LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Star, Issue 20117, 6 March 1929, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL

At a sitting of the Supreme Court at Hamilton Alexander Armstrong was charged that, being the driver of a car which crashed into a train at Horotiu, near Ngaruawahia, on January 1, he caused the death of his wife and also of Airs Phyllis Anderson and Aliss Alice Howse, both of Auckland. Evidence was given that the crossing was a dangerous one. the view being somewhat obscured. The Jury, without retiring, leturned a verdict of not guilty. The fact that restrictions are placed on the sale of poisons by chemists, whereas grocers and other retailers are not bound by such restrictions, was commented upon by delegates to the Pharmaceutical Society’s conference, which carried the following remit submitted by the Wellington division:— “ That this conference deplores the many weaknesses of th© Poisons Act, recognising that it is completely out of date and practically worthless, and urges the Minister of Health to, bring down new legislation this session in the public interest, so that the domimm may no longer lag behind other countries in this important matter.” A Press Association telegram states that the taxi drivers and service car proprietors of Napier' passed a resolution protesting against tha charges under the Third P.arty Insurance Act, complaining that they have to pay too much and the private owner too little. They claim that in a majority of the accidents which occur private owners arc involved, and that the burden or taxation has become so great already that taxi men and servkf car proprietors can barely make a living. A conference was held at Hamilton to discuss the silting and Hooding of the Waikato River. Representatives were present from a wide area. The meeting resolved unanimously to recommend the appointment of a Waikato Conservation Board Afr W. Lee Martin. AI.P., said he hoped to arrange a tour of inspection of the river ami district by the Minister of Public Works and members of Parliament, commencing about March 18 Statements made at the meeting alleged that, silting had greatly increased, and considerable aicas of farm land were useless through frequent Hooding. The railway as veil as the road would have to be raised il the silting was not checked. The annual meeting of the Town Clerks’ Institute was held at Wanganui yesterday. Air F. M. Martin received on behalf of his father, Air F. F. Alartin, for thirty years secretary and counsel of the Municipal Association, a handsome dock as a token oi the esteem of the members. The annual report said that good progress had been made, the (membership totalling sixty-six. A Nelson proposal to institute a supeianimation scheme was discussed, and it was decided to ask the Government to provide lor such t scheme 'the following officers- were ducted :—President, Air P. Skogiund (Stratford); vice-presidents—Messrs F. H. Denton (Greymouth), F. Hobbs (Lyttelton), G. A. Edmonds (Nelson), G. Alureli (Wanganui), J. R. Hardic (Palniei ston North 1, and H. Wilson (Newmarket); auditor, Air A. J- Gearling (I/ower Hutt) ; executive—-Messrs J. F. Alenzies (Sumner), W. F. Starman (Petone), A. Wilson (Otaki). 11. G. Knox (Lower Hutt), J. T. Boris (Shannon). The monthly meeting of the committee of the Patients and Prisoners’ Aid Society was hold yesterday afternoon, Mr E. A Rosevcar in Ihe chair. The Finance Committee reported that as a result of the fete about £lO5 was secured. The agent (Mr F. G. Gumming) reported that the month of February had been fairly busy. The institutions had had the usual visitation, and in the wards good work had been done. His movements during the month had been as follow'-.—Visitation ; Warrington 4, Seacliff 4. Waitati 3, prison 1, hospital 12. Sunday services: Seacliff 2, Wait tati 2. Song services: Hospital 36. The Warrington Corn-descent_ Home had been kept fairly busy during the month. The number of patients in residence, weekly were February 4. 8; February 11, 11; February IS, 9: February 24, S. He had had a good look over*the home grounds, and everything appeared to he in excellent order. The general work of Ilia society tor the month had been fairly heavy, yet very satisfactory. The expenditure , was about the average, for this time of the. year. A suggestion that application should be made to the APCaithy Trust '’Wellington) for assistance was referred to the Finance Committee for consideration. Patrick Dcegan, the driver of the car which crashed into a train at the Forest Lake crossing, Hamilton, causing.the death of Alexander John Hamilton, was found not guilty in the Supremo Court there of intoxication, hut guilty on ii charge of, negligent driving, with a recommendation to mercy on account of the dangerous nature of the crossing. The jury added a rider; “That in view of the largo increase in the number of level crossing accidents the authorities bo urged to provide more adequate warnings, and that steps be taken to remove the existing obstruction to the view- of approaching traffic.” In sentencing Deega, Air Justice Blair said he must give full effect to the jury’s recommendation. He thought the proper course was hot to impose imprisonment. Prisoner would be fined £IOO, and would be given six months in which to pay, He was also disqualified horn holding a driver’s license during the pleasure of the court. —Press Association. The final meeting of the Green .Island District Picnic Committee was held lasi night, when it was reported that therb was a small credit balance, in hand. The opinion was expressed by all that the picnic had been an unqualified success, and it was resolved that the picnic be made an annua) one. At the conclusion of the meeting the chairman (Air W. T, Kaler) presented the secretary (Air A.'L. Burk) with a case of fish knives and forks for Airs Burk, and a travelling rug as a token of appreciation from those taking part in the picnic. Several present endorse'! Air Kaler’s remarks, and Mr Burk suitably replied.

A Frenchman was relating his experiences of learning the English language. “ When I discovered that it I was quick I was fast.’"' he said, 4< and that if I was tied I was fast, if I spent too freely 1 was fast, ami that nob to eat was to fust, I was discouraged. But when L came across the sentence ‘ The. hist one won one one-dollar prize,’ I gave up trying to learn English.”