LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Star, Issue 19697, 26 October 1927, Page 12

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A Tress Association telegram I'rom Wellington states that the New Zealand i-ilio team, led by Captain W. N. Masefield, which has returned Irom Australia after competing in the Australian King’s Prize match, was yeslerdav accorded a civic reception by the Mavor (Mr G. A. Troup). Mr i’. J. Rolleston (Minister of Defence) represented the Government. When Mr J. Hunter, a Devon street resident, arrived home last evening (says a Press Association telegram from New Plymouth) ho found a man ransacking his house. The intruder bolted, but was caught after an exciting chase by two young men. He was arrested on a charge ot breaking and entering and thclt. ■ It is alleged that he had one of Mr Hunter's garments in his possession. At Greymdntli William (tumble was fined £2 on a charge of living intoxicated while in charge of a molar ear. He was also fined 6s for a breach of his prohibition order. The Christchurch City Council last night decided to instruct its solicitor to draft a by-law to require motor cyclists to carry a roar light in order to make the number plate distinguishable. Thomas John Davies, aged fifty-nine, who was tried in Hie Supreme Court, Auckland, on five charges of indecent assault on five hoys whose ages ranged iron) fourteen to seventeen years, was found guilty, with a recommendation to mercy on account of Ids age. The accused was a scoutmaster at Tanranga, and it. was . alleged that most of the offences had; 'accufred ' on • trips occasioned by his business as an insurance agent, when he had taken some of the boys with him. The accused denied the charges, and contended that certain of the ■ boys were actuated by ill-will-against him. Mr Justice Reed said he would consider the recommendation to mercy. He always did; hut it must not be forgotten that the prisoner was in a position of leader of Roy Scouts, and was expected to teach them right morals and conduct. _ One so placed who was guilty of the charges made was deserving of substantial punishment. His Honor remanded the prisoner until nevt Monday 'for sentence, directing that ho should be physically examined to ascertain whether the condition conducing to his offences was not curable.