DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 May 1929, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

A BUSY MINISTER. PROBLEMS IN THE NORTH. (By Telegraph—Press Association). WELLINGTON, May 3. For nearly three weeks the Hon 0. \Y. Forbes, -Minister ol Lands and Agriculture, wiil He touring Auckland province investigating land settlement, ihe noxious weeds problem, swamp drainage and other matters. The Minister’s itinerary provides for crowded days and busy evenings with deputations. He will look into swamp drainage schemes in the Waikato, and throughout the tour will have an eye to suitable land for close settlement. “On the agriculture .side,” remarked Mr Forbes to a representative of the “Lyttelton Times,” “the biggest problem is noxious weeds. I will he accompanied by Dr Rcukes, Director General of Agriculture, and it is proposed to hold conferences with the object of discussing remidial measures. It seems at present as if the most practicable course i-s to secure complete organisation of farmers, local bodies and the Agricultural Department to cope with the difficulty.” VESSEL SOLD. AUCKLAND, May 3. The four-masted auxiliary vessel Margaret W. has boon sold to the Gisborne Shcepfarm-L-rs’ Company, and will he taken over by her now owners; to-morrow. 'J lie vessel is to lie employed in the Gisborne-Auckland carg - service, and will replace the company 7 auxiliary schooner, Elsie Mary, which foundered in the Bay of Plenty near the Aldermen Islands on March 18th last.

The Margaret W. is a"*tecl vessel o! 139-1 tons, and was -built at Svcnhorg. Denmark in 1919, her former name lx iug Margot. She was bought in 197 b by Captain A. F. Watch in, who brought her to New Zealand, and amaster and owner he has employed her in the inter-colonial cargo serv'ce. In February last Margaret AY. underwent an. extensive refitting and was converted from an auxiliary schooner into a motor vessel. GOOD FISHING. GOVERNOR-GENERAL IS LUCKY. AUCKLAND, May 3. The Governor-General Sir Charles Kergusson, iishing in the Tongarir-> .liver yesterday, secured 13 beautiful rainbow trout, the hugest being a ten pounder. The catch averaged Gifl 1:-. Fishing again this morning before -reaklast, his Excellency landed four more fish, the largest being another ten-nounder.

'l’he other two rods in this party have done almost equally as well, a total of 36 fish having been landed in a dav and a half.

CHRISTCHURCH COUNCIL

CHRISTCHURCH, May 6

The official count of the first preference votes in the City Council election shows that one labour, and four citizens’ candidates, gained more than the quota, of 1776 votes, and they have been declared elected as follows:—Afi Dan Sullivan (Labour), Alessrs Lyons. Beanland and Flesher.

There are ,eleven seats still to he filled. There is now the possibility o! the Labour and Citizens Parties each securing eight seats.

AYith the Mayor, Rev. J. K. Archer, who is a Labourite, this wmi d give Labour a majority on the Council.

PRISONER ESCAPES. AVANGANLI, May 6

George W. Hastings, aged about 51. a habitual criminal, ccapcd from thy Wanganui Hospital at 2.30 o’clock this morning. He had been sent a week ago to the hospital for treatment. He made a similar escape from the Wanganui gaol eighteen months ago, and he was put on bread and waier Tor ten days. He is supposed to he hiding in the lupins at Castled iff. ESCAPEE RECAPTURED. WANGANUI, May 5. The escaped prisoner, George Hastings, was recaptured on Saturday afternoon in the lupins at Castled iff. FALSE REPORT ABOUT LONGBURN INCIDENT. PALMERSTON N., May 5. The rumour that a startling sequel to the attempt to derail the “Fields Express” at Longburn on Wednesday night had occurred the following night is officially denied. On Thursday evening, the station staff at Longburn received a ’phone ring from the signal Ikjx, where Porter Stairs was stationed. No response wrs received. An investigation was made. Stairs was found unconscious on the floor, with a s’iglit scratch on his cheek, and the window in the box was broken. When questioned by the police, the Railway Traffic Inspector stated that Porter Stairs had merely fainted.

MOTOR CAPSIZES

MAN SERIOUSLY INJURED

HAWERA, May I

Mu in ford Wilson, a married man, 34 years of age, manager of the Paring Fanil. Ltd.. Wellington, was admitted to the Hawera Hospital with serious injuries, as the result of service ear overturning on the Main South Road, near Patea. An operation was performed on him this evening. The other occupants of the car escaped with bruises.