MILITARY PROSECUTIONS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 76, 29 March 1912, Page 7

MILITARY PROSECUTIONS.

*. BREACHES OF THE DEFENCE ACT. ONE CASE WITHDRAWN. Several prosecutions In connection with the Defence Act; Were dealt with before Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., at the Mngistrato's Court to-day. Joseph Michael Faul and Harry Clerk were charged that on 2nd i Maroh, without lawful excuse, they failed to render personal service required of them under part 6 of Defence Act, 1909, in that they were absent without authority from the camp duty at Seatoun. His Worship stated that there were two Other" defendants similarly charged, in, whose cases the jurisdiction of the Court had been questioned. He had nob given d, dedsion in iheSe-two cases yet, and the hearing of the charges agaiflst Faul and dei'k would be adjourned till Wednesday next, 3rd April. The de* cision of the Court would fee made known before or by that date. A yoUng man, Victor Weggery, who was represented by Mr. T. W. Hislpp, pleaded guilty to not having taken the oath of allegiance, which was Contrary to the form of the Statute. Counsel explained that defendant, who Wae a member of tho Weraroa Rifles, thought that he was exempt owing to his having served and continued to serve hi the Rifles. In th© matter of taking'the oath/ defendant was very stuborn. The Court adjourned the matter for a fortnight to give Weggery A chance to make up his mind. The charge of refusing to take the oath of allegiance preferred against Robert Hogg, juii., was withdrawn by the police. Mr. C. R. Dix, who appeared for defendant, asked, under the circumstances, that costs should be allowed against the Department. They had had no intimation that the case Wfl* going to b© withdrawn. The Department mtt6b have known -th-are was no case. Station-SJergaant Darby, representing the police, explained that he had just received notice from the Department that defendant h«d Served in the voluuteer« and had already taken the oath. His Worship : Tho information will be- wifthdfawn by leave of the Court. Solicitor's fee, £l Is, will be allowed. Counsel thereupon asked for coste for defendant, who hntl had to leave his work on two days— once to mutruot counsel and to be present ai> Court. "Ab a matter of fact," added counsel, "considerable pressure has been brought upon Hogg. He has been persecuted over this." He considered that his client was entitled to hie costs. His Worship, in allowing only solid* tor's fee ; said that if defendant had been a liUlo more open about- the matter there would probably have been 1.0 need for; bringing him before the Court. Tho Rev. S. J. Beamer. who has accepted a call to St. fcilda, Dunedin, leaves Totono on Tuesday next. He will have a fortnight's etay in Christchurch before proceeding io Dunedin< Last night iio was fai'owelled by tno Petone Orangenlen. who assembled seventy or olghty strong. The District Master (Mr, Pftiker). in nuking a presentation to Mr. Seamer, Spoke in lrijfh trjrms of Ma services to the Petone Methodist Church. The pumping plant itt Connection with the Lower Hutt water works continues tn givo the engineering staff n- great dosfof Irnuble and not a littlo anxiety. Thb t roti bio. iirtwever, should be 'greatly mitigated when th* Jiew pump, alrtiady on tn'dci: is i/isfullfd. It i« expected to arrive vero nhortly now. The new pump will lib of tho very latent pattern, bfeing & 10-in Mfitor turbine, capable tA liffing 900 gallons pet- hour. The present pump in lifting only about 600 gallon*. The new pump will be- 'the *ttluo kind da tlmt, übed'to Fiipply th<> hi^h levels iv Wollinytou, and whlth h& ttiYWujjv.ery,. aa^if action, here.