LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Star, Issue 19326, 12 August 1926, Page 13

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The ten miners who loft the Black Diamond mine on Monday have so tar not resumed work. With the aic * the permanent staff, however, tno management is able to mine sufficient coal to meet all requirements.

A sequel to one of the senes of cases recently of unlawful conversion of car 3 was heard in. the Magistrate’s Court, Invercargill, when James M Intos pleaded guilty to a charge of converting to his own use a car valued at £IOO, The theft of a number or articles valued at £2 18s fid was also admitted. The accused was remanded for a report by tho probation officer. Hui Kai Rehn, who has just been discharged after serving two years m gaol, elected to bo dealt with summarily by Mr H. P. Lawry, S.M., m the Magistrate’s Court, Christchurch, on a charge of frand, to which ne pleaded guilty. Rohu was charged with having incurred a liability ox £lo with Samuel Beale, and obtaining credit by fraud. Chief-detective Gibsou said that the man came to town and passed as a Maori with a big uicomo. He was riding about in taxis, and incurred liabilities to the extent of £l6. He issued valueless cheques. Ho was just out of prison. A sentence of three months’ imprisonment with hard labor was imposed.

An interesting interpretation of several aspects of tho Licensing Act in respect to the carriage of liquor into no-license districts was delivered in tho Magistrate’s Court, Invercargill, by Mr G. Cruickshank, S.M. Two taxi drivers who had brought liquor into Invercargill from Wallacetown hotels were charged with carrying liquor into a noliconse area without obtaining a signed form from the purchasers. Tho defendants were convicted and fined £L Two other men who had brought beer into the town were charged with failing to give their names and addresses to tho vendor and failing to inform him of their intention. They were fined nominal' amounts, counsel saying that tiio cases wore unique.

Frederick John Hawkins, a taxi driver, was arrested at Wanganui, following an inquest on John William M'Dougall, and charged with manslaughter. M‘Douga.ll was picked up in a dying condition at 3 o’clock on Sunday. His skull was shattered. Subsequently blood, bone, and pieces of skin were found on tno side of Hawkins’s car. Both men had been to the sann party, but left by different routes, M'Dongall cycling and Hawkins driving. According to tho evidence at the inquest both had had drink. Hawkins was charged with_ manslaughter, and remanded, bail being allowed in his personal surety of £IOO,

Evidence was tendered before the Select Committee of the House regarding motor buses, on-behalf of the Eastbourne Borough, by the mayor, Mr Jones, who said the ferry service was jeopardised, mainly on account of the uncontrolled “ private ” services. The ferry service was not run for profit. To secure the service against loss a special levy of £4,000 was struck last year and £3,700 was used. The Wellington Council had been forced to postpone such necessary works as water and sanitation which wore sanctioned eighteen mouths ago. The cost of the last steamer, also the theft of bonds to the value of £5,600, were referred to as showing that the borough’s troubles wore not all duo to bus competition. Evidence was tendered on behalf of Wanganui and by Mr Hobbs, secretary of the Tramway Employees’ Federation, the latter stressing the of accidents from the existing rivalry. John Edwin Hunt, in giving evdicnco for the Wellington Coach and Motor _ Body Builders, said that the regulations, if carried into effect, would seriously prejudice this business. John Frederick Cousins, who represented the motor trade, said the registers were too restrictive. There wore 820 bus businesses in New Zealand, representing a capital of £1,000,000. Only sixty-eight buses were municipally owned. The electric tram, he said, would not bo te-day what it had been in the past. Nowadays _ people were demanding quicker transit. In congested places the tramways were giving place to traffic which was more mobile.

At the indoor meeting of the Gardening Club on Tuesday evening there was a large attendance. Mr It. B. Tennent, Government Agricultural Instructor, was the lecturer, and gave an address illustrated by lantern slides on growing early potatoes in cottage gardens. Ho expressed the opinion that growing early potatoes was a profitable investment, but the main crop was better left for field cultivation. Ho drew attention to the many varieties now on the markets, several of which were old varieties under a new name. To got best results, ho said, it was essential that good seed, true to type, should bo used, and these could only be procured by careful selection from vigorous and producitve plants—not too ripo, but well greened and sprouted. Good seed could not bo expected from weak or run-out plants. It was wise to box and_ sprout the seed before planting, as this gave quicker returns from the time of planting, and also a larger crop. The seed should be sprouted in an airy place, free from frost. The lecturer dealt very fully with tho various diseases affecting potatoes, and showed by lantern slides tho different typos in a very dear and instructive manner. He also explainer! how to prevent these diseases and the different operations necessary. The matter of fertilisers was treated very fully, and he detailed tho properties of the main fertilisers on the market. After answering a number of questions Mr Tennent was, on the motion of Mr James Nelson, accorded a very hearty vote of thanks for his very instructive address.