WESTPORT NOTES

Grey River Argus, 17 February 1933, Page 7

WESTPORT NOTES

(Our Own Correspondent.; Magistrate’s Court. WESTPORT, February 16 Mr W. Meldrum, S.M., presided at the Magistrate’s Court held yesterday. , For being in possession of an unlicensed wireless set Gilbert Gardiner was lined 10s and costs. Defendant, his evidence, stated he held a dealer’s license and the set was only used for demonstration purposes. I. Ryan was lined 5s and costs for leaving a car parked in Palmerston Street for a period longer than was permitted by the by-laws Turley Edward Ncamc was lined 5s and costs for a breach of the Arms Act. On a similar charge Geo. Hawkins who had since taken out a license, was lined 10s and costs. For riding a bicycle on a footpath E. Oxnam and B. Avery were lined 5s Geo. Phillips was lined 5s and costs for riding a bicycle in Palmerston Strmq after dark without, a light. Violet Coppersmith, for whom Air 11. Level appeared, proceeded against J. AV. El iof for disobedience of a main tenance order made in 1929 for pay ment of 25s per week for the support of two children of her former marriage, EFiot, for whom Mr M. B. Scul y appeared, asked for variation of the order. Elliot, who is employed at Denniston, stated he was the previous husband of complainant but they were divorced, and his wife married Mr W. Coppersmith. He gave particulars of his <Mi nings for the past two years. Mrs Coppersmith stated the two children were Fixing with her and her husband. The arrears on the order wore £55. The Magistrate remitted the arrears; the existing order to stand. Matron Kane (Mr J. J. Alo’onoy) claimed from the Hospital Board (Mr 11. Lovell) the sum of £3O in lieu of notice of termination of engagement as Matron of Denniston Hospital. Judgment was given for plaintiff for the full amount claimed, with costs. No evidence was called. Civil Cases. Judgment by default with costs was entered in the following cases: 11. Lovell v. J. Madden £l9 14s; E. A. Reid v. A. A. Pain, £43 10s; E. Croudis v. A. B. Croudis, £4O 13s (hl; J. Kilkenny Ltd., v. T. J. O’Donnell. £77 15s 6d; J. uiid L. Green v. B. -I. Adams, £4 8s Warden’s Court. The Warden, Mr W. Meldrum, dealt with fhe following applications:— J IL Burby, surrender coal pros peeling license. —Adjourned. Mulholland, coal prospecting license, —Adjourned. Orion Gold Reef Syndicate, prospecting license. —Granted subject to State Forest conditions. F. 11. Syron, prospecting license. — Granted. T. Moynihan prospecting license.— Granted. Same, prospecting license.—Granted. J. J. McCann, prospecting license. —Granted. Same, wute.r race license —Granted for fwo years. F. Worthington, prospecting license —Granted. F. W. Mitchell, claim.—Granted. S, Powell, special site license. — Granted. G. M. Powell, prospecting license.— Granted. C, A Hampton, claim. —Struck out. Same, license for a dam.—Rccom wended. T. Rennie, surrender.— Accepted. A. L. Jackson, prospecting license. — Granted subject to Stat* 1 Forestry conditions T. Gough, surrender.—Accepted. N. Griffiths surrender.—Adjourned. Hampton and others, prospecting 1»cense. —A dj o u rll ed. W. Hampton, extended sea beach claim. —Reconi mended. A. G. Hampton, extei.ded sea beach claim —Recommended. G. M. Powell, water race license. — Recommended. G, M. Powell, extension and altera lion of water race.—Recommended. F. T Alitch'dl, extended a’luvia! claim.—Granted. F. T. Mitchell, water race license. — G ranted Goal Distillation and By-Products Ltd., tramway. —Adjourned. M MacDonald, surrender mining lease. —Accepted. Moore and Beresford, surrender residence si to. —Acecpted. A. G. Pet ley, renewal of gold dealer’s license. —Recommended. Coal Distillation and By-Products Ltd., extension of time.—Recommended M. Forman and others, surrender coal prospecting licensor —Accepted.

