CHCH. NEWS

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 March 1926, Page 4

CHCH. NEWS

“FLAPPERS” AND ’PHONES. (Special to “Star.”) CHRISTCHURCH, March 10. Slot telephones tnat- are stationed at various sppts throughout the city have been a boon to the public in general ■ and have become very ready! helpers to the business man p who finds himself suddenly obliged io change his plans when far away from his office but there are ‘persons who abuse the 1 privilege of using these telephones, ignoring the stipulation that one call must not exceed five minutes/ • unless the required rate is paid again. They'take advantage of the fact that “Central’’ is too ousy to notice their time is -uji, and go'on talking any length of time. Complaints regarding this kind ,of tiling are becoming more and more frequent. They are not made unjustly, lor to the passer-by, it is ..obvious that /many, persons who occupy telephone boxes are not engaged on very ■lmportant .or serious, .business, but rather appear to; be talking so much gossip, while 'outside customers, anxiously, .waiting ? with urgent messages, .stand,, all (suppressed impatience,, in the; rain. ; . ' During rush hours, the demand for' slot telephones in | the Square is. becoming more and. more intense. There are narly enough phones to meet the demand, yet it is not uncommon to find men are waiting almost furious with indignation, while some' “flapper,” not realising ' a message sent dyer the public telephones, shojild be brief and to the point, babbles on and on over a new dress or the party last night. irrelevant conversations at times is indulged in by . everybody, but the sooner “flappers” of Christchurch -understand ; that slot. telephones are / not the place for these, me better they will be liked.

STOLEN CABBAGES.. “A mob pf us came in from Lake Coleridge. ’ Being out there- so long, and coming into Christchurch, and. having many drinks took effect on my pals'and'myself. We were 'asnett out to the: Belfast Hotel, and on arriving | there found we could not get a drink, so lor fun, we cut; .the cabbages which belonged to the proprietor. I have seen him since, lie seems ' a nice fellow. You might do . pie. this-great favour. So soon as I have a reply, to the price of your kindness hud the fine, I shall ask my boss for, a cheque' and. forward without hesitation.” ! The .‘reading, of this letter in the Magistrate’s Court, yesterday morning, by Mr Thomas who was appearing .ifor' a man ■. charged with ‘having stolen z fourteen cabbages valued at 4s from the garden attached to the Belfast Hotel caused much amusement. The offender had evidently satisfied himself that he would f get off with a fine. k Chief-Detective Gibson- said that accused and some ..other men’ .hired a taxi and .weiltj from the Stotherfield Hotel to Belfast. - On returning, they gave the cabbages to Mrs Brien, wife of the licensee of the Botherfield Hotel. ‘She, of cbufSe) did not ' know that they had l been z stolen. Mr Thpmas said the ‘accused had not been > any trouble since 1915. He . was now working on a mill <jn- South CaiiterbttryAccused syaS fined £5 witli costs, and ordered' to pay jvitpesses’ ; expenses, amounting to 12s.

ROADS TO CANTERBURY. The road to the West Coast is negotiable.* Two chrS vfteilt' th'tough on • Sunday. The road is a trifle rough and the fords require* .Watch- '■ ing. .- ' PRISON FOR ASSAULT. {:'■ “He grabbed lue by the throat aJfidL tried to * choke hie. He pitched ine on the floor, knelt on me with --his kn’ee; and hit. me on the head with! a bottle of beer. He drank the beer afterwards. He swore and called me names, v I .yelled for help and murder, then ‘ old ‘ Mt- Lilly came in, tint he-, just picked him up, and thrpw him. in the grate. He’s I ,strong, hQ is. He’s got a big fist.’’ ' ■: This‘was part of the evidence givpn by Charlotte Bruyere, aged 60. y.eajs, Jkilmore -'Btreetj City •<,which went-ytp assist .the ‘ police in . establishing id a case against Andrew Price, residing at Street, City, who was charged at the Lower Court yesterday, with having assaulted Bruyege, with having assaulted Joseph Lilly, aged 80 years, by hitting him on the head with a bottle,! and with havihg used indecent - language, one evening in Kilmore Street. , , X Charlotte Bruyere had . explained that she had gone across to Prices place “as a peace offerer,” to settle things between-. Price and his wife. “Just after I-got inside,” she said, “I spoke to, him. - Then he jumped , at me, grabbed my throat and this is what he did to me,” she declared. “Look at this.” She pulled a torn, blood-stained blouse and singlet from a handbag, and “here’s some hairy” . holding out- her hand. >. “He did jt with a -bottle.”’ she explained, st Evidence was also given by Joseph Lilly, who said that he went into Price’s place. Price assaulted him with a bottle and threw him in the grate. ■ . c Police-Sergeant T. I. McGregor, ya neighbour, also gave evidence. Ai, The defence was' based on. submissions that Lilly had been worrying Price for rent for some time, Price had pushed Bruyerei and Lilly when they came into his place, but he denied having assaulted them, a s they alleged. ••. '. ... . The presiding magistrate- (Mr, H. A. Young) held Price guilty ,of all three charges. ' “He will' be -'convicted and sentenced to two months hard labour for assaulting the -woman. On each of the . other changes, he will be sentenced' to-'one month 0 imprisonment, the sentences to oe concurrent.