.488; Marlborough-Nelson-Westland 2377 owners with 1,369.648; C’anterhurv-Kaikoura 5713 owners with 5,102,411, and Otago 5929 with 5,219,137.

There are 25,609 sheep-owners throughout New Zealand, an increase of 504 whose flocks total 25.049,010. or 744.023 more than in 1920. EIGHT.MONTHS’ ARRIVALS. WELLINGTON. Oct. 3. In the eight months ended August 31st. there arrived in New Zealand 8258 immigrants who had intimated their intention to take up permanent residence in the Dominion. The countries from which they principally came were: England and Wales, 4000; Scotland, 2250; Ireland, 704; Australia, I 470. During the same period 8 Chin- ! ese and 21 Indians arrived and 22 : Chinese left. The tourists who came I numbered 5029.

SENTENCED FOR THEFT. PALMERSTON N., Oet. 3. At tbe Magistrate’s Court this morning Alfred Arthur Stanley, aged 21, a hawker, was sent to gaol for three months for stealing a motor cycle, valued at £*2o. which bo subsequently sold at Waita.rn for 325. Accused alfo pleaded .guilty to the theft of a gold ring, valued at 30s, and was sentenced to one month's imprisonment, to lie concurrent with th.e other sentence. Accused had several previous convictions. FALSE PRETENCES. WELLINGTON. Oct. 3. A young salesman, John Larnach Shearer, was charged with obtaining a dinner suit, valued at £l7 17s, iVvai James Arthur Doherty by falsely representing that be would send the tailor’s boy Hack' with the cheque when lie delivered the suit at the office. He was als i charged with obtaining from Turnbull and Jones electric globes, valued at £lB 8s 7d. by falsely representing that lie bad paid for them. “Tile business community must be protected,” said Mr Salmon S.M. “and this niiiu lias committed an extremely cunning and deeply laid scheme of false pretences. It is a case for imprisonment and I shall sentence accused to a short, sharp term of imprisonment, which, T hope, will have the desired effect.*’

Accused was sentenced to three men tbs’ imprisonment.

1 SHARK FISHING. I 1 AUCKLAND. Oct. 3. | Mr Lionel WVathnll. u member of tbe Mangonui Swordfish Club, took advantage of the prevailing splendid | weather at .Mangonui yesterday and went on a fishing expedition in a launch to Bcrglian's Head, within 20 minutes of the township, and was reI warded with a perfect day’s sport. He booked a niako shark weighing 2371b5. , which proved a very lively fish to handle, and it was an hour and fortv- ' five minutes before lie secured it. I Good fighters are often found lale in the season. Commercial fishermen , secured a very large mako close to , Berghan’s Head a few days ago on a hand lino. Several other launch owners, who yesterday were engaged in lia- | puka fishing, report that makes are i present. Several large luipuka were l taken hy makes when in sight of the fishermen.

A FATAL KICK. AUCKLAND, Oet. 3. .Tallies Alexander Stewart, the only surviving son of Mr Charles Stewart, of Wnikino, died suddenly in the Waihi Hospital on Saturday, from meningitis. While playing football a week ago at Wnikino be was accidentally kicked on the back. He was admitted to the hospital three days before bis death. He was lb years of age. The funeral took phvr-e yesterday afternoon and was largely attended. Much sympathy is felt for the familv.

Mr Stewart's youngest son, aged nine, was one of the two persons who were shot dead at Wnikino School in October, 1923, by the demented man, Higgins.

POLITICAL GOSSIP. (Special Correspondent). WELLINGTON, Oct. 3. Parliament is going to. more than make up for its brief labours of last session. Ministerialists liave made up their mind to n continuation of the current session until the middle of November if the work contemplated cannot To finished before that time. This is the working session, and if the Government wishes to face the electors with an accomplished programme of definite magnitude, they realise that a

pre-election session is not the best opportunity. Farming members will press for an early adjournment because their work on the land will be calling, hut this point has been raised in discussion in the lobbies, and meets with the answer that a member lias his first duty to attend Parliament when there is work to he done.

Cabinet readjustments to fill the vacancy due to Mr Bollard's death is definitely put aside until the session ends, j This is stated on tiie Prime Minister’s authority.. Ho is satisfied, he says, I that he has enough good men to carry on Ministerial work meantime. A further, explanation, quite unofficial, is that Mr Hoeldv, member for Roforun, being most likely to secure the honour, an immediate appointment would cause difficulty in conducting the business of tlie session, as Mr Hockly is a very capable Chairman of Committees, and liis experience will be extremely valuable when the Government is putting the new Customs Tariff through committee of the whole House. A new Chairman at this Juncture would be awkward, but not so embarrassing, possibly, as the task of selecting a new Chairman of Committees in the period when there will lie a number of disappointed members of tlie party resulting from the filling of the Cabinet vacancy. Thus it is not surprising that members have ceased tlieir interesting gossip on the subject of probables versus possibles. CABLE BREAK REPAIRED. AUCKLAND: Oct. 3.

The cable ship Iris, returned this morning, haying repaired a fault in the Pacific cable. The cable had "been completely severed,