Hospital Board Non Suited. The Buller Hospital Board proceeded against Robert Adam, Millerton, for the recovery of the sum of £1 9s 9d, a’leged to have been paid to defendant on the representation that he was in want. Mr Lovell appeared for the Board, and Air M. B. Scully for Mr

Adam. Mr Lovell, in outlining the case, said that the sum of £1 9s 9d had been paid to Adam and it would be shown that a t the time he received the relief, he had fuiads to his credit, and was not entitled to the payment. AHss Harder, Acting-Secretary of the Board, gave evidence authorising action to be taken against defendant and produced correspondence which passed between the Board a nd Air Adam in connection with the matter. Hon Air Mclntyre (Chairman of the Board) in evidence, stated that he was present at the meeting when the resolu tions were passed. The relief granted had been given because of destitution in Millertou, and it was left to him to distribute the relief. Mr Adam applied for relief and witness expressed surprise because it was generally recognised that he wa s not in want. He said however, that he needed relief, and although witness was doubtful about the case, he granted relief. Sonic time later, another docket was granted by Mr Finlayson. It came to the knowledge of the Board that Adam had con siderablc sums of money at his disposal, and it was decided that he should refund the amount granted. To Mr Scully: Witness had communicated the nature of the resolutions to the Millerton people and Mr Adam on many occasions. “Is it not a fact that you granted relief to one Christopher Lock, knowing that he had property?”—“No.” “Supposing I bring evidence to prove that you knew he had property in Wellington when you granted relief?”—“The Wellington property was not producing any income.” During a lengthy cross-examination, witness said that he had made it liis business to investigate Adam’s affairs and the Board was satisfied that Adam had £5OO in bonds as well as other money in the bank. Adam had admit led that himself. William Penn Smith. Chief Postmaster at Westport, and certifying officer for the district, produced inquiry sheets which Adam had filled in. He admitted in a form filled in, in August 1931, that he had £.151 in the bank. In April, 1932, in another form, hi s income for the past twelve months apart from wages was £7 interest from Post Office deposits He stated his investments to be only £4O in the Post Office. In a later form he stated th a ( he had no money in the bank or invest cd in any form whatsoever. To Mr Scu'ly: Witness was not present wh< n Adam’s circumstances were inquired into. F J Gibens, ■accountant at the Post. Office Savings Bank, gave evidence as |o Adam’s account. On April Sth. .1932, the credit balance was £55. On April Ist. 1930. Adam was £693 Ils lid in credit. There was a withdrawal of £50(1 o» June 2nd. On December 24th, 1931. there was a credit balance of £6O. On July 14th, 1932, he withdrew it. leaving a credit balance of Id. Mr Scully in opening the case for defendant, said it wou’d not bp denied that Adam had means, but evidence which would be produced would conc’usively show that the relief was not received as a result of misrepresentation.

Robert Adam said he had been a delegate for the U.W.AI. at Millerton since January, 1932. His duties were to collect lists of those who w< re off during “stand down’’ week. At that time the Miners’ I’nion and unemployed worked in conjunction. Later, the mirmp’oycd started a Union. When it was formed, the unemployed were work ing three weeks out of four. The instructions received by his Union were that the unemployed were to receive rations from the Hospital Board during stand down week. Air Alclntyrc had given dockets in accordance with a list of men on stand down -week. He denied that Mr Alclntyrc had closely questioned him with regard to his financial position. Mr Finlayson had attended a meeting of unemployed and agreed that the best way to distribute relief was to grant it to those who were standing down He (witness) was in eluded in that category when Air Finlayson granted him a docket for Ils. Witness said that ho drew £5OO from thp bank two years ago, before any relief scheme was in existence. It was placed into Government stock in the name of an invalid boy who lived at his home.

