CHRISTCHURCH NEWS

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 November 1926, Page 5

CHRISTCHURCH NEWS

LOSSES BY LIBRARY.

(Special to “Star.”) CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 2G. With the determination to check the practice among subsevribers of taking books from the Christchurch Public Library without registering them as on issue, the Library authorities haveprosecuted two offenders, who have recently been detected in this offence. The second case was heard this morning in the Magistrate’s Court before Mr H. P. Lawry, S.M., when Lillian Manson was chargefid with stealing two books, of the total value of 12/, from the Public Library. She was represented by Mr W. R. Lascelles and pleaded not guilty. Ernest John Bell, librarian, said the defendant was a subscriber at the Library. She came to the library about 6.15 p.m. one evening and stayed untill about 8 o’clock. Witness watched her during the whole of that time as he had reason to bo suspicious that she was watching an opportunity to get away when they were all busy. She slipped out, and witness let her go for thirty or forty yards down the street, then went after her. She said that she had been waiting in the library for her mother. He took her back to the library and there found her to be in possession of two books which’ were not entered. Mr Lascelles: There was nothing from which you could assume she was going to steal the books? —No. The Magistrate said it was not a case Ihi which a conviction should be entered. Defenciant had brought the prosecution upon herself, and been put o the expense of defending it.

An application by Mr Lascelles for the suppression of defendant’s name was not granted, Yhe Magistrate saying there had been special circumstances in the previous case in which defendant's name was suppressed. A BOISTEROUS COURT. The quiet atmosphere of the Assessment Court, Christchurch, to-day, was disturbed by enthusiastic uproar, hurrahs, hand-clapping and laughter. Contributing to the noise, dozens of Harewood, Styx and Marshlands farmers sat in the Old City Council Chambers as the Court over which Mr J. G. L. Hewitt, S.M., presided, dealt with scores of applications from residents of the Waimari County for a reduction in the Government Assessment values. This hearing of ■ objections is a complicated business, which Mr Hewitt seeks to speed up in face of difficulties. Small wonder that some people doze off when others are telling their life story in proving the valuator wrong, but everyone was wholly awake when a bluff Harewood farmer started to tell the rest of the world what his little slice of Mother Earth was really worth, shingle deposit and all thrown in. “Yes,” he said, “the valuator had stood on his hind legs and said he had the Government behind him. W. J. Walter and his crowd would have a go for it. The valuator denied all that. Then Mr E. W. White, counsel for the bluff farmer, called him as a witness. Do you know the adjoining farm sold for £4000? asked the valuator. No, replied the witness, it was an exchange. The seemingly harmless remark was greeted by an enthusiastic, demonstration of hurrahs and handclapping from the dozens present. When the laughter ceased, Mr Hewitt and the two assessors with him did not seem pleased. “This is not one of Gipsy Smith’s meetings,” said Mr Hewitt. “I give you a failamount of latitude. 1 am not at all hard at the rules, bufyou can’t carry on with that. There must be respect for the Court.” Quiet reigned again. MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS. Judging by the way the nominations are pouring in from unions and branches, the Labour Representation Committee will have no dearth of candidates for the municipal elections, to be held in April next. The present Mayor (Mr J. K. Archer) has jo far received unanimous support for re-nomination as the party’s candidate for the Mayoralty. There is little doubt that when the question- is discussed next month, no opposition to his candidature will be expressed. It is generally recognised within the party that Mr Archer, has filled the office with credit, and there are no valid reasons why he should not be given an opportunity of standing for another term. Similarly, all the sitting Labour candidates have been renominated, including Mr F. R. Cooke, who will be absent in England when the elections are held. Some unions have recommended full tickets should be nominated for all the elections. There are prospects that the fight will be exceptionally keen. WOMAN DIVORCED “She is a most unreliable woman in every respect. What I am astonished at is that she should go into the box and tell such a story, punctuated as itjs with obvious lies.” His Honor? Mr. ■ Justice Stringer, spoke very strongly .this morning, in 1 criticism of respondent in a divorce case heard in the Supreme Court be-, fore a Judge arid jury. The -woman had told hei- story, but counsel for ■ the other side showed in cross exj amination that .it was substantially ‘ untrue. The case was taken no further. Joseph Shaw, travelling showman, asked for a divorce from Ivy Margaret Shaw, on grounds 'of adultery. John Boyd Rutherford, labourer, was cited as co-respondent, but" was withdrawn from the case on the application of I petitioner. j Respondent admitted the allegations

pf petitioner but raised - the defence that, petitioner had condoned her act, and had induced and contributed lo it.