CITY AND SUBURBAN

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 226, 20 June 1929, Page 13

CITY AND SUBURBAN

happenings in and about town

The official opening of the Majestic Theatre will be performed by the Prime Minister (Right Hon. Sir Joseph Ward) on Tuesday next. Following the formal proceedings, the Prime Minister will entertain friends at supper.

“I know that I was apt to go skyhigh if found with opossum skins in my possession—perhaps a £5O fine," said a defendant in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. “Are you not a little optimistic?” asked counsel on the other side. (Laughter.)

When a witness was giving his testimony rather slowly in the Magistrate’s Court at Petone yesterday morning, Mr. J. S. Barton, S.M., desired more speed. “You can go much faster,” he said, “I am taking this in shorthand.”

“I am a Coroner, and this is the sort of thing that involves me in inquests,” said Mr. J. S. Barton, S.M., when William David Hood was charged in the Petone Magistrate’s Court yesterday with cycling without a light. Defendant was fined 10s.

When asked to describe certain persons of whom he was speaking, in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, a defendant said that there was a half-caste Maori, and one Murphy, who may have been also a half-caste. “A half-caste with that name?” queried counsel, amidst laughter.

A silent spectator in the public portion of the Magistrate’s Court yesterday was a fox terrier dog, who must have wandered in to take refuge from the heavy rain. The dog strolled in wagging his stumpy tail, and the moment the Court was over he wandered out again as if realising that there was nothing more of interest to be seen.

“Why should a woman be compelled to live with a drunkard? Where is the fairness of it?” asked Mr. J. S. Barton, S.M., in the Petone Magistrate’s Court yesterday of a husband who opposed his wife’s application for a prohibition order to be made against him. The man wns a labourer earning £4 a week, who had seven children. An order was made for a period of one year.

A party while motoring along Queen's Drive on Sunday last, were passing comments upon the glassy nature of the sea. Not a ripple was to be. seen, when, without warning, a wave estimated at seven or eight feet in height, suddenly came curling in, and broke upon the shore with a crash. No other wave followed, and it seems quite feasible that the wave was a prelude to the disturbance on Monday.

“He was bombastic and didn’t want to do it, as if he was the policeman and I was the driver of the ear,” was the description given by Senior-Sergeant McKelvey in the Petoue Magistrate’s Court yesterday of the attitude of a driver when asked to dictate a statement after an accident.

A smile was caused in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday when a man during the hearing of a case came in and not finding a chair sat upon a steam heater. The heater at the time was very hot, and the surprised individual jumped up hurriedly, giving vent to such an expression of pain that his discomfort was realised by all.

A heavy easterly swell in Wellington harbour yesterday caused the smaller vessels at the wharves to roll violently. It was found advisable to shift some of the Harbour Board’s pontoons and some coal hulks to safer berths. It is over a year ago since an easterly swell was experienced jn the harbour, and on that occasion a eouple of pontoons sank at their berths.

A deputation from the Hutt Valley Gun Club was received at this week’s meeting of the Hutt River Board, asking for a grant of land for shooting purposes. In the interests x>f sport, said Mr. W. T. Strand (chairman), all possible should be done to meet the requests of the deputation. It was decided that members of the board should view the spot on July 4. “Don’t you think that’s too far ahead with these earthquakes about?” asked a councillor.

“Now, Sergeant,” said a solicitor in the Magistrate's Court yesterday to a police office who was giving evidence, “do you seriously say that because the accused fell asleep in his cell at the Central Police Station he must have been intoxicated?” “I do,” replied the sergeant, “because one could not be expected to go to sleep in the cell for a quarter of an hour at least after he went Inside.” The solicitor: “One would have to become warm first in the cold cells, is that so?” “That is correct,” replied the sergeant, smiling.

After allowing a couple of months for the concrete base of the new half of lower Taranaki Street to thoroughly consolidate, a start has been made to “furrow” the bituminous surface of the other half of the widened, road in order to build it up to the desired level. This will allow of an even contour' over the whole width of the new road. When this work is done lower Taranaki Street will be one of the finest thoroughfares in Wellington.

A corporation road roller and members of the road-making staff are now busily engaged in putting a new surface on Freyberg Street in Lyall Bay, opposite the public school. With the big improvements in progress iu Queen’s Drive and the attention given to Cook and Wha Streets, the sea-side suburb, which carries heavy motor traffic, is receiving much-needed attention.