Mr Lovell: Why did you not explain the reason why you would not refund the money?—l thought it was common knowledge that it was granted to those on stand down week. Witness denied that a delegation came to Westport and represented that there were people destitute and starving He would say that delegates had not represented that they were not in absolute want. Witness said he was put off relief work about nine weeks ago and did not know why. He denied that he had been told that his statements were unreliable and stated that he had invoked ALr Holland’s assistance to get re-instated, but he was awaiting a reply from the Minister. He admitted he had money in the Post Office when ho obtained the dockets from Air Mclntyre. The boy’s name was the same as his (witness’s). Air Lovell: You could draw that money to-morrow if you wanted to.— Yes. ' Re-examined by M>• Sculiy, Adam [stated that some tim<‘ ago he was suspended and there was an inquiry befo.re jhe Unemployment (Committee at Westpoiq and as a result he was re-in-stated. To Air Lovell: The money was given to compensate for stand down week. The reason why Millerton was singled out was because distress was more acute there Air Powell was quite aware that fl ,e relief wa s granted in | connection with stand down week. The deputation whore relief was demanded at the Town Hall has no connection with the present case He could not say why bis name was removed from the list of relief workers. “I had reasons for not disclosing my income on inquiry sheets. The £5OO in my name was earned by my wife as the proceeds a fish-shop' on Millerton, and was set

aside for the support of a crippled grandchild. ’ ’ To Mr Scully: The result of the inquiry held into my removal from relief lists on the first occasion was to the effect that I was to re start. Witness continued that he was called upon for the past two years to assist several members of his family. He had two sons married.

Messrs W. Watson, F. Easton and J Lock gave evidence that no questions were asked as to the financial standing of recipients, when the relief monies were distributed.

The Magistrate, in reviewing the evidence, said misrepresentation had not been proved, and plaintiffs must be non-suited.

County Council Meeting. Cr J. Niven pTesided at the usual monthly meeting of above held yesterday. Accounts totalling £lO,Oll Is lid were passed for payment. The County Clerk reported that the receipts since the first of April to date amount ed to £44 701 Is, and the payments for the same- period amounted to £49.116 7s 7d. Grants of £lO to the School of Alines and £5O to the Cawtlnon Institute were agreed to. The meeting decided to support the protest by the Borough Council in connection with the continual cuts in unemployed wages Matters concerning ridings together with correspondence from various sources were dealt with. An elaborate scheme, which it is proposed to submit to Mr Jossep, of prospecting was referred to by Cr. Mclntyre. A discussion followed and the feeling was expressed that the prospecting possibilities of the Bullar district offered an advantageous field fop employment. Millerton Branch U.W.AI.

At a recent meeting of above the following reso’ution was adopted unanimously: “That this meeting strongly condemns the action of the Chairman of the Hospital Board and the members in prosecuting Comrade. Adam for accepting two relief dockets as Adam was only carrying out the policy of the Local and National Organisations of unemployed in seeking relief from Hospital Boards during stand down week.” Personal. Air J. Graham, the well known Wellington Soccer enthusiast, arrived yes terday. accompanied by his wife and family on a visit to his aunt. Mi’s D. Hook The Wellington sportsman is also a capab'C referee and efforts are being made during his short stay in the district to secure his services at a blackboard demonstration of all the tine points of the game. On the same occasion it is proposed that Air F. Newman should provide a short talk on tennis. Al] arrangements are in the hands of Air D. Hook. Fire Brigade. At the monthly meeting of the above he d last evening Superintendent Morgan occupied the chair. Fireman Simpson was gi anted leave of absence from all ca ls for a period of three months. The meeting decided in favour of hold ing the conference of the United Fire Brigades’ Association in Wellington this year The West Coast Association wrote regarding the next Demonstration to be held at Greymouth. The Secretary .-reported the motor trailer pump wa s tried out at the Alunicipal Baths and a special reducing socket made a t the Dispatch Foundry, Greymouth. which was in use at the time g:i \ e every satisfaction The Secretary also mentioned in his report that (luring the past year. 10 fires, 15 meetings ami 12 practices were attended. The figures for the past three year s were 31 fires, 41 meetings and 37 practices. Band Showing Form Those who have followed the activi ties of the Alunicipal Band during the past couple of months, will be forced to the conclusion that they are making great headway, and should render a good account of themselves at the Dunedin contests. They were quite pleased with themselves last evening when they were accorded a gi'eat ovation after p’aying the march and other test pieces. There was a. big crowd present, and the Deputy Aluyor, at the conclusion of th° recital, wished them a 1 ] sorts of good ]uck during their stay at Dunedin Shipping. Owing to a heavy flood in the Bui or River, there were no shipping movements yesterday, and the departure of the Alatai, Kini and Opihi has been delayed. The former has a f complement of passengers booked up from Westport for Wellington