DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 January 1931, Page 6

DOMINION ITEMS.

A welcome BREAK

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.)

WAIPUKURAU, January 21

Following a temperature of 112.75 in the shade yesterday, the prolonged spell of dry weather was broken this afternoon. Heavy, steady rain fell throughout the whole of the countryside and the brown ground lias been parched amt cracked since the last measurable rainfall recorded on November 2(>tli through insufficiency of rain. Since September the wells and creeks have gone dry for the first time tor many years. 'There was general rejoicing. The present rainfall will do incalculable good throughout Central Hawke’s Bay.

DRIVER'S LICENSE CANCELLED

NELSON. January 20

In suspending for three months the driver’s license of James Stewart Connell, found intoxicated while in charge of a car. Magistrate A. E. Maunsell, in reviewing counsel’s remarks on the accused’s behalf, said that it appeared that the man was too weak to resist drink, and that being so he was afraid that misfortune must fall on accused’s own shoulders, rather than on some poor unfortunate, who might be killed on the highway. It was really a question of whether, in the public interests, the man should not he disqualified indeliniteiy from using a motor-ear oil tin* highway. EAR AM EA FLOOD. WELLINGTON. January 21. The Secretary of the General Post Office has received the following advice from tin* Postmaster at Karamea, forwarded through the Chief .Postmaster at Westport:- “At 10 a.m. the river was still running fairly high, but it was sale. The damage amounts to the silting of the lowest-lying farms and minor damage to roads. The weather is clearer. There is no anxiety.”

MASTER OF STEAMER CHARGED. DUNEDIN. January 22. A decision with an important, hearing on the interpretation of the Shipping and Seamen’s Act 11)08. was given in the Police Court to-day by Air Bartholomew S.M., in a case in which Thor Olat Hativig. master of the steamer “June” was charged with voyaging to Lyttelton and Port Chaoilers without a. full crew as specified in Section o-l of the Act. The magistrate, alter quoting authorities, held it was ultra vires of the New Zealand Legislature to apply the provisions of Sections 54 to a foreign ship employed as an intercolonial trading ship. The information was dismissed and the laets ol the ease were that a number of seamen walked dll’ tlit*, ship at Lyttelton, the master bringing her on short handed.

RAISING OF LOANS. DUNEDIN, January 22. The City Council instructed the finance committee to consider the advisability of raising a live thousand loan provided a subsidy of two pounds for one pound he forthcoming from the Unemployment Board. At the request of an unemployment deputation, the council will hold a. speciai meeting to consider llio raising of a twentv-five thousand loan.

■Medium porkers sold from 25s to 355, heavy Cl to C2 fls ; light haconers C2 7s (id to C2 15s, heavy £2 17s fid to C l : choppers to Cl ss. There was a 'decline in store pig values.