“Tickets, please!” As the inspector drew nearer and nearer in a city tram last night a passenger was observed to become rapidly more and more flustered. Frantically he went through all his inside pockets, diving into the depths of each in turn. The man of authority waited with the patience which experience has deeply ingrained in tramway inspectors. At last the man stopped fumbling, and thought for a moment. Then he opened his pocket■book and produced the missing ticket. . . .

Thomas James Davenport,a labourer, aged 39, appeared in the Magistrate's Court yesterday'charged with being an idle and disorderly person in that he did beg alms. He was also charged with being an incorrigible rogue in that he had insufficient lawful means of support, and having been previously convicted as an idle and disorderly person and having prior to that been convicted as a rogue and a vagabond. Accused was remanded until Wednesday next.

During a recent fire the kerbside of a city street gave accommodation to seven motor-cars and nine motor-cycles, which together made a line with hardly any break for over a hundred feet. Apart from the danger of fire and of damage from falling debris, the motorvehicles would have made the work of the brigade difficult had it been necessary to run hose connections from the fire-plug to the burning building. Fortunately the fire did not spread, or owners of the cars might have been left to lament over the charred remains.

“This man has a long list of previous convictions,” said SeniorSergeant Ward in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, when referring to the character of Denis William Quill, alias William Denis Quill, aged 42, who admitted stealing goods valued at 2s. 3d., the property of Henry Morgan. “Had you had a shorter list of convictions, you would have had a better opportunity of being given a chance.” said Mr. E. Page, S.M., in passing a sentence of 21 days’ imprisonment with hard labour.

The daily parade of inebriates in the Magistrate’s Court seldom excites more than passing interest, unless, of course, the offenders are at all well known. Some step into the dock with bowed head, some with defiant air, and some with a broad grin. The other morning a woman..a first offender..answered with a loud “Yes” when her name was called, and when asked how she would plead, replied “Guilty.” On being convicted and discharged, she smiled, and left the dock with a cheery “Thank you, sir,” to the Magistrate.

The official opening of the new school at Stokes Valley is to be fixed for a Saturday in the near future, subject to the convenience of the Minister of Education (the Hon. H. Atmore).

The new bituminous surf ■ :e applied to the Lyall Bay School ground is not only a big improvement, but is an excellent dust-dispelling advantage, which must make the school precincts much healthier and reduce the cleaning of the school buildings considerably.

When Phyllis Dorothy Ireson applied for maintenance, separation, and guardianship orders against John William Ireson in the Magistrate’s Court at Petone yesterday, SeniorSergeant McKelvey asked that a warrant should be issued for the apprehension of the husband. A summons would not reach Ireson, as all efforts of tracing him had failed, and it was practically certain that he had left the country.

At a meeting of the Education Board yesterday it was decided to refund £2O 17s. to the Kilbirnie School Committee, the amount spent on minor repairs. It was stated that the refund would relieve the financial position of the Kilbirnie committee for the time being. While discussing matters concerning other school committees, Mr. A. O' Blake said he had attended every meeting of his school committee for years and years. He had come to the conclusion that it did not do to show a credit balance. A refund was also made to Northland.

A letter was received from the Winter Show Association yesterday by the Education Board, stating that special inducements were being offered to scholars from different schools to attend the Winter Show. The Railway Department proposed to run special school trains from the Wairarapa and Manawatu at very low fares, and the Winter Show Association would give scholars free admission, and provide them with a light lunch for sixpence a head. The masters of the various schools desired to count it as a school day for the scholars taking advantage of the excursion. It was decided to agree to the latter request.

“Should old representative Rugby players be allowed to take part in junior grade matches?” was a question debated at Tuesday night’s meeting of the Management Committee of the Wellington Rugby Union. Opinion was divided. Some members held the view that it was all to the advantage of young players to see how the game should be played, while others considered that it disheartened the juniors to have an experienced player scoring tries and kicking goals all the afternoon. What' if we were all to play junior football?” asked Mr. A. J. Griffiths, a veteran Wellington representative. This raised a general laugh. “I would consider myself lucky,” remarked Mr. H. Murphy, “if they gave me a place in a fifth grade team.” It was decided to refer the matter to the Junior Advisory Committee for an expression of opinion.