DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 May 1930, Page 5

DOMINION ITEMS.

NOT RETIRING

SA MOAN ADMINISTRATOR

D Telegraph—Press Assn , Copyright

AUCKLAND, May 2,

d here is no truth whatever in the report circulated in Auckland that Colonel S. S. Allen, Administrator: of Western Samoa, contemplates, retiring from that position. His father-in-law, Mr A. L. Poster, who lives in Auckland,' said Colonel Allen’s recent letters had contained nothing that would lend colour to such a report, and today a radio message was received in Auckland from Colonel Allen stating definitely that he had expressed no wish to retire.

NEW PLYMOUTH-OXEHUNGA

FERRY

NEW PLYMOUTH, May 2

The New Plymouth-Oneliunga ferry steamer service has been discontinued after fifty-nine years’ operation ,by the Northern Steamship Company. ‘ When the Ngapuhi sailed on her last trip to-night, a large crowd at the wharf gave the steamer a rousing farewell.

An indication of the trend of modern transport is that fact that the port is now without a regular passenger service for the first time since the founding of Taranaki province,

JOCKEY’S £IOO FINE.

CHRiISTCH UIICH, May 2.

A Press Association message published to-day stated that Dr Staley at a meeting ( of the Howard Penal Reform League, had said that a jockey driving a motor car while drunk, had killed an old woman, and had been fined £IOO, but that the fine had been paid by a racing club. The Secretary of the New Zealand Racing Conference, Mr H. R. Sellers, states that only one such case hac occurred in New Zealand, that of W. S. Bagby. J/ 'C/ j ■ Mr H. R. Sellers statessthat- he had enquiries made, and it was not a fact that the fine of Bagby was paid by a racing club, but that the fine had been paid by Bagby himself.

COMMERCIAL TREATY

WELLINGTON, May 3

Although an official .-taten;cat re the Canadian commercial treaty will not be made while confidential dealings are in progress, it is understood New Zealand will negotiate with Canada for a direct trade treaty to take the place of the agreement that expires on October 12th, It is most unlikely, however, that negotiations from New Zealand’s point of view will be based on the proposed duty of four cents per. lb on butter in place of the present one cent.

WELLINGTON’S RAINFALL.

WELLINGTON, May L After a warm dry month, heavy rain at the very end of April brought the record up to a little over the average, which was 3.80. Although February and March were also dry, January was unusually wet, and the total rainfall for the year so far, notwithstanding three months of drought is 11.36 inches, which actually is a shade over the average. There was a remarkable'absence of wind last month and tne sun shone on every day but two,