LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 105, 31 October 1923, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Bankruptcy returns for the ten months ended 31st October, 1923, show a decided improvement over those for the same period last year. This year IS bankruptcies were recorded as against 27 for 1922. This moi.'lh, there have been two' bankruptcies as compared with one for last month and four for October, 1922.

A memorial to the late secretary of the Manchester Unity, 1.0.0. F., Mr. John Kershaw, is being erected at the Karori Cemetery by the members of the New Zealand branch of the Order. The memorial is costing about £300, and it will be unveiled- about sth April next.

A few days ago several Taurauga launches journeyed to Mayor Island. Parties aboard the launches Severn and Kingfish enjoyed excellent sport fishing. One the first day the Severn's crew secured a hapuka which, weighed 1111b, beating the Kingfish's best by 301b, but later the tables were turned by one of 1321b caught by a member aboard the Kingfish. Many excellent photographs were obtained of the catch and of floating schools of fish, states the "New Zealand Herald." Recently an enthusiast in a small boat, when fishing between the mainland and Matakana Island, hooked a shark five and a-half feet long on a snapper line. The shark put up a strenuous fight, but was eventually secured and towed to shallow water, half a mile away from where it was hooked.

■ When, the good ship Remuera, carrying many immigrant families for New Zealand, "crossed the line" on Ist August of this year, the old barbarous shaving ceremony was displaced by a children's party, states the Auckland "Star." Tine arrival of King Neptune, attired in the traditional flowing beard and royal regalia, was signalised by a blast by the ship's bugler. The King was attended by two mermaids, whose beautiful costumes caused childish oji's to glisten with excitement. Caps'oE many colours were handed round to the children, and then Neptune proceeded to work what was obviously a '.mirac.'e. Lowering a bucket over die ship's side, he brought it back loaded with toys. These he distributed with royal dignity, and the excited children beamed v-vjl happiness. Curiously enough, each toy was marked for one child, and each child received a suitable toy.- King Neptune, for good measure, then presented each child with a sea-bun marked with his initial. The royal train then proceeded to the third-class quarter, where an exactly similar ceremony was enacted, to the great joy of the children and adults.

A sentence of two months'. imprisonment, with hard labour, wa.s imposed by Mr. E. Page, S.M., this morning, upon James M'Farland Williamson, a farm labourer, for obtaining money upon false pretences. The facts as outlined by Detective Nuttall were that the accused, who pleaded guilty, in the first place attempted to obtain £15 from Dr. Truby King, while in his employ, by representing that he had arranged to purchase a: house in Duncan terrace. This plea proved to be incorrect, and the request was refused. Later in the day Williamson called upon a. friend named Walter Perkins and obtained from him £10 7a, representing that he had approached Dr. Truby King, but had found he was out, and that he had a fair banking account at Tokomaru, which was being transferred to Wellington. On the strength of this statement Perkins gave him the money, £6 11s of which had been recovered. On behalf of the accused, Mr. A. M. Cousin said lie had had every intention of repaying the money, his purpose in obtaining it' being to help a friend who was about to be married, to buy furniture. Instead of ■ devoting it to that pm-pose, however, I'm- sonic reason or other he spent it upon personal clothing. In imposing sentence, Mr. P.-.go tool; into consideration the fact that the tKuueiid liad becu twice previously convicted of theft-

According to a cable messasa from London, the Auckland Harbour loan issue has been over-subscribed.

"When two young men, Francis Alexander Millar and Sydney Alfred Bennett appeared before Mr. Justice Reed at the Supreme Court yesterday afternoon on a charge of theft of a motorcar, they entered a plea of guilty, and were remanded for sentence.

" As soon as the last instalment is paid on the family perambulator eveiyonc nowadays goes off to purchase a motor-car." said Mr. 0. T. J. Alpers during the hearing of a case in the Supreme Court at Christchureh. "I am about the only practising barrister and solicitor in Christchurch who does not own a car," he said. " No." added Mr. W. J. Hunter, who was also appearing in the case, " you always ride in a taxi'"

The Prisons Board will leave to-day for the North, and will reach Erua Prison Camp. The following day the board will go to the prison camp at Hautu, arriving at Auckland the following Saturday. The following Tuesday a meeting will be held at the Waikeria Prison Camp at Te Awamutu, after which the board will disperse. The board will on this occasion consist of the president (Sir Robert Stout), Sir George Fenwick, the Controller-General of Prisons, and Under-Secretaiy of Justice (Mr. C. E. Matthews), Mr. William Recce, and may be joined later by Messrs. C. B. Jordan and Edwin Hall. Dr. Hay will not be with the board on this tour. The work of the board will Vgely consist of dealing with probationers.

