LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Star, Issue 20019, 9 November 1928, Page 12

LOCAL AND GENERAL

At 11 o’clock on Wednesday night (says a Press Association telegram from Auckland) Mrs Parkinson, while with friend near the Supreme Court, was accosted by a youth, who snatched her bag. containing over £2O, and. bolted. He was chased, and was arrested with the money in his possession. He will be charged in the Children’s Court. The hearing of the claims of tho New Zealand Federation of Painters and Decorators’ Industrial Association for a new award was concluded before tho Conciliation Commissioner (Mr P. Hally) at Wellington yesterday. An agreement was reached on all clauses with the exception of wages, which question was re for rod to the Arbitration -Court,.

The bearing of nine charges alleging forgery, obtaining credit by fraud, and false pretences against Hercules Robert Hunter, accountant at the Bank ot New Zealand, was concluded at Napier yesterday afternoon. Tho jury deliberated for a little over an hour, and returned a verdict of not guilty ou all counts.

The estimated population of the dominion. including dependencies and mandated territory, at September 30, 1928, totalled 1,515,267. of which (says a Press Association telegram) 774,236 are males and 741,031 females. Tho estimated Maori population accounts for 65.212. Tho Cook Islands, Niue, etc., account for 14.352, and the mandated territory ot Western Samoa lor 43,169 Of the Maoris in New Zealand it is estimated that 62,330 are in the North Island and 2,892 in tho South island.

Early yesterday morning a terrific gale swept across Bluff Harbour, causing a fair amount of damage to the fishing and ovstcr boats moored at tho wharves. The wind rose about 2 a. in. from west-north-west, and soon attained gale force. Many of the craft were in danger of drifting on to the rocks through tho. parting of the mooring lines, but the watchman was aware of tho danger, and quickly got into communication with tho various owners. Most of tho damage was done to fishing trawlers, one boat’s stern being shattered. The weather improved considerably later in the morning. The total area under wheat in New Zealand for the season 1928-29 is estimated at 255,000 acres, compared with 262.799 acres last season; oats, 303,000 acres, compared with 303,708 last season; barley, 22,000 acres, compared with 21.752 last season. Tho following figures show the estimated areas for tho North and South Islands: North Island —Wheat. 3.700 acres; oats, 19,700; barley. 2,250. South Island—Wheat, 251.300 acres; oats, 233,300; barley, 19.750. It is estimated that 21.100 acres (North Island 4.200. South Island 16.900) will be planted in potatoes. Ou the average of the last five seasons (viz., 5.34 tons per acre), the iota! yield from tho estimated area shown for 1928-29 should approximate 112.674 tons, compared with 121,402 tons last season.

The annual meeting of tho Otago and Southland branch of the New' Zealand institute of Optometrists was held on Monday evening. The chairman (Mr W. V. Sturmer), in outlining tho work of the year, referred to tho important work done in the formation of an optical class at the King Edward Technical College and the passing of tho Opticians Bill, which will become law on January 1 next. The election of office-bearers resulted;—President, Mr G. KJ Neill; vice-presidents, Messrs H. Neill and W. V. Sturmer; sccrctnrvtreasurer, Dir H. Fairmaul.

At the Cnvorslmm School Committee’s meeting Mr T. A. Brown presided over a full attendance. Nurse Faulkner, in charge of the local iToutal clinic, gave an interesting account of her activities among the school children. The head master reported a roll of 750, with an average attendance of 08G. It was decided to circularise parents and friends appealing for subscriptions to tho annual prize-giving funds. It is tlio intention of tho committee to entertain the school choir, football and hockey teams at a piomo on Quarantine Island next Saturday. Arrangements wore completed for the. annual concert, to be held on November 27. Shortly before i o’clock yesterday afternoon detectives made a raid on an office in Ills Majesty’s Arcade, Auckland. As a result, Clarence Russell, Raymond Lewis, and John Prcnter were charged before Mr Hunt, S.M., at tho Police Court with using tho premises as a common gaming house. David Symons, Arthur William Evcriss, and Henry Bradman were charged with being unlawfully on the premises. In each case the defendants pleaded guilty. Ghief-dctcctivo Hammond said Russell was the keeper of the gaming house, while Lewis and Prenter were his assistants or clerks. Neither of the latter had been before the court before, but about a year ago Russell had been fined £5 for street betting. Russell had been carrying on in a fairly extensive way, about £IOO being seized by tho detectives, as wcll_ as a largo quantity of betting material. Mr Hunt fined Russell £IOO and Lewis and Prenter each £lO. Symons. Everiss, and Bradman wore each lined £2. —Press Association.