DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 January 1930, Page 6

DOMINION ITEMS.

By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) HURT I CUT UR AL, CONFERENCE. WELLINGTON, Jan. 15. The annual conference of the Horticultural Trades Association was opened to-day by the Agricultural Minister (Mr Forbes). A civic welcome was extended by Mr Luckie, Deputy-May-or, and addresses were given by Mr C. M. Smith, representing Hon. W. Taverner. Commissioner of State Forests, Ah- Tripp, representing the Wellington Acclimatisation Society, and Nash, McKeen and McDougall, M’s.P. Messrs J. N. McLeod and T. Waugh replied on behalf of the Conference, 'fhe President (Mr Davies) said the demand for apples overseas had induced a moderate amount of n’ew planting to be undertaken. Peaches and other stone fruits had been in good demand for shelter, and forest trees. He stressed the need of urging on the State the necessity of an extensive tree planting campaign. It was hoped that the Government would bring down a bill to remove some of the anomalies affecting florists.

BOOKSELLERS CONFER. WELLINGTON, Jan. 15. Some fifty delegates, including several ladies, are attending the ninth annual conference of Associated Booksellers of Now Zealand. The report mentioned that as a result of a gratuitous tour by Messrs G. H. Bennett and M. D. Driver, 100 members had been added to the roll. A good response had been made to the appeal for assistance towards re-establishing the Secldonvillo Library, destroyed by flood, which resulted from the earthquake.

AN INQUEST. WELLINGTON, Jan. 15. At the inquest to-day the Coroner found that Henry Keast died on Jan. nary Ist. of a gunshot wound self-in-flicted during a period of mental depression and unbalance, most probably the result of his war services. INTERIM DIVIDEND DECLARED. WELLINGTON, January IC. The Commercial Bank of Australia Limited has l>ecn advised by its head office at Melbourne that the usual interim dividends have been declared. The rates are ordinary fifteen per cent, and preference four per cent, pei annum.