An idea of the growth of tennis in New Zealand during recent seasons is afforded -by the returns showing the membership of the affiliated associations. Since last season there has been a big increase in the number of players. Some associations have not forwarded returns, but, assuming that the membership- in those cases is the same as last season, the increase is set down at 2418. Hawkes Bay shows the biggest increase, this season's total of players being over 1000 more than last season. For all affiliated associations in 1913-14 thu membership was 10,584; in 1921-22 it was 12,732; last season it was 15,627; and this season it is estimated at 18,----045. The Wellington membership this season is 3068, as against 2553 last season.

At a meeting of the council of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce yesterday, says a Press Association messags from. Chrisfcehurch, Mr. W. M. Tyers mentioned that he had. been informed that the Union Company intended to run the Maori and Mararoa during the summer months. Mr. W. H. Price, the Union Company's manager in Christchurch, and a member of the council, said that Mr. Tver's iufonnant had misinformed him. The company had no such intention as that mentioned.l The Wahine was to undergo an overhaul at Lyttelton right away, and would take up the ferry service in conjunction with the Maori early in December. Mr. Price's announcement was received with expressions .of satisfaction by the council.

Intent to defraud was the purpose of a charge preferred against a watchmaker named Judah Barsht, who, on his appearance before Mr. E. Page, S.M., this morning, pleaded not "guilty, and reserved his defence for the Supreme Court. It was alleged that he stole a diamond valued at £6 15s from Mrs. Flora Battersby, and obtained 10s from her by false pretences. The complainant deposed that she gave accused a ring, with instructions to insert a white sapphire to correspond with, other stones in the setting. She alleged that while he had the- ring in his possession he replaced the diamond with a paste stone. An expert witness called by the police testified to having inserted a paste stone in the setting at tho request of accused. In a statement to the police, Bareht denied that the ring had been out of his possession, and declared that /he took no stone out of the setting. Bail was fixed at £200, and one surety of a like sum, and the accused was instructed to report to the police daily.

The Conciliation Council proceedings at Christchurch in the seamen's dispute, which were fixed for yesterday, lapsed through the non-attendance of the assessors, there being no appearance of representatives of either side. The Canterbury Steam Shipping Company, acting for some 30 shitming- and trading concerns in the Dominion, cited the New Zealand Federated Seamen's Union and the Auckland and Dunedin Federations, and the dispute was set down for hearing yesterday. An earlier sitting was. howerer, held in Wellington, and at that sitting a resolution was passed di»spensing with the sittings in Canterbury and Otago, and treating the Wellington sitting as on a Dominion basis. The whole dispute was referred by that sitting to the Arbitration Court. Yesterday, owing to the non-attendance of the assessors from either side, the Conciliation Commissioner, Mr. W.'Haggar, formally referred the matter to the Arbitration Court.

The annual conference of the British Medical Association of New Zealand will be held in Auckland from 29th February to sth March, 1924, both days inclusive. Some particularly notable men in the world of medicine will attend the conference. Dr. W. J. Mayo, the famous American surgeon from the Rochester Hospital, will be present, accompanied by a number of medical men from his clinic. Another visitor froih the United States will be Dr. Francis P Emerson, of Boston (Mass.), one of the leading authorities in the English-speak-ing world on deafness. It is also probable that another distinguished American, Dr. Thomas Hubbard, of Toledo (Ohio), who is widely known as an •ear, throat, and nose surgeon, will be able to attend. Leading surgeons and physicians from Australia- will attend anoj contribute papers to the various sections. Papers from two prominent American medical men will be contributed to the special eye and ear section (states the "New Zealand Herald"). The Auckland medical profession proposes to make a special feature of the demonstration of clinical cases.

A three-day demonstration by members of the Auckland Clinical Society is to commence at Auckland to-day at the Auckland Hospital. This society (says "The Post's" Auckland correspondent) which is the only one of its kind in New Zealand, has been in existence about three years, .and has a, membership of about 100, drawn from ranks of members of the medical profession in Auckland. It has been the practice to hold fortnightly meetings at Auckland Hospital, the object being to demonstrate unusual cases and their treatment. While the operations of the society have proved advantageous to practitioners, the greatest benefit has been derived by patients in the combined advice of practically all the practising members. The society has a number of country members; who, however, are not always able to attend the regular demonstrations, and at their request the society decided to hold a three-day demonstration. As with the fortnightly meetings, the new methods of diagnosis and treatment of diseases will be emphasised. As an instance, the treatment of diabetes with insulin will bo discussed and demonstrated, as well as new methods of diagnosing ami treatin" complaints covering practically the whole field of medical and surgical work. About 30 members from various centres of the province as well as one or two men from Wellington, Taranaki, and Guiboi'ue will be present.

The lato Alfred Porter, head of the. ironmongery firm of Edward Porter iind Co., Auckland, left an estate valued at under £400.000. He loft no will, states a Press Association message, and his widow and a. married daughter are the only beneficiaries.

The notably lar^e proportion of sexual offences included in the list of cases at the Auckland Supreme Court criminal sessions was the subject of a resolution by the Grand Jury yesterday, says a Press Association message. They recommended : "That in the opinion of the jury legislation should be enacted to give a Judge power to order a surgical operation where he considers it advisable."

