THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 1912. GENERAL BOOTH AND HIS WORK.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 201, 22 August 1912, Page 4

THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 1912. GENERAL BOOTH AND HIS WORK.

The following is Mr. D. C. Betes , weather forecast for 24 hours from 9 a.m. this day:—"Easterly winds, veering moderate to strong, after 24 hours. Indications are for fair weather, but increasing haze and cloudiness at times. Glass little movement, but fall slowly after 24 hours." At the Ashburton Police Court, a day or two ago, a person who was about to become surety for an accused in the amount of £25, asked whether, in the event of accused committing suicide before the date fixed for the hearing, he would be liable for the amount of the bail. The Court official remarked that that was the first time he had heard that particular point raised. One of the two justices on the Bench remarked that the person would undoubtedly be liable for accused's appearance in Court, although he thought the Magistrate would use his discretion in the matter, and probably would not estreat the full amount of the surety. The bail bond was entered into.

The cross-examination of Sergeant Wohhnann, of the Waihi ipolice, by Mr T. Cotter, K.C., during the hearing of a cattle stealing case at the Supreme Court Tesulted in some interesting evidence being adduced. The sergeant was asked if he had been with a certain witness named Luke the previous evening in an hotel. He replied that such was the case. "Did you shout for him?" asked Mr CotteT. "Yee," came the response. The sergeant added that ho did not know at the time that Luke had been subpoenaed. "You knerw that he was a witness for the defence, and with the aid of a little liquor you got him to make a statement to you," remarked Mr Cotter. Constable Miles, another witness, stated he tvaa also in the hotel with the others, and Luke had signed a statement contradicting his evidence i& the Lower Court. Mr Cotter said that there was an atmosphere of perjury about the incident. Mr Tole, the Crown Prosecutor, commenced to explain that there had been no perjury on Luke's part, when liis Honor (Air Justice Cooper) remarked that it was practically an invitation to a man to commit perjury.

The Dunedhi Coroner PMr Graham) concluded an inquiry yesterday into the circnmstances surrounding the death of a twt>-year-old son of Mr A. Creighton, Ka&orai Valley. The boy fell into a tub of hot -water and soda on Monday, and died Tuesday morning. The Coroner returned a verdict that death was duo •to scalding, with no blame attachable to anyone. The doctor said that he was satisfied that everything possible had been done to save the child. One thing which more particularly struck a Wellington man during hia recent visit to the Island, was the extent of iand which is now being devoted both at Tahiti and Rarotonga to the cultivation of vanilla and eoconnuts. This was especially noticeable in the Fronch possession. Both copra and vanilla arc fetching good prices just now, and settlers, belipving that the demand will continue, are devoting increased attention to the crops. The orange season in the Cook (iroup has been shorter than usual, but the fruit has been of good quality. The export of bananas from the group will be large, despite a big blow, which did much damage to some plantations a few months ago.

It frequently happens that a witness in the Supreme Court gives materially different evidence to that given in the Lower Court, and it was a state of affairs such as this that caused a little discuseion between his Honor (Mr. Justice Cooper) and the counsel engaged in a case at the Supreme Court criminal sessions to-day. Mr. Tole, Crown Prosecutor, raised the point as tn whether it was right for counsel to interview a witness in between the sittings of the Court. In his own case ho had only done bo about four times during the twenty years he had been Crown Prosecutor, relying absolutely on the signed depositions. His Honor pointed out that the police frequently got statements from witnesses. j Instance after instance had come under I his notice to this effect, and it wae only reasonable that a counsel should have the samo privilege.

At lee end of the month the Council of the New Zealand Federated Seamen'B Union will meet in Wellington. Several matters of importance will come up for consideration. One matter will mc a request from the waterside side Workers' Federation that the seamen co-operate in securing that all cargo ■work, winch-driviDg, and " bull-rope *' anj other duties be performed exclusively by ■waterside workers. At present, in certain circumstances, the crews do work which the Waterside Federation holds {should be done by shoremen.

At the meeting of the creditors in the estate of Mrs Sarah Rebecca Owen, which was continued after the "Star" went to press yesterday, the bankrupt in her sworn statement eaid that her failure was due to heavy losses on several consijjnments of gum, and to delinquent debtors. Two contractors had taken their departure for Australia without making any payment for stores and other goods which they l»ad purchased to the value of £05. A further £95 of the deficiency "was accounted for by a barge sinking in the river, and the loss of the stores aboard. It was decided to adjourn the meeting €11 Monday next. In the meantime tenders are to 'be invited for the business, which is being carried on under the direction of the principal creditor.

Five youths recentiy imprisoned at Waihi for refusing to attend drill are expected out to-day. Anti-militarists wished to take the opportunity to make a demonstration, and proposed that work at the mines should cease and that the men should "take a holiday. A ballot was taken at ike pithead 'yesterday, and the men rejected the proposal by 272 to 127.

The Rev. M. .Edge wffl deßver a popular lecture at the iLeys Institute, Ponsonby, to-morrow night, on "The Social Progress of England," in the course of which he will give a descriptive account of life in England four or five centuries ago. The subject is a very interesting one, and should attract a large audience.