DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 December 1930, Page 5

DOMINION ITEMS.

SHACS AND TROUT. j (By Telegraph—Per Press Association^ WELLINGTON, December 11. f The opinion that it was time that war was declared on shags, was expressed at a meeting of the Council of Wellington Acclimatisation Society: It was reported that shags shot on Mangahao and Mangatainaiio rivers contained a mini her of trout. “On 1 one occasion” write W. M. Manser “I saw eleven shags go into a river. While I was waiting for them to come within gunshot, I saw five catch a fish each. When they rose I shot two. One had a trout 12£ inches long in it, and the other had five smaller ones. Five days later I shot one with six trout in it. The fish ranged from 5i inches to inches. I have never shot a shag with an eel in it. It is not a queston of whether shags eat trout, but of how many a day.” LORD BARNBT. I DUNEDIN, December 11.

Lord Barnby returned North this morning after conferring-with business men and delivering an address on the economic situation.

PRESENTATION TO MAYOR. ASHBURTON, : December I CLI. Mr Robert Galbraith, -who out- -of seventeen years residence here has been Mayor 16 tim.es, • last evening received from the citizens a. substantial cheque in appreciation of. his services. Mr ' Galbraith leaves for .Stratford shortly. • . i : ' COLLEGE! SURGEONS CONFER. DUNEDIN, December 11. The New Zealand section of College Surgeons of Australisia opened the .annual meeting to-day. The. morning was occupied with clinical • work at the hospital and pathological studies at the medical school, followed in the. afternoon with special addresses on cancer research and also radium treatment of cancer.

AGAINST COUPONS. DUNEDIN, December 11. A meeting of retail traders resol-, utioned all rebate or gift schemes,: whereby the purchaser secures a rebate: or gifts by collecting coupons, .be entirely abolished. SUGGESTED CONFERENCE; DUNEDIN, December 11. South Island 1 Dairy Association, is writing to Hon.. Ransom suggesting that the Government immediately convene a National Economics Conference,; representative of primary and secondary industries, financial institutions, employers and l employees to discuss the position of the primary industries and make such recomendntion to the Government ns is considered expedient, by way of a remedy. MINISTER DEAD. CHRISTCHURCH, December 11. ; Obituary John Dickson,, aged 70, .a well known Presbyterian. He has been in New Zealand for forty vears.

DROWNING TRAGEDY. INQUEST HELD. ' PALMERSTON N., Dec. 11. At the inquest on Florence , Dommett, school teacher, aged 23, and Vernon Charles Ferguson, a pupil aged 9, who were drowned in a river near Kamako School while bathing yesterday, evidence was given that the teacher was instructing the pupils in swimming and when she took Ferguson, into the deep water she appeared to faint both being in difficulties. The bodies were recovered, but resusciative methods failed. ... The Coroner returned a verdict that the deaths were due to accidental drowning, and commented that where parties of children went bathing there should be more than one adult present in case of accident. ,

FRUIT STOCKS. PALMERSTON N., Dec. 11. Arrangements have been made for the supply of three thousand fruit stocks from East Mailing 7, Station (Kent), to plant a research station at Palmerston North. It was stated by Doctor Cunningham to-day that the decision follows the recent visit of Mr R. G. Hatton, director of East Mailing Fruit Research Station.