LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Star, Issue 17954, 27 April 1922, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Xti the Mgistmte's Court, Wellington, yeateAy (a Press Association telegram states) Morvyn John Cudby, a youth, was charged with breaking andi entering the shop of W. H. Tisdh.ll on Lambkin _ quay and stealing revolvers ammunition; also with breaking and entering Sts Hark s Church with intent to. commit a crime; and, further, with breaking and entering other premises with similar iMont“There are one or two certainties in life —death and! fingerprints,” said Gmcf-ito-toctivo Kemp in stating that the charge waa baaed upon the testimony of the fingerprint expert. Forcible entry was made into the church, the leadlights removed, and the safe blown open, tno choir surplices being used to deaden the Bound. Nothing was stolon except the keys, but considerable damage waa caused to venous articles. Fingerprints were discovered which Mr Dinnio, the expert, swore were those of accused. Ho denied guilt, ana was committed for trial.

Archdeacon. Woodtkrpe at the Anderson Bay branch of tho Workers Educational Association last evening on 'The Growth, Meaning, and Value of the British. Empire.’ Tho lecture was of special interest, as it was a review of the expansion of the British Empire, showing the excellent results of the wise legislation which grants self-government to British colonies. Some interesting events in the early history wore touched upon. Aa usual, a lively discussion followed. A lantern lecture on ‘Mission Life ami Work in. the New Hebrides’ was given by tho Rov. W. V. Mibm in Dm Boslyn ITcsbvtorian Church Hall last n.ght. He described the discovery and early historyof the islands, as well as the hie and work of its inhabitants and, of the missionaries who are stationed there. Ho to,cl also of the devastating eruption of Ambrim, paying tribute to Dr Bowie’s work there. The Condominium ho described as not a very happy arrangement, slating that once the French got their native recruits to the plantations it was difficult for them over to get away, as they were virtually slaves. Mr Milne also mentioned that, the Foreign Missions Committee hoped to be able to send a man to Anibrim shortly. The lecture was illustrated with slides showing the making of copra and arrowroot, and the scenery and vegetation of the islands. A collection was taken up in aid of the fund for rebuilding tho Rev. Mr Nicholson’s station, which was recently destroyed by a cyclone. The Presbyterian Church’s spiritual mission was continued at Knox Church last evening. The Rev. A. W. Kimuont spoke on ‘How Sin Affects Our Destiny,’ showing how all mankind' has always clung to its conviction about immortality. Ho maintained that lifejierc will always condition tho life hereafter, and that whatever eventually hapuens to the good and the bad it ia certain that there will be a judgment, wherein a difference will he made between good and bad. The mission will he continued! to-night, when the subject will ho, ‘Can a Alan Deliver Himself from Sins, Guilt, and l Power?’ What are known as “stag picnics”—in other wordc, beer picnics—are not altogether unknown in this district (says the Hawke’s Bay ‘ Tribune ’); hut one which was held within a mile or two of Napier during tho past week-end will take some eclipsing. The party was one of between thirty and l fifty, and the supply of liquor reached the extraordinary total of ninetysix gallons. It is reported on indefinite authority that towards the end of what must necessarily have been a perfect day the proceedings were, personal and abrupt, A remarkable incident is reported' to have occurred 1 in one of the country districts adjacent to Oamaru a few days ago (says tho ‘ Mail ’). It appears that a farmer was somewhat surprised at the sudden death of a rooster, so he performed a post-mortem examination with the object of discovering the cause. To his astonishment he found a mouse in the crop of the bird, and it is assumed that this was Die cause of death.

“I pay over £6O a year in rate?, and so far ns roads are concerned! 1 am wondering what the County Council wants rates at all. for." This was a remark made by a Greenfield 1 farmer to a ‘ Clutlia Leader’ reporter. Thu settlor added that on the previous day ho had battled for hours in tho mud and- slush in an endeavor to get through to Balc-lntha on a, very urgent matter, and he had seen two motorists hopelessly bogged. “And yet it is a main road,” was ins further comment. A Pukcawa settler stated' that, unloss something was clone in bis district, the.roads would be absolutely impassable.

Jim -Paddoa, In conversation with a Wanganui ‘ Herald ’ reporter, stated that it was only fair to his own people, after all the kindness they had extended to him, that the next big race should bo rowed in hia own district. Asked regarding a course, he stated) that they had a long stretch of straight water on a river, with the finishing point opposite an island which was an ideal spot for ilio public to congregate. Speaking generally of Australian rivers, Paddon said ho did not think they could show a parallel where the local bodies would «o readily assist the sculling enthusiasts and) where the response for admission to tho course along tho river bank would 1 bo so readily paid us in Wanganui. He considered it. was a fine tribute to tho sporting enthusiasm of the Wanganui public. A gentleman whose actions gave grounds for suspicion as to his motives hovered in the vicinity of the East, (loro .School this morning (says Monday’s ‘ Mataura Ensign ’). His activities were watched by a citizen from an adjoining hill. Tho mysterious one, after furtive glances along the roadway, entered the school grounds, seized a bicycle, and! made olf to fresh fields. The watcher, after informing the school authorities, followed on a borrowed cycle, and shortly afterwards tho police were speeding northwards, with tho owner of tho cycle aboard tho car. The unsuspecting thief was arrested near M’Na-b, and 1 ip probably still wondering what etrango tur;i of fate sealed his doom. Laughable coincidence,'; take place occasionally even during the solemnities of a church service (says the Christchurch ‘ Press ’). Tho other Sunday evening, for instance, in a certain sacred building that stands, jot us say, at least within a hundred miles of tho Cathedral, a lady member of the choir was constrained to leave her place owing to tho persistence with which her nose bled. Just as a fellowmembw rose, with tho object of rendering first aid 1 , tho minister from tho pulpit above, who was holding forth iu prayer, and waa sublimely unconscious of what was transpiring, brought out with firm effect the Scriptural injunction “ to bind up the braised and) bleeding." -It is stated’ that there is no Instance in the records oi the British Navy whore tho trials of a now warship have been so uniformly successful as those of tho Adelaide, winch commenced olf tho Hew South ■Wales coast on April 5. Bor nearly eight hours she went through most .severe tests without a mishap. She was kept steaming for more than an hour at twenty-six knots! Tho Adelaida has taken nearly four and ahall years to build. Her skier ships, tho Melbourne and Sydney, cost £450,000 each to build in England, hut tho Adelaide will cost roughly £1,250,000. Naval officers say -that the Adelaide represents the latest in. cruiser construction.