LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Star, Issue 20022, 13 November 1928, Page 13

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Two prisoners afc Mount Eden gaol, John Charles Concord and Charles Frederick Murphy, escaped 'from-,;a quarry gang about 400yds froiu the prison walls shortly bet ore 5 o.clopk last night (says a Press Association telegram from Auckland). A .search, was quickly organised, and within hall: an hour both men were discovered hid-, ing in a nearby section. Their surrender was without incident.

Tho Minister of Agriculture (The LUm. t», J. 1-Jawkcn) has (says a. Press Association telegram from Christchurch) advised the Now Zealand Poultry Association that the Government guarantee for the export of eggs will ho extended to cover shipment by tho Mataroa.

When the Supreme Court sessions were opened to-day (says a Press Association telegram from Christchurch), Mr Justice Adams was presented with a pair of white gloves. There were no criminal cases for trial. Nobody seems to remember such an event ,in Christchuch previously. Barristers who have been in practice there for thirty-five years declare that never in their experience has a judge received white gloves. The Children’s Court at Auckland will be kept busy during tho nest tew weeks, because of a big round up of about twenty boys. No fewer than 122 charges, -ranging from mischief to breaking and entering and theft and conversion of motor cars will be preferred against this juvenile gang, which for mouths has given the police an anxious time, ft is now believed that many burglaries and thefts in the Mount Eden district for several months will bo cleared up.

According to a judgment delivered at Christchurch by Mr Justice Adams the Waimairi County Council is not empowered to refuse a permit for tho erection of a shop in a residential suburb under section of the Town Planning x\ct. His Honour held that town planning schemes wero strictly telated to tho development of cities and boroughs, and that the Act distinguished between town and regional planning. At the Ohakuuo Court, before two justices of the peace, W. C. Wahle, a man with several aliases, who escaped from the Ractihi lock-up last mouth, pleaded guilty to eight charges of breaking and entering and theft, whilst at liberty, false pretences, issuing valueless cheques, and breaking gaol. Ho was committed to the Supremo Court at Auckland for sentence. Eor tho theft of explosives from a person unknown ho was dealt with summarily, being sentenced to three months’ imprisonment, and for breaking gaol ho received a sentence of eighteen months. The prisoner made a sworn statement exonerating tho police from any negligence, declaring that tho lock-up was unable to hold him, and that ho had no outside assistance. Ho added that he would continue to refuse to divulge the mystery of the method of his escape. A meeting of the Moray Place Congregational Women’s Auxiliary Missionary Society -was held in Jubilee Hall yestcrclay afternoon. The Rev. A. Mead, who presided, extended a welcome to the llcv. H. W. Whyte, from India, who in. tho course of his remarks concerning missionary ivork in India, dwelt particularly upon the condition-of women there, and said that on o*ne occasion a man had been sent to gapl, and his wife had forgotten him and taken to herself another husbaiid. When the man came out of gaol she refused to return to her husband, and the case being arbitrated upon, the husband agreed to accept in- exchange for his wife twelve rupees and a goat. As to tho woman’s position in her home, her husband was looked upon as her god, and she had to plcaso him by perfect obedience. She had also to serve her husband, to please him, and bear him a son. There were, however, signs that a change was coming about.