DOMINION NEWS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 82, 29 November 1912, Page 3

DOMINION NEWS.

PETROLEUM

(Per Press Association.) Eketahuna, Last Night,

At the official opening on the occasion of the commencement of boring by the Mangaone Oilfields, Ltd., at Time to-day, a large crowd was present, including Wairarapa and Hawkes Bay speakers. It was explained that they had got the best style of drill in the world, and highly qualified experts in charge. It was expected to bore 2000 feet in two months. The venture is co-operative, as practically all the option givers are shareholders. The experts are agreed that the locality is most favourable, and hope within three months to see oil flowing and the methods adopted play an important part in the future industry of New Zealand. Mr G. R. Sykes, M.P., declared the boring open. Drilling commenced at 1 p.m., and was four feet down by 3 p.m. Heavy timber retarded progress. The drill will work night and day.

HALF-HOLIDAY QUESTION,

A MAGISTERIAL DECISION

Timaru, Last Night,

Mr G. V. Day, S.M., gave his decision to-day in a case against a, Dunedin firm for conducting auctions of goods on a half-holiday afternoon. He held that holding casual auctions at people’s houses on the half-holiday was not a breach of the Shops and Offices Act, but auctions lasting for days was a breach, and so was the displaying of goods to be sold on some other day. He entered a conviction and imposed a fine of £l.

WESTPORT ITEMS

Westport, November 28

Thomas Stewart, a seaman on the steamer Canopus, has been miss:ng since Tuesday week, and is supposed to have been drowned in the Duller River.

The Westport coal company offer a £ for £ subsidy up to £IOO for a Plunket nurse. .

COMMERCIAL TRUSTS ACT

Wellington, November 28

Mr Fairbairn, of Fairbair, Wright and Co., i was further cross-examined when the Trust Acts prosecution was resumed to-day. Witness said his firm allowed all their customers in sugar the same discount, retaining one or half per cent, themselves on the linos which they indented. They charged from per cent, to 10 per cent, for tariff lines.

In reply to a•' question as' to ''what was considered a fair profit for retailers to make on Neave’s Food, witness said some retailers had evidently been content with a profit of 10 per cent.

Counsel wished to ask witness what profit his firm made on lines that were not tariffed, and Mr Fairbairn asked if he were bound to answer. The Chief Justice said witness should not be asked to disclose his private business. What had the question to do with the case, he asked. Counsel; “This witness says he can sell sugar at U per cent., and we wish to show that,,if he can do so, it is by making bigger profits on other lines.”

Witness, said the suggestion was his firm charged higher prices for some goods than other merchants did. He would he willing to produce his price list to he compared' by the Court with the price lists of even date issued by the Merchants’ Association. After further examination, the case closed for the Crown.