BAPTIST UNION.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 101, 26 October 1904, Page 6

BAPTIST UNION.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS. [BY TELEGRAPH — PRESS ASSOCIATION.] DUNEDIN, This Day. At a meeting of the Baptist Union today, tne election of officers resulted as follows :— President, Rev. J. J. North; Vice-president, Mr. A. S. Adams; Secretary, Jiev. j. S. Gray; Treasurer, Mr. A. (Jhidgey;, Baptist tiQitor, Roy. F. W. BorUiam; Editor of Almanac, Rev. D. U. Mason; Financial Secretary, Mr. P. Peters.

The Fremier and the Minis! ?r f-.-r Public Works have accepted iiiviir-iWc to visit Ohariu Valley at an early 'date, principally for the purpose of viewing the route of the proposed tramway between Ohariu and Crofton The satisfying of the demand for sand and gravel, which the Hutt River but partially supplies, is said to be causing great damage to the beaches at Lyell Bay and Happy Valley. The matter was brought before the Harbour Board on Monday by Mr. D. J. Nathan, who fears that the beaches will be irreparably damaged as far as public use and enjoyment are concerned. The Secretary (Mr. Ferguson) instanced how the (once) hard beach at Lyell Bay had deteriorated as far as concerned driving on it. Though the Harbour Board had control below highwater mark, the beach above it was under private ownership, and the difficulty was to determine wha,t was highwater mark and to get a, conviction. Where a conviction had been recorded a nominal fine of Is and costs had been imposed. The trouble would continue unless Parliament vested in a local body — whether Harbour Board or City Council — a chain of the beach above highwater < mark. Mr. Townsend obser-ved that a nominal tine was no deterrent. A member : " Put them in gaol." The Secretary remarked that one did not like to proceed on the penal charge of stealing. The Hon. T. K. Macdonald, M.L.C., promised to put a question on the Order Paper of the Lords. A civil action was interrupted at the Magistrate's Court yesterday by the production of' an unstamped agreement which had an important bearing on the case. The plaintiff -in the action was William Aubrey, of -the Lower Hutt, who claimed from Thomas J. Storey, of Piclon, the sum ot £50. It was alleged that an agreement was entered into between Aubrey and Macdonald, Wilson, and Co., as agents for Storey, for the purchase of Storey's interest in a hotel at Picton. Fifty pounds, it is said, were paid to Storey as a deposit on the purchase. Subsequently the transaction fell through, and Aubrey then claimed tne return of his money. It was necessary for plaintiff to rely upon the agreement, because the sale was made subject to Aubrey being financed. If he were mot financed then he claimed to recover the deposit. Aubrey was called by Mr. Wilford as a witness. Whilst in the box counsel put in evidence a copy of the agreement. The Clerk of the Court, Mr. Holmes, spoke to Dr. A. M'Arthur, S.M., and subsequently his Worship asked for the original" agreement. This when presented was found to be unstamped. As three months had expired since the agreement was made, his Worship said unless £5 in addition to a shilling stamp were paid the document could not be used in evidence. Counsel thereupon obtained an adjournment of the case until Thursday morning. Defendant was represented by Mr. Myers. Albert R. Swain and Annie Swain sued Joseph Cot trill, cabdriyer, for £10 compensation for injuries inflicted on the second plaintiff in consequence of his alleged negligent driving. Defendant was exonerated of negligence, and judgment was given for him with £1 Is costs. Mr. Bolton represented plaintiff, and Mr. Weston defendant. An effort is at present being made to arrange some bond of union between members and ex-members of the D Battery. Last night over fifty past members of the Corps braved the storm and attended the weekly parade. Ihe dates of their enrolment varied from 1870 downwards. The present gunners went through bivouac practice with two sixhorse teams, after which Master-Gunner Richardson gave an interesting lecture on modern fiold artillery. An inspection was then made of the Battery gallery and the new laying and other devices in and about tne shed, after which all hands adjourned to -the lecture-room foi refreshments. At the invitation of Captain F. J. Courtney, the roll of active service was extensively signed, and subsequently, on the motion of SergeantMajor JJock, seconded by Corporal F. Wills, it was resolved to form an Old Members' Association. All present agreed to join, and the following Committee was set up to carry out the necessary' details : -j-Major W. H. Sefton Moorhouse, Lieuts. G. F. Johnston, C. Pearce, Sergt.-Majors Bock, Robinson, Mowat, Sergt. Coombes, Corporals Grix, Barry, and others, with power to add to their i number t