HALF-HOLIDAY QUESTION IN AUCKLAND.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 26, 31 January 1912, Page 3

HALF-HOLIDAY QUESTION IN AUCKLAND.

WEDNESDAY OR SATURDAY! AUCKLAND, 30th January. An adjourned meeting of the conference of delegates from the local bodies' to discuss the question of the day for the weekly half-holiday was held to-day. I There were about a' hundred interested ! men thronging the lobby leading to the City Council Chamber. These were the advocates of the Wednesday and Saturday half-holiday respectively/, and th<*y' had assembled with the idea of placing their views before the conference of delegates. From the various petitions before the meeting it was shown that 304 master shopkeepers and 1761 shop assistants asked for a Saturday half-holiday, and that 838 master shopkeepers asked, for a Wednesday half-holiday. After hearing two speakers from each side it was resolved, by,a majority vote of delegates, to adhere ,to Wednesday. ALLEGED BREACH OF GAMING LAWS PALMERSTON N., 30th Jan. Matthew Connelly, flax contractor, was charged at the Police Court to-day with carrying on business as a bookmaker on the Foxton racecourse on 20th January. < Evidence was given 'by the police as to money having been seen, to pass between accused and several men, and accused's race-book was produced, this containing certain entries. ' The defence was that the money paid to the men was for flax-cutting, and the entries in the race-book were of the same nature. The case was adjourned till Saturday. BANKRUPTCIES IN AUCKLAND DISTRICT AUCKLAND, 30th January. The Official Assignee (Mr. Fisher) has just completed the annual returns oi the bankruptcy business in the Auckland district for 1911. This includes Auckland, Gisborne, Hawera, New Plymouth, and Stratford. -The'total bankruptcies were 108, of which 47 received their discharge. The total estimated assets were £39,742, and the total realisation £12,982. The total liabilities amounted to £46.887, and the debts proved totalled £45,649. The dividends paid during the year totalled £12,744. FISH MART AT TIMARU. - TIMARU, 30th January. A fish mart was formally opened by the Deputy-Mayor this afternoon. The proprietor, Mr. E. Cannon, purposes holding an auction every afternoon, as well _s selling to the retail' trade all day. He has arranged for supplies from-the local fishermen and those of the- Otago station* and the Bluff, \ >. There was a good attendance at" the opening, and a good lot of fish were auctioned at cheap rates. BEER IN A NO-LIQENSE. DISTRICT. TIMARU, 30fch- January!' At Geraldine to-day- some young men. were fined five shillings each for taking beer into a No-license district (Geraldine) without signing for it at the place where- they got it (Winchester). The barman who supplied it said, in evidence, that he did not know that that was necessary. DEFENCE ACT-SUMMONSES ISSUED CHRISTCHURCH, 30th January. A large number ot summonses have been issued against youths who have /failed to take the oath of allegiance under the Defence Act. The cases will be heard on 9th February.

tt Ball » who had been lecturing on Halleys comet, tells an amusing story againest himself. He was engaged to lecture in a remote part of Ireland, but on his arrival afc the station looked in vain for the expected conveyance. Finally, when all the other passengers had dispersed, a typically Irish servant came up to him with, "Maybe you're Sir Robert Ball." On receiving an affirmative reply, I the man broke, out apologetically: "Oh, J sure, your honour, I'm sorry to have kept j you waiting, but I was told to look out for an wtellectual-lookiog gentleman!" i