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Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 48, 26 February 1923, Page 4

At the annual meeting of the One Tree Hill Domain Board, among other matters it was reported that the trouble which has existed for so long in connection with boys at the gate giving access to the domain from Manukau Road still continues. The board has gone so far as to chain the gate back on Sunday afternoons, in the hope that this would abate the nnisance. but the boys still congregate there in the hope of receiving money from drivers and occupants of motor cars. It is reported that the practice has grown to such an extent that the caretaker fears that a continuance of the existing practice will result in very serious accidents. A handful of popper? thrown from a motor car on to tiic road provokes a rush from the assembled boys to pick up these pennies, quite regardless of other cars approaching. It was decided to appeal to motorists to discontinue the practice, and to enlist the offices of the Automobile Club in bringing the above before its members.

In order to enhance revenue for the purpose of making improvements to plant at the poultry competition yards at Mt. Albert, the Auckland Poultry Keepers' Association intends to hold a "field day" at the grounds on Saturday, when an auction sale to dispose of "birds, eggs, etc. will take place. Another feature will be an address and demonstration by -Mr. F. C. Brown, Chief Government Poultry Instructor.

"Every skilled labourer finds work for five unskilled labourers," said Mr. W. C. Burt. of Dunedin. at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Industrial Conference, when referring to the need for bkiJ|ed labour in. ibis DojaiuJum,

Fifty jurors were sworn before Mr. •Tustk'e Herdman this morning for service at the Supreme Court during the week. They were then discharged till 10 a.m. on Thursday, since n-o civil oases before juries are set rluwn lor tomorrow and tin- following day. Nine jurors were excused from duty, a number of them offering medical certificates or statements from employers regarding indispensability. Cases requiring the attention of juries will be heard on various dates extending over a period of three }vceks. A large number of actions remain on the list to be heard before the judge alone, and there are indications that .Mr. Justice Herdman and Mr. Justice Stringer will both be engaged, almost without, respite, till the opening of the next session. Hundreds of gannets are being wantonly killed this summer by yacht parties in search of ''sport." according to tlie remarks of fishermen who frequent the waters of the Hauraki Gulf. Xot content with merely destroying the beautiful birds by shot and powder the "sportsmen ,- make occasional depredations on their native haunts aivl carry "ff or sinas-h many of the eggs which are to be found lying about. If it were only for their fine appearance the K an " nets deserve protection, lmt the fishermen say that they perform a most necessary work by eating all tbe dead and decaying fish that are east tip on (lie lieaches. Were it net f<.r this fact the neighbourhood of such beaches would be almost disgusting and the filth left about would he a menace to public health. Thousands of gannets. with a spread of six feet when on the wing, make daily visits to the beaches along the Ooromandel Peninsula for many miles from Gannet Rock, and supplement their customary fare, consisting of live fish, by the dead ones found along (lie shore line.

Hiving a short address at the Pukekohe Show on Saturday afternoon, the Hon. \V. F. Massey, though as optimistic as visual, was not quite so 'buoyantly confident in manner. He remarked, however, that he had heard that this season the farmers on Pukekohe Hill were doing so well with their produce that they did not know what to do with their spare rash. (Laughter.) He went on to remark, inter alia, that perhaps it might !>e opportune for him to afford thorn relief by way of extra taxes. Ho noticed one particular man near him whom he could honour by recommending the coin-mi;-sionor to send him two bills instead of one. Finally, he said he was pleased to see the success that attended the Franklin Show again, which lie believed would improve still more annually. He hoped to address them again next year and for years to follow in the capacity of Prime Minister. (Applause and laughter.! Hearty cheers were then given the district's Parliamentary representative, who was accompanied by Mr. 15. P. Hudson, M.P. for Motueka,' R. F. Bollard, M.P. for Raglan, the Hon- (i. J (.iarland, M.L.C., and party.

An accident through the eaps'ze of a motor cycle occurred at the corner of Remuera and Orakei Roads on Saturday evening, and resulted in the three occupants of the machine receiving injuries. The machine was being driven by Mr. William Mattson, of Onslow Road. Ellerslie. and lie was accompanied by his wrfe in the side car, and another man, who sat in the rear. The party were returning home and were Hearing the junction of the roads referred to above, when a woman stepped on to the roadway. Mr. MaUson swerved in an attempt to avoid a collision, and the cycle overturned. The three riders were thrown to the ground, and Mr. Mattson received injuries to.his back. He was admitted to the hospital and this morning was reported to be progressing satisfactorily. The other two passengers escaped without serious injury.

'•Invites" was the word entered in a printer's order book produced in the Supreme Court this morning, the printer stating that it referred to an order for invitations. "'lt is a word that has been introduced into the language, and has evidently come to stay." remarked Mr. Quartley. Yes. 'invites', it is a horrible word," observed Mr. Justice Hosking. A little later the printer produced his ledger, wherein there was an entry referring to '-invitations." "Ah, I see you did not deface your ledger by writing 'invites'", said his Honor, with a smile.

"Regarding recommendations for the. position of workers' representative on the Arbitration Court, which have to be in the hands of the Registrar of Industrial Unions, Wellington, on or before Monday next, secretaries of unions should note that the form requires two signatures—that of the secretary, and another member of thp management committee. One form that was only signed by the secretary of an Auckland Union, and forwarded to Wellington, was returned this morning for another signature.

Hearing of the charge against Ronald Thomas Ferguson, a member of "ho Lower Hutt Fire Brigade, of having set fire to the (ire station in that suburb on November 2.3 last, ended in a dramatic, manner at the Supreme Court, Wellington. This is the case in which allegations of third degree methods were made against the detective in charge of the case. The jury, after visiting the locality, came to the conclusion that the evidence of one of the principal witnesses for the Crown was unreliable, and Mr. Justice Hnsking instructed the jury to put aside the evidence of this witness. After a retirement of 20 minutes, the jury brought in a verdict of not guilty, adding the following rider: "The jury is of opinion that the method of detaining the prisoner in this case for periods of four and three hours respectively, in the second instance without food, is altogether against the principles of justice.' .