LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Star, Issue 15928, 7 October 1915, Page 9

LOCAL AND GENERAL

In order to further the campaign of the Commercial Travellers and Warehousemen’s candidate in the Auckland Queen Carnival competition, 'a Mock Court was held at the Commercial Travellers’ Club at lunch time on Friday. Mr It., A. Singer presided as judge, Mr A. L. Denhiston acted as Crown prosecutor, Mr F. Pullen as policeman, and Mr A. Wilson as clerk of the Court. The first charge was that preferred against J. J. Craig, the head of 'the well-known carrying firm, against whom an indictment was raised “ that he was seen driving on a lorry during the lunch hour.” “A most heinous offence,” declared the judge. “Yes, one which breaks every rule laid down by the 1.W.W.” added the prosecutor. “ Where is this man?” asked the judge. “He flouts the Court,” was the reply. “ Then he is found guilty of the offence, with which he is charged, and fined £250. For contempt of Court, in failing to attend, he is fined a further £10,” announced the judge. Within five minutes an “ orderly ” returned with a cheque for £260, the announcement being greeted with applause an outburst which the Court sternly rebuked, and 5s fines for disorderly behaviour were imposed all round the 'room, the constable being the first to be mulcted. “ That will be a lesson,” observed the learned judge. Something in the nature of a sensation was created outside the Bank of New Zealand, in Queen street, Auckland, on Thursday afternoon, just about 3 o’clock. It was the last day of the bank’s halfyear, and the bank was crowded with customers mostly “paying in.” Just prior to the hour mentioned a dozen or more burly policemen entered the bank together, and were shortly afterwards followed by a number of others. The passers-by were quick to notice this forward movement of the men in blue, and a crowd quickly gathered to await developments, and excitement ran high. Dark hints of “bombs” and “German spies ” filled the air, and still the crowd grew, waiting with bated breath for the denouement. After nearly half an hour, when excitement was at fever heat, the end came. The members of the. force emerged in twos and threes without any prisoners, their faces wearing a salistieli look. It was the eUd of the month, and their pay-day. They had all been in to cash their cheques! Moving pictures brought happiness to the heart of one mother in Auckland last week. The good dame’s only boy went away from New Zealand with the Main Expeditionary Force. Letters were frequently received up till the time when the New Zealanders went to Gallipoli. Then weary Weeks and months passed, with never a word from the soldier son. The mother could get no news of him through official channels, and she has for some time been in a state of despair. Then (reports the ‘ Star ’) a friend approached her with the joyful intelligence that her son figured amongst groups of wounded men Whose pictures were being shown at a Queen street continuous picture theatre. For three days the mother spent long hours in the theatre, waiting for tho film to_ come round again, in order that she might feast her eyes on the sight of the missing boy. He has evidently been badly battered, for when the picture was taken he was still swathed in bandages —but he was there, and alive, and that to the mother was precious news indeed. The picture has now run its course, but the manager (Mr J. F. MacMahon) has kindly cut the film, taking out that portion which conveys the picture so dear to the mother’s heart, and this has been presented to her. A Winidn correspondent of the ‘ Southland Times’ writes :-—“One of our soldiers from Trentham arrived in Invercargill by the last express on Saturday night. As he had only two days to spend with his friends before leaving to sail witli tho Seventh Contingent, he started on the following morning to walk to Winton. (Several motor cars, whoso occupants were probably on pleasure bent, passed him on the road. One wourj have expected that the sight of the khnu uniform would have almost compelled tte owners or occupants of any of these cars to stop and gladly offer a lift to its weaver. But, no! He was allowed to trudge the whole weary way < n foot. Well might ho question himself as to whether such people were worthy iho sacrifice being made on their behalf Want of consideration may almost amount to a crime.” Owing to the highly technical character of the work undertaken in the Bailway Signalling Department and the necessity for obtaining in the first instance an officer who has had a wide and varied experience, the appointment of assistant signal and interlocking engineer has not yet been made, says the General Manager of Railways in his annual report. Inquiries have been made throughout Australasia, and the replies indicate the improbability of obtaining a suitable man in any of the States. Applications have been invited in the United Kingdom, and the result is now awaited. Information already received points to tho fact that the prospects ahead of qualified men in their present spheres are so good that they are disinclined to accept offers abroad, while the attention that is being devoted to signalling improvements on many important railway systems has created a demand which is in* excess of the supply of qualified men available at the moment.

Clutha County Council are evidently becoming alarmed at the damage readting to the county roads from the careless driving of traction engines. At Friday’s meeting the engineer estimated this damage At thousands of pounds. On clay roads the tractions are specially severe, owing, it is said, to the drivers failing to “straddle” the ruts; rather do they send the heavy tractors along with grippers on the wheels, and “chow” the roads up as badly as would a “ Jack Johnson” on wheels. The. council resolved’ that unless improvement resulted in the methods of the traction drivers after 12 months no traction engine licenses would be issued in the county. Meantime, where evidence is forthcoming of careless driving proceedings are to he taken against owners under the by-laws.