LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Star, Issue 18258, 24 April 1923, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Full Court heard argument at Wellington yesterday in an appeal from the decision of Mr Free, S.M. at Masterton, convicting the appellant, Arthur Stuart As tie, of unlawfully soliciting orders for liquor within the no-lieense area of Masterton by advertising that the Wairarapa Farmers’ Co-operative -Association, of which the appellant was the Grey town manager, waa prepared to taka orders for Christmas hampers of spirituous liquors. Mr H. C. Robinson (Masterton) appeared for the appellant, and the Solicitor-Gen-eral (Mr W. -0. MacGregor, K.C.) for respondent. Air Robinson contended that it was lawful to solicit in a No-licenso district for a lawful order. He pointed out that probably every newspaper circulating in a No-ticense area had Jiquor advertisements therein. He contended, further, that the advertisement was not soliciting, inasmuch as there was no element of persuasion in it. The Solicitor-General contended that the appellant came within the very words of the law, in that ho did solicit for an order for liquor within the Masterton district. It was difficult to conceive a stronger solicitation than an advertisement in a local paper. Decision was reserved.

A children’s harvest festival was hold by the members of the Salvation Army in the Citadel (Dowling street) last_ night. The audience consisted mainly of those children who had taken refuge for the night from the floods which had entered their homes. The following items were contributed by the young folk Opening song (‘The Fields Are All White’), young people; violin solo, Thelma Lupp; duct (‘To the Harvest Field’), Mavis and Heather Raper-; company song (‘Harvest Fields Aro Waiting’), young people; dialogue {‘Harvest’), seven girls; recitation, Winnie Bolton; recitation, Miss Frances Robertson; company song (‘Beyond the Blue’), young people; piano solo, Lena Henderson; solo, Misa Una Kcay; company song (‘ Scatter the Golden Sunshine’), young people. A sale of fruit and produce was held also, and everything was quickly disposed of. “ The Sydney Millions Club everts a tremendous influence on public opinion, and you may bo sure that if they aro behind a movement it will go on,” remarked a visitor to Hew Plymouth to a ’Daily News ’ reporter concerning the proposed' excursion of Taranaki residents to Sydney by the Marama next month. “ They will give our people a groat time,” he added, “ and they will have no difficulty in filling the boat when their return trip comes off next year.” The speaker, who had lately returned from a sojourn of nearly two years in Australia, was enthusiastic about the possibilities of the exchange of visits, but urged that Taranaki people should give a load. The resultant advertisement from their visit and the return visit by the Australians would inaugurate a largo tourist service, the advantage of which would lie chiefly with Taranaki.

The progress of the venereal diseases clinic of the Auckland Hospital was referred to in the medical officers’ annual report submitted to the Auckland Hospital Board last week. It was stated that the clinic was to some extent meeting a much-needed want. A satisfactory feature was that more female patients were presenting themselves for treatment. The lack of accommodation for in-patients suffering from these diseases was a drawback which would be remedied when the new wards wore in commission. Dr Maguire reported that from information received from New South Wales it appeared that tho incidence of these diseases was decreasing in New South Wales, .and reports from England indicated a similar position there. Tho probability was that the same state of affaire obtained in New Zealand. During tho past twelve months there were 753 persons dealt with —652 males and 101 females. Of these, lifty-spvon men and eleven women were found not to bo suffering from Y.D. The total attendance of all persons at the clinic was 10,260, representing the attendance of 9,155 males and 1,105 females. Tho Syllabus Committee of the Overseas Club met in the club room last evening. Mr H. E. Barrowclough occupied the chair, and there wore present Mr Tapley (president), Dr Benham, Mr J. Ash, Major Dampen, and tho hon. secretary. Details in connection with tiro next monthly entertainment were discussed, and it was left to Major Dampen to arrange with Mr Umbers to give an illustrated lecture on his war experiences. In connection with the club’s Empire patriotic demonstration it was resolved to invite the Hon. W, Downie Stewart, M.P. (vice-president of the club), to bo the principal speaker, also that tho Hon. 0. E. Statham, M.P., be asked to move the loyal resolution, and that Mr J. W. Munro, M.P., be asked to second it. The drafting of tho royal resolution was left in the hands of Mr H. E. Barrowclough and

Mr J. Ash. Tire offer of Miss Holland to arrange a Shakespearian recital for one of the monthly entertainments was accepted with thanks. The syllabus of the year was submitted and agreed to. “If something isn’t dona there will bo the makings of a first-class accident down there,” said Mr 0. R. Clark, at the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society’s meet ing, apropos of a suggestion that measures be taken to stop shooting from motor boats on Lake Ellesmere. “It doesn’t matter so much about shotguns,” he proceeded to eay.” “ With, those they can’t hurt anything but the birds ; but it’s different with rifles. You all know how a bullet can ricochet off the water. It is simply wicked to go shooting with rifles on Lake Ellesmere. With a high-powered rifle the bullet may travel up to half a mile or a mile. Onco I was standing near a hut when a man away down at the mouth fired a rifle, and I heard the bullet sing through the air over my head.” Mr A, L. Smith suggested that the ranger he instructed to lay an information against tho first man ho caught shooting from a boat this season, and this was agreed to. Stormy weather was experienced by the Federal steamer Dorset on her recent voyage from Southampton to New Zealand. Tho vessel sailed from the English port oar February 18, and on the second day out encountered a westerly gale, which lasted for ten days. It was on February 23 that the gale increased to a cyclonic hurricane, with precipitous seas, causing tho Dorset to labor heavily. On Ferbuary 25 tho gale still raged, with high seas, and the ship’s engines wordTcept moving enough to hold her head on to the seas. Tho passengers were kept below for four days, owing to tho danger of coming up on deck. Tho weather moderated a little on February 27, and the Dorset proceeded ahead. The gale increased on the following day, but moderated on Sunday, March 4, and soon fine weather set in, which lasted till arrival at Colon on March 16, at noon. The Azores were sighted on March 2. Tho passengers went ashore at Colon for a few hours. Tho voyage was resmed at 7 a.m. on March 17, and tho Panama Canal was cleared at 4 p.m. on that date. Practically the whole of the American naval fleet was anchored in Panama Bay. Fine weather prevailed in tho Pacific, so that tho passengers were able to enjoy deck games and sports, dances, and concerts. The time-honored ceremony associated with crossing the Line afforded a good deal of amusement. The Dorset arrived off Pitcairn Island at 7 a.m. on April 1, and three boatloads of Islanders came off to exchange mails and sell vegetables, fruit, and curios. Tho Dorset continued on her way at 8.30 a.m. on April 1, and fair weather prevailed again until April 10, when the ship ran into a moderate west-south-westerly gale, with rough head seas and heavy 'rain. A considerable amount of water was shipped forward, but the weather steadily improved until arrival at Wellington.