DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 December 1930, Page 6

DOMINION ITEMS.

WOOL SALES

(By TelegrapU—Per Press Association.!

NAPIER, December 3

A slight hardening of prices compared with Auckland values, was noticeable at the first Napier wool sale of the season to-day, but the increased rates were no doubt due almost entirely to trie better condition of the wool offered, as compared with that at the northern centre.

Withdrawals reduced the original catalogue from 19,370 hales, to 15,500, and passings' totalled about 20 per cent. Continental buyers were very active, competing particularly for pieces and bellies, while Bradford entered the market in earnest for the first time this season and lifted a fair proportion of the catalogue. Competition generally was keen, and the sale proceeded at a great pace throughout, buyers bidding very freely for practically all lots within restricted limits. Pieces and bellies, in particular, improved on Auckland prices. The official range will not be prepared until to-morrow, hut'the unofficial summary gives the rates as under:— Medium Halfbred, s)d to 7)d; Coarse Halfbred, od to 7d; Fine Crossbred 4)cl to Gird : Medium Crossbred 3jd to 5Jd; Coarse Crossbred, 3-Vd to s^l; Low Crossbred, 3id to 4id; Hoggets 4d to /.id ; Bellies and Pieces, 2d to ojd ; Crutc-liings, 2d to 4d; Locks, Id to ljj'd.

INQUEST’ VERDICT. CHRISTCHURCH, December 4. The inquest into the death of Geo. Matthew Victor Chambers, a. speedway rider who was fatally injured on opening night of the season at Monica Park was concluded. The coroner’s verdict stated that the cause of death was laceration of the brain and fracture of the skull sustained through colliding with a fence. The accident appeared to be due to an error of judgment on the part of Chambers in negotiating a bend on the track. There was no evidence of want of equipment or fault in the track itself."

ALLEGED FALSE PRETENCES

AUCKLAND, December 4. Gordon Dugald Crawford was charged with obtaining £IOO from the N.Z. petrol company by selling it a formula which was valueless and obtaining £125 by falsely representing he could manufacture a subtsitute for benzine, also stealing £22. Herbert A. ’.Steadman, barrister (agent for the Company) giving evidence concerning the negotiations with accused and his uncle, and the elaborate secrecy insisted upon by Crawford, said that when eventually the envelope containing the secret formula was opened, the Directors of the Coinpany found it contained only a. statement that the formula was hidden elsewhere.

Demonstrations given by accused were unsucessful.

A CONFERENCE

OF N.Z. ECONOMIC POSITION

WELLINGTON, December 4

An important conference will be held at Wellington next Wednesday, called by the Associated Chambers of Commerce, to consider the present economic position of . the country. It is anticipated that it will be attended bv representatives'of tlie Chambers, of Employers’ Federation, the Farmers’ Union, and the Sheep Owners’ Federation.

TREE FALLS ON BUSHMAN. INVERCARGILL, December 4

An accident which ended fatally occurred at Kilkelly’s • Sawmill at Motumote this morning. From the particulars available, it appears that a young man, James Kearns, was working in the bush when a tree fell on him, badly crushing his body. He was conveyed to the Riverton Hospital, but lie died a few hours later.