DOMINION ITEMS

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 January 1939, Page 2

DOMINION ITEMS

[PER L'KESB association.]

INTOXICATED DRIVER. BLENHEIM, January in

A fine of L'2u. suspension of his license for twelve months. with endorsement. was imposed by Mr Maunsell. S.M.. on Robert Haworth, 13. motor salesman. Wellington, lor driving' a- car while intoxicated, last October.

The Magistrate said his only doubt was whet lier to send defendant to gaol, but he would take into consideration that defendant was gassed in the war. having abdominal trouble ticconfmtting the- effects of drink - .

RAILWAY YARDS FIRE. AUCKLAND, January IS

Fanned by a. strong wind, an outbreak of tiro in I lie yards of the Otalitiku railway workshops had to be fought, by the Otahnhu Fire Brigade for nearly two hours this afternoon before it. was suppressed. The damage was mostly confined to old packing cases and lumber, and was not costly in value.

Two trucks standing on an adjoining siding - were damaged, the wooden heads and sides being charred considerably. Several other minor outbreaks were also suppressed by the workshops staff during file evening. They ami the larger outbreak were thought, to be due to sparks being fanned by the heavy winds that prer vailed.

AUCKLAND CRIME. AUCKLAND, January 18

A substantia] increase in civil and criminal business in the Magistrate’s Court, at Auckland was recorded for 1938 compared with the previous year. A. contributing factor is the. greater activity in the administering of the motor vehicles legislation supervised by the Labour Department.

During 1938 a total of 12,266 criminal cases were dealt with, compared with 8850 in 1937. Of these 11,222 were males and 1 044 females compared witli 7967 and 883 respectively. In the civil branc.li 11,563 plaints were entered compared with. 10,239 for the previous year. The amounts claimed were £103,546 compared with £94,801, and the amounts recovered £‘95,489 compared with £87,836. ’['here was a. small decrease in the number of juveniles appearing in the Children’s Court.

J<’ 1 R EMEN SENTENCED DUNEDIN. January 19

A sequel to the drunken escapade, when iwo firemen from the steamer Tainui, Leonard Jack Abbott. (24) and Wililam Westcott (27), converted a. motor truck, driving recklessly, finally plunging it over a- 30-foot wall into the Leitli River, was told in Court, this morning, when the men pleaded guilty. The damage to Hie truck was £9o.’

The police stated the men escaped injury miraculously. They were chased to Port Chalmers in a laxi and located on the vessel.

They were sentenced to three months’ imprisonment, at AVellington, and are to he placed on board the vessel a.i. that port, if she leaves before tho expiry of the sentence.