LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Evening Star, Volume 12869, Issue 12869, 19 July 1906, Page 1

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

An attempt at robbery, occcurrcd : in Chrurtenurch early on Monday night. A young lady was walking along, when she was accosted by two young men, one o£ ■whom snatched her puree away from the chain by which it was attached to her wrist. The purse fell to the ground, but on footsteps approaching the two made off on bicycles, leaving the parse behind. An application for a separation order was mado by a husband in the Police Court at Auckland on Tuesday, when Frank Bailer applied, before Mr Kettle, S.M., for an oider against hia wife, Emma Bailer. The woman did not appear. The applicant, n municipal laborer, raid he had a family of five, four of whom were in a homo. " Ho ••ranted separation, because hia wife insulted him and constantly neglected the home. "Does die treat you with persistent cruelty?" queried the magistrate, quoting the usual ground of such applications, "1think it is cruel, sir," replied Bailer, "to go home in the morning and find three men in the house." Bailer added that his wife swore at him, and ran him into debt. Sergftvnt Sheeban, who said lie knew the parties, deposed that the police had kept Mrs Bailer's house under observation, liecause it was suspected to be a house of 31fame. Owing to quarrels, he had been called to interfere several times. "Why don't you take steps to got a divorce? " asked the magistrate. "That means capital," said Bailer, "and I havon't got it" As tha magistrate was uncertain whether the reasons brought forward by the applicant were sufficient to sustain the application, he adjourned his decision. The Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society wrote offering tlie Waimate Association much bettor terms if they exhibited a county bay next year. The Committee of the latter Association resolved to, leave the question to the next general meeting to decide. Christchurch, boot and shoe shops are to close at 6 o'clock on week nights, 9 p.m. on Saturdays, and 1 p.m. on Wednesdays. This is to be done in accordance with a requisition of the majority of occupiers of such shops, as provided in the Shops and Offices Act An Order-in-Councfl has been gazetted increasing the holding area of the Sutton . Village Settlement (Otago). At first a settler conW only hold one allotment, but in 1836 the acquirement of two allotments by any settler was permitted. Now it has been decided that any settler may apply for and acquire four allotments. Invercargill people are expecting something in the nature of a boom in their in the near future. The cutting up of witlying land for closer settlement and the scheme to drain and reclaim marsh land near the town are regarded as two factors that will contribute towards more activity and an increased population. Then, in addition, there is the likelihood of a new tram service. The plant and rights of the Invercargill and Suburban Tramway Company have been taken over by a local company, registered in June last under tbe name of the Invercaxgill Train and Motor Companv. Their capital is £25,000, in shares of £1 each. The Corporation, in granting the use of the street, have inserted a proviso that horse traction■ shall not be employed. Beyond this, we understand that it has not been definitely settled what the motive power is to be, though it is probable that motors of some kind, possibly petrol, will be used.