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Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 180, 1 August 1925, Page 8

Only two no bills have been returned by the Grand Jury at the present criminal sessions at the Supreme Court. Of 22 fresh cases on the calendar true bills were returned in respect of 20. The first case in which no bill was returned was that of George Edward Barker (Mr. Alan Moody), charged with manslaughter. The second case was that of a Maori, Tainui Mauraka (Mr.-J. J. Sullivan), charged with incest at Pukekohe. The case could not be dealt with on Thursday, when tbe sessions opened, on account of the absence of a witness, and Mr. Justice Herdman accepted tbe return of no bill late yesterday afternoon, thanking members of the Grand Jury for the trouble they had gone to in examining the case. Accused was formally discharged.

In thanking the members for electing him to the position of president, Mr. Albert W. Clark stated, at the annual dinner of the Land and Estate Agents and Land Auctioneers' Association last night, that there was no doubt but that the profession was coming into its own. The lifting of the profession on to a plane consistent with its importance should be their constant aim. Progress in that direction could be seen by the assistance that was given from the Magistrate's Court with reference to the applications for licenses. The settlement of disputes brought about by the executive was another department that was doing excellent work, saving as it did the publicity of litigation in open Court. The judgments in most cases had given satisfaction to everyone.

The western side of Arthur Street, Aucklnad, has, by Ordemn-Council, been exempted from the provisions of tie Public Works Act, subject to a condition as to the building line.

Mr. William Wallace, chairman of the Hospital Board," leaves for Wellington early next week to preside at a meeting of the executive of the Hospital Boards' Association, of which he is president. It is understood that many matters of the utmost importance to hospital administration and management will be discussed, as well as some matters dealt with at the conference between the honorary staff and the Auckland Board held last night. Speaking on the subject, Mr. Wallace said most emphatically that while the association discussed matters of importance pertaining to all hospitals, both large and small, every board was alkrved to arrange by its own methods the control and management of its own institution. In other words, each board was allowed, so to speak, to work out its own salvation. The Hospital Boards' Association had not been established one week too soon, and was going to do splendid work in the interests of hospital work from one end of the - country to the other. .

Owing to the recent continuous rains work has for some time past been at a standstill in the tunnel which is being driven through the cliff in order to divert the Waikato River, so that the foundations may be laid on the site of the Arapuni dam. Practically no work on this important part of the Arapuni scheme has been done since Easter, on account of successive floods, and until the present river-bed is drained the real work of building the dam wall cannot be undertaken. . Despite the recent torrential rains, when the flow of the Waikato reached the great volume of 19,500 cubic feet per second, or about thre times its usual velocity, practically no damage was done by the flood, as checks kept on the rainfall in the upper reaches of the Waikato enable preparations to be made to face the situation. All machinery tools, and even bed-plates in the tunnel are removed as a precautionary measure when warning of a flood is received. This continual stripping of the tunnel of all excavating machinery is naturally delaying operations on the main scheme to a great extent.

It was easily seen last night, in the vicinity of the Hospital Board offices in Kitchener Street, that something of importance was taking place, as motor car after motor car drove up with most of the leading medical men of the city. Inquiry elicited the information that the conference recently arranged between the hon. medical staff of the Hospital and the Hospital Board was being held. Although the conference was held in camera, it is understood that it was the most important meeting of the kind ever held between the two parties. No information was given as to the nature of the questions discussed, but it is stated that they covered a very wide range, and that a free discussion took place between the members of the board and the medical men. The conference lasted some hours, and it was stated at the close that the utmost good feeling had prevailed, and before separating complimentary reference was made by both parties to the interest displayed in the conference, which it was hoped would be the forerunner of many more.

Speaking last night in connection with the Taupo water scheme, Mr. E. H. Potter, Mayor of Mount Eden, said that the invitation to go across to Devonport to discuss the project with the members of the Waitemata Chamber of Commerce showed the interest which was being taken in the matter. He was very willing to' go across the harbour, and with the two engineers who had reported on the scheme, and give full information regarding it. He had never known any project which had gripped the minds of the majority of the people like the Taupo proposal. The one thing which commended it most of all was that it did away at once with the uncertainty which existed in the minds of thousands of people regarding the future of the water supply for the city and suburbs. He said that within two years of the endorsement of the scheme by the people water would be runnirig'from the'great lake to every house which needed it. In saying this he knew what he was talking about, and big engineering firms were willing to carry out the work with the greatest expedition. What finally commended the Taupo scheme was that no alternative scheme could equal it or be substituted for it.

A lady who lives in a house in Kilmore Street, Christchurch, was startled by an incident that occurred at about midnight on Tuesday. A motor, driven by a man in evening dress, suddenly charged the front fence and levelled it with the ground. The machine then ploughed across the lawn, crashed against a verandah post, and tried to climb on to the verandah. The lady, whose bedroom window looked on to the verandah, was awakened by the successive crashes, but. she only left the blankets in time to see the car disappear. The motorist had recovered control, and backed out without waiting to make either explanations or apologies.

Notice was given in the House of Representatives yesterday by Mr. Field (Otaki) whether the Government would introduce legislation to fulfil the promise made over and over again by Reform to charge tax on land only on the holders' interest in it, and not on the mortgages, and thus remove the unjust burden on mortgaged landholders which was fast becoming unbearable.

The chubby, smiling infant which was found by a motorist in his car in George Street the other night, and taken home, has won the hearts of the man and his wife (says the Sydney "Telegraph"). They have decided to adopt the baby. "Give baby a chance," was the mother's appeal in a message found pinned on to the baby's clothing. The appeal has been answered. The baby is in good hands. The Good Samaritans shun publicity for a most unselfish reason, and have decided to adopt the baby, but asked that their names be not mentioned.

With the object of advancing the proposal to secure a camp for motorists at Matamata, Messrs. W. C. Coote and T R. Davies, members of the Chamber of Commerce, waited on the Town Board at the fortnightly meeting, urging that a joint committee be set up to go into the matter exhaustively. The suggestion was agreed to, the chairman (Mr W A. Gordon) and Messrs. J. Pohlen'and S. Salisbury being deputed to represent the board. Prospective sites are to be inspected, and costs investigated.

The City Fire Brigade received a call a l ,r J'\J± y ester day to the premises of, Mr. G. W. Barker, electrical engineer Upper Queen _Street, where the fusing of a wire had caused a slight outbreak of fire. The blaze was extinguished before any material damage had been done. The shop, a two-storeyed one, is owned by Mr Neville • Newcomb, and is insured with the Royal Exchange Office for £650

Rehu, the Maori hurt in a fall of 35 feet from a quarry in Hemo Gorge on Thursday, underwent an operation at Rotorua, which disclosed extensivis hurt to the spinal column, which will pre* elude his recovery, but he may live for soma time.