LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Star, Issue 20254, 15 August 1929, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A Maori boy who stole 5s from a clergyman’s pocket at a football match at New Plymouth and converted a bicycle to Ins own use appeared before the court. He was committed to the Borstal Institute for two years. Other charges of theft were withdrawn. A consignment of 300 tons of coal from England for the Napier Gas Company reached there yesterday by the steamer Hertford. The importation had been rendered necessary owing to the failure of supplies from Newcastle, due to the minors’ strike. The Hertford also carried 500 or 600 tons for the Timaru Gas Company. At a meeting of tho Executive Committee of the Board of Governors of the Kirkpatrick Masonic Institute lor Girls (Nelson) it was decided to make a substantial addition to the buildings to provide additional accommodation. The buildings are now overcrowded, and the board is unable to accommodate further applicants, and five girls are waiting admission, all being necessitous eases. It was decided that, as the present income of tho board is not sufficient for present requirements, and in I view of tho necessity of providing a I guaranteed additional income to meet the growing needs of the institute, an appeal should be made to ail Masonic lodges in New Zealand for financial assistance. The hearing of the dispute in connection with the machinists’ section of the ; printing trades industry was continued >-at Wellington. The Commissioner (Mr ’ P. Hally), who presided, reported that i the major points in dispute had been | referred to the Court of Arbitration, the parties being unable to agree upon the various rates. The employers were of opinion that, owing to internal competition, the general conditions of 1 trade, and the effect of competition through importations, they were unable to increase tho present rate of wages or in any way improve the conditions of employment existing at the present time. The workers contended that the cost of living warranted an improvement upon the present condi tions. The representatives of the parties being unable to agree, the nmttei is referred to the Court of Arbitration for its consideration. Further charges following the book making raids by tho police on July 13 were heard before Mr J. H. Salmon, S.M., at Hawera. Herbert Allan, a billiai'd room keeper, pleaded not guiltj to charges of being in tho street for the purpose ol betting and keeping a common gaming house. The evidence showed that tbo defendant had accepted a bet lodged with marked coins by a constable in plain clothes. A fine of £SO was imposed on the gaming house charge, and on the other count the de' fendant was convicted and ordered to pay costs. A further charge of carryiug ou the business of a bookmaker was withdrawn. William Elder, wlio pleaded_ not guilty to a charge of having assisted in the management ot a common gaming house, was fined £lO. One year’s imprisonment with hard labour was imposed by Mr P. H. Harper, S.M., at Gisborne, on a Maori named Rawhin Wharehcnga, aged twenty-four years, who nleaded guilty to nineteen charges of stealing wool, ■horsehair, and skins in the Ruatoria district, the property of Sam Ngarimu, of a total value of £B6 15s. The thefts extended over several months. The accused pleaded guilty, and elected to be dealt with summarily. Evidence was given that the accused visited Ngarimu’s wool shed at night from March to July last, and took away wool, etc., and sold it. The total ouantity of wool stolen was about 3,0581 b. The buyer at length became suspicious, and communicated with the police. The magistrate said that the accused had a bad record. On the first two charges he would be sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, with hard labour, ou each charge, the terms to be cumulative. On the other seventeen charges the accused would be convicted and discharged. There was a good attendance at the fortnightly meeting of Court Enterprise, A.0.F., held last evening in the courtroom, Stuart street, the C.R. chair being occupied by Bro. D. Mercer. Two candidates were initiated by the C.R., assisted by P.C.R. Bro. D. Bmmerson, and the new brothers were welcomed by the S.C.R. and accorded “the Foresters’ fire.” Bro. N. McDonald reported on the success of the visit paid by members from courts at Balclutha, and Bro. S. 13. Orittell on visits to Courts King Edward’s Pride and Excelsior, also on tho progress of the arrangements for the visit from Court • Bruce (Milton). A visit was received from members of the Tramway Club, who were welcomed by the C.R. A card tournament, after keen competition, resulted in favour of the court. I Light refreshments were dispensed, and tho president of the club (Mr W. I Blair), in responding, congratulated the court on tho manner in which they had been entertained. The vistors’ toast was responded to by P.C.R. Bro. R. J. Frame, on behalf of Court Pride of Dunedin. j