NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 137, 11 June 1936, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Jury Complimented. The jury in the Mareo trial at the Auckland Supreme Court, now in its second week, was complimented by Mr. Justice Callan on Tuesday (states the "New Zealand Herald"). "It is extremely satisfactory," said his Honour, "to observe the anxious care with which you are carrying out your serious duties." The foreman had just asked if they could have a copy of the evidence, but his Honour had said he was afraid that was not usual. "For good reasons the practice of handing the notes of evidence to the jury is not followed," he said. "Then we have to rely on our memories?" inquired the foreman. His Honour explained that the position was not quite as bad as that, because both counsel would at a later stage thoroughly review the evidence. His Honour would also summarise the evidence, and further, if there was any point on which the jury was confused they could make application to him.

"That Confounded Cornet." The customary serenity of proceedings at Te Awamutu Borough Council meetings was rudely disturbed on Tuesday evening by the blare of a dance band and the accompanying noise from a merry throng of dancers in the Town Hall, which is separated from the council chamber by a thin wooden wall (states a correspondent). Members endured the situation philosophically for some few minutes until a particularly strident blast from the band prompted Mr. Montefiore to inquire who was responsible for the letting of the Town Hall for a dance during a ! council meeting. The Town Clerk said that he was responsible. He had been assured that the dance, which was a private one, would be a very, quiet affair, and as the council was requiring money for renovations to the Town Hall furniture he thought the rent would assist. Mr. Rainey: "Please don't do it again. We can hardly hear ourselves talk." The Town Clerk: I certainly did not think there would be so much noise." Mr. Brown: "You should have charged £sup to midnight." Mr. North: "It would not be so bad if it was not for that confounded cornet." At a later stage during the evening Mr. Montefiore moved that the Town Clerk be instructed not to let the hall for dances on council nights. The Mayor, Mr G. Spinley, said there was already a resolution to that effect on the council's books and he requested the Town Clerk to see that it was observed in future.

An Old Relic. In the course of his speech at the concert of the Wellington Burns Club the Rev. J. H. Mackenzie held up, and quoted from, an old book which, from appearance, seemed to have keen through great trials. He explained to those present that fifty years ago it had lain for a week at the bottom of the Otago harbour. It was recovered and made much use of since then. From the quotations it could be taken as a precious relic.

Navy League and Trafalgar Day. An anchor composed of native flowers and foliage is today going into the freezer pending shipment to England for Trafalgar Day. The New Zealand branch of the Navy League, which has an anchor for its badge, sends a similar tribute each year, materials being donated by members and friends of the league. This year's floral anchor is composed of rata flowers and passion berries, together with wild fuchsia berries, autumn-aoloured Rangiora leaves, and other interesting bits of New Zealand's beautiful native flora. This was all supplied frpm the gardens of Mr. B. O'Connor, Wilton's Bush, and Mr. O. Gidall, of Ngaio, the flowers being artistically assembled in the form of an anchor by Miss Black.

Savage Alsatian.

An Alsatian dog mauled the hands of a yoying Napier man when he tried to capture it, after which it menaced the household for over half an hour, finally falling down in a fit, when it was dispatched with an axe, states * correspondent. The dog adopted a threatening attitude to Several persons in turn, after which it savagely attacked the young man who attempted to capture it, with the result that his hands suffered a severe mauling. For over half an hour the dog threatened the occupants of the house, who were at length obliged to summon assistance. A telephone call was put through to the Empire Hotel, which is a short distance away, and Mr. D. T. Sinclair, proprietor of the establishment, went to the rescue. Mr. Sinclair's arrival on the scene was the signal for a fresh demonstration on the part of the dog, which bared its fangs and charged. Mr. Sinclair dived for safety, and the dog, after twice circling the house at a furious pace, collapsed on the ground in a fit. Mr. Sinclair then obtained an axe and killed it. The dog, which was huge and powerful even for an Alsatian, is stated to have had a similar fit some time ago. The young man whom the dog attacked was later treated at the Napier Hospital.

Gunpowder Explosion. An explosion of gunpowder caused by the accidental dropping of a cigarette resulted in the admission of "Lucky" Munro, aged 21, to the Hastings Memorial Hospital on Tuesday afternoon suffering severely from shock and burns, states a correspondent. Mr. Munro was employed by Mr. W. Donald on a tree-felling and cutting contract on Mr. Athol Williams's farm at Pukehou. He had had his lunch and was smoking a cigarette, when somehow the cigarette .slipped from his fingers on to some gunpowder lying near by, and in the explosion his face and arms were fairly badly burned. The explosion was heard by Mr. Donald, who was some distance away, and he hurried back, to find his workmate writhing in pain. He summoned the school teacher, who took Mr. Munro in his car to Mrs. T. J. C. Warren's house, where he received temporary first-aid until an ambulance arrived. An examination did not disclose any fractures, but Mr. Munro is suffering severely from the effects of shock.

Approach to Tunnel. Members of the Hataitai Municipal Electors' Association are not satisfied with the present traffic arrangements and road approach to the Mount Victoria traffic tunnel from the eastern suburbs and discussed the question further at a special meeting under the chairmanship of Mr. G. S. Anderson. A motion was carried that in the opinion of the association any further work in connection with alterations to the Chinaman's corner could be only an expedient to the real solution of the problem, and the City Council should be requested to consider the opening of Ruahine Street. It was pointed out by members that pedestrians had to be considered at that coiner, and it was unanimously agreed that until such time as the volume o£ traffic was diverted at the corner of Moxham Avenue and the tunnel approach some system of lighting should be installed similar to that at present operating at the Queen's Wharf gate. It was further agreed to ask the City Council to prepare a scheme for the improvement of traffic access, particularly between the traffic tunnel and north-bound traffic to Hataitai, and that any proposals drawn up by the council should be submitted to the association for .comment.

A Pure White Hare. Writing from Gimmerburn to the "Otago Daily Times," Mr. J. A. Miller says; _"Whilst out shooting on Sunday I had the unusual experience of seeing and shooting a pure white hare. This animal was ■of the usual size, was in good, healthy condition, and had not a hair of another colour on it. The eyes, also, which, with the ordinary hare, are brown, were of a pink-white colour. The hare was not shot in snow country or at a high altitude but on a paddock very much below the usual snow level. It made a very pretty and outstanding sight when first seen running over the paddock." One-man Union Necessary. At Monday's meeting 'Of the Te Awamutu Borough Council a letter was read from the Napier Borough Council asking for support for the formation of a local body employees' union (states the "Auckland Star"). The Napier Council was in favour of the proposal to have one union for borough employees, as at present their employees were covered by approximately ten unions, causing a considerable amount of confusion in administration. The Mayor (Mr. G. Spinley): "I don't like this one big union idea/ If strikes should occur, as in France, our employees will get their instructions from headquarters, and we will all be in the cart." The Town Clerk said that he had looked into the matter, and found that only one employee was affected. It appeared that it would be necessary for this employee to join a union to retain his position. The Mayor: "Well, he is at liberty to form a union of his own if he wants to. I think we should wait and see what happens."

Eastbourne Rates. The Eastbourne Borough Council will fix the rates at its next meeting, but it is anticipated that there will be an approximate increase of id in the £1 on the unimproved value in the hospital rate to meet the increased Hospital Board levy. The gross total of the other rates to be collected will be the same as last year.