NORTH OTAGO NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 23128, 30 November 1938, Page 2

NORTH OTAGO NOTES

[From Ooe Oamaru Correspondent.]

THEFT FROM BOROUGH COUNCIL. At the Oamaru Magistrate’s Court! yesterday, before Mr H. W. .Bundle, S.M., Robert Turnbull Hutchison Raa pleaded guilty to fraudulently omitting to account for sums totalling £387 18s Id between May 2, 1936, and Sep. tember 14, 1938, thereby committing ' theft. Rae, a married man, with five children, was rates clerk and cashier of the Oamaru Borough Council since September 21, 1933. Gordon S. Gapper, Government audit inspector, said the amounts involved « varied from 16s to £73. Receipts in the borough office were issued in duplicate. Accused made out original re. ceipts without tho use of the carbon and made out duplicates for smaller sums.

Detective-sergeant E. M. Thomas said that accused had stated that, five years ago, he was out of work for 18 months, through illness, and contracted debts. The money had been used to pay_ off debts and not for gambling or drinking. Accused was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. MAGISTRATE’S COURT. The weekly sitting of the Oamara Magistrate’s Court was held yesterday, before Mr W. H. Bundle, S.M. William Henry Irons was fined £1 for assaulting Robert Gordon Bell. William A. Middleditch was charged with aiding and abetting Cedric James Sinclair in failing to carry a warrant of fitness for a motor-car. Middleditch undertook to pay the fine and the charge against him was dismissed. Sinclair was fined 10s and costs (10s).

Robert Jamies Banks Etheridge was fined £2 for travelling in a railway carriage from Dunedin to Oamaru without paying the fare. John Mulligan and Son were. fined 15s and costs (10s) for exceeding the speed limit of 25 m.p.h. for a certain type of truck. H. B. Burton and Son were fined £1 and costs (10s) and solicitor’s fee (£2 2s), and Vivian Doran, an employee, was fined court costs (10s) and solicitor’s fee (£2 2s) for carrying out electrical wiring contrary to the regulations. For failing to keep a register of electrical wiring work, defendants were convicted. The defendant company said the fitting of a radiator had been done contrary to instructions to its employees.' "All work, with this exception, had been handed to registered wiremen to carry out, but on this occasion a flex had been fitted to suit the convenience of a customer. OTEKAIKE SPECIAL SCHOOL. The boys of the Otekaike Special School were given much enjoyment at a picnic organised by the Oamaru Toe H and League of Women Helpers. About 140 junior boys took part, and each received a gift from Father Christmas. A picnic was held at Biishcy Creek for about 40 of the older boys, and Toe H members supplied the refreshments. ' P.VV.M.U. At the monthly meeting of the Herbert branch of the_ Presbyterian Women’s Missionary Union, Mrs E. H. Ross presided. Mrs Campbell read an interesting letter from Mrs K. Crump on work in the New Hebrides, and Mesdames Ross and Freeman reported on the conferences at Dunedin. The resignations of Mrs and Miss Ross, who are leaving the district, were received with regret, and, on behalf of members, Mrs Freeman presented them with gifts. GARDEN PARTY. A garden party held at the vicarage, Hampden, in aid of the Anglican Church funds, was a great success. The Rev. A. W. and Mrs Stace and the Ven. Archdeacon J. D. Russell welcomed all present. Stall holders were Mesdames Jackson, P. Malthus, _ O. Gould, Hore, and Forbes, and Misses G. Kelcher. G. Murcott, R. Kelcher, and N. Murcott. A Christmas cake, presented by Mr R. Brady, was won by Mrs J. C. Nichols. GENERAL. Oamaru has experienced drizzling rain since Monday morning. The rainfall for the 24 hours to 9 a.m. yesterday was 49 points. The total for the month is 2.60 inches. At the weekly luncheon of the Oamaru Rotary Club, Rotariau R. K. Ireland gave an interesting address on flourmilling and wheat research.