"Guilty with a recommendation to mercy," was "the verdict returned at the Supreme Court yesterday afternoon by the jury empanelled with the case of Charles Edwa.-d William Phillips, who «aa[to answer a charge of bigamy. what are the grounds of your, recommendation?" asked Mr. Justice Reed, ihe foreman replied that the recommendation was made on account of the prisoner s obvious ignorance. Phillips' who was represented by Mr. C. A. L. Treadwell, was remanded for sentence.

.The first meeting o f No. 3 District Highways Council was held at Tauranga yesterday, states" a Press Association" message It was attended by Messrs F. S. Dyson (Public Works District Engineer) E. King (county council), J. H. Re.d (Opotiki), -\V. Eeid (Whakatane), and G. Turner (P.otorua). Mr Dyson was elected chairman, and Tauranga was fixed as the headquarters It was decided to obtain traffic tallies on various roads.

A hovel idea for the accommodation of the expected influx of visitors .from the country districts is being arranged by the Petone Christmas Carnival CoW mittee.. Permission having been obtained from 'the local borough council a large area of suitable ground on the foreshore will be plotted out where for a nominal ground rental visitors will be able to secure a site for the erection of tents, the committee having arranged for a water supply and other necessary conveniences. The vacant land fronts the best part of. the Petone beach, where the smallest children will be able to bathe in perfect safety The committee is also. arranging a special seaside day for country children. ■

At the meeting of the Petone Christmas Carnival Committee last evening, the Eastbourne Ferry Board advised that it was considering the question of running boats to Petone during the carnival. The chairman reported that Miss Curtis had been appointed the Municipal U,ueen candidate, and that Mr. Jay had advised that the Recreation Ground could be effectively lighted by electricity It was decided that no street stalls should be allowed in the main street, and that all side-shows for the main street should be first, approved by the executive committee. The secretary was instructed to notify all school committees m the Wairarapa and Manawatu that a special children's day op the beach was being arranged for Friday, 28th December, on which date special excursion trains will be arranged. In view of the possibility of artificially lighting the Central- Bowling Club's greens, arrangements were put in hand for night bowling tournaments and tennis and croquet competitions.

At the risk of newspaper and vaudeville jests, Councillor E. J. Howard M.P., suggested to the Christchurch City Council that a line of white tiles be laid down the centre of one of the city footpaths, as in Auckland, in order to see whether the device would teach people to keep to the left" (states the Sun ). Councillor Howard, who has lately visited Auckland, said that the tiles had been laid along a section of footpath as an experiment, and had controlled traffic quite well. The comic papers and the vaudeville comedians had made jokes about it, and had said that the line was a good test of sobriety, but the jokes had advertised the idea It would be a ; g? od thing if the council tried the experiment of laying down tiles on the footpath in High. street, between Hereford street and Stewart Dawson and Co. s corner. Councillor Howard was informed that the " keep to the left " bylaw had not yet, been passed, and there was only a resolution to bring it in on the council's books. No action waa taken.

Does a person who has vacated a house retain the power to make an application under the War Legislation Ut to determine the capital value? This is a question- which Mr. E. Page S M was called upon to decide yestaday." '.He remarked that the case was the iirsi of' its kind heard in Wellington since the provision was embodied in the Act Tli.plamtift, a landlord, claimed arrears of rent from a tenant who had sinco vacated the premises. When the tenant was served with the sumons, she s»r-cd plaintiff with an application ■to determine the capital value of the premises under the War Legislation Act, with the object of arriving at the sta-ndW ■ rent which she maintained, was an amount less than the claim. Counsel for the plaintiff (Mr. Meltzer) submitted ti.it the tenant had no power to make -unh an application, as she had v:..;.ted tile premises and was not ihe tenant at the time the application was m-tde. ' The Magistrate said that although he felt the defendant had the right to hi«v e the standard rent fixed, he would not undertake .to decide immediately the point raised by counsel, which seemed' to have some foundation.

After a protracted period of high prices the cost of living is at last falling, says the "Melbourne Age." That wp,mf t Qw-t^'- dictnm Of the C°mmonZ^t -fS -tlstl"an> vh° Js the accepted authority m the matter. The results oi investigations conducted by Mr Wickens in regard to the prices'of food and groceries, in which no fewer than to commodities were dealt with, was issued on the 19th inst. It w as f«3 mat, compared with the " preceding month (August) of this year, Ctf been a decrease for the thirty towns considered as » whole of 2.4 p^ cen All the States, with the solitary «cepViLJ sm^ nja ' shofwed decreases. In cent, m Tasmania. Compared with the corresponding month of the preced-e^by^^^-ll^ South Wales and South Autra la Pe j ™nt-'' Queensland (6T4 per cent) and Western Australia (0 6 pP er centT ihe increase in the cost o 'f Pfood and groceries .in the 30 towns . -j j from July.. 1914, to sgieuZ "S amounted to 60 per cent ' '