NEWS In BRIEF

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 193, 17 August 1939, Page 7

NEWS In BRIEF

"Shouting" Abolished. — Wellington hotels have abolished "shouting." Counter lunches, however, have been retained. —Press Association. ♦ * ♦ ♦

Awatea for Overhaul.—The liner Awatea, which arrived at Wellington to-day from Sydney, is to withdraw from the intercolonial service until October 13. She will not undergo her annual overhaul and survey at Wellington, but, after discharge of her cargo, will return to Sydney with a skeleton crew. She will be overhauled from keel to masthead.—Press Association.

Common Gaming Rouse. —A sentence of six weeks' imprisonment without the option of a fine was imposed on Sam Pon, who pleaded guilty in the Wellington Police Court to using premises as a common gaming house. One each of two charges of selling liquor without a license he was fined £5. —Press Association. ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Girl Assaulted.—A farm hand, Leslie Price, who admitted two charges of indecent assault on a young girl, was sentenced by Mr. Justice Reed in the Supreme Court at New Plymouth to 18 months' reformative detention. His Honor said it was impossible to pass lightly over such cases, although prisoner's mental condition might have had something to do with his offences.— Press Association.

* ♦ * ♦ Fire Engineers.—The annual conference of the Xew Zealand branch of the Institute of Fire Engineers was opened in Wellington yesterday. The chairman of the Wellington Fire Board, Mr. S. S. Dean, welcomed the delegates and assured them that the authorities recognised the value of their institution. Mr. Dean added that the educational vs'ue of its work could not be too highly piaised, and it behoved all members, particularly of permanent brigades, to use their best endeavours to qualify for membership.—Press Association.

Thefts Alleged.—Owing to the prevalence of thefts from buildings in course of erection in Wellington a sjiecial squad of detectives has been on duty for some time, and yesterday Gilbert Henry Haywood, a packer, aged 33, and Francis William Haywood, a motor driver, aged •24, were charged with the theft "on August 15 of plumbing material of a total value of £3, the property of the New Zealand Government. Accused were remanded, bail being allowed.— Press Association.