DOMINION NEWS

Grey River Argus, 21 September 1944, Page 7

DOMINION NEWS

45 DAYS’ DETENTION FOR SOLDIER. AUCKLAND, September 19. Private Karie Falkenheim Schick, who was found not guilty of desertion, but guilty of absence without leave, by a district court-martial last week, was sentenced to 45 day;s’ detention. At the trial, Schick put forward a plea' of mental anguish on account of his German descent. USE OF TAXIS AT NIGHT. DUNEDIN, September 19. A section of the community has no sense of responsibility when orderingtaxis late at night, ' said the Magistrate (Mr Bartholomew), in fining James Hugh McDonald 10s on a charge of making a false statement Avhen ordering a' taxi. The Chief Traffic Inspector stated that this offence was very prevalent. Defendant telephoned a taxi depot, stating a car was urgently needed to take women to a maternity case. When the car arrived the driver found two men with a sugar-bag of beer. The Magistrate stated that future offenders would be severely dealt with. OWNERSHIP OF MONEY FOUND. WELLINGTON, September 20. The Magistrate (Mr Goulding) was asked to-day, at Wellington, to decide whether money found by the police, and the owner of which cannot be found, becomes the property of the finder. A wallet found last April containing 785 dollars was duly handed in to the police office. Efforts to find the owner- failed and two constables anplied for ownership. The Magistrate was asked to decide whether an order could be made. The Police Act provides that ownerless goods and chattels must be auctioned. On behalf of the constables Mr Meltzer said the regulations differentiated between goods'and money, and he submitted that disposal of the money was by common law, under which the finder'of the money was entitled to it, as against the whole ’world, except the true owner. The Magistrate reserved his decision.

N.Z. NAVAL AWARDS P.A. WELLINGTON, Sept. 19 The King has approved an award of the Distinguished Service Order to Temporary Lieutenant George James MacDonald, D.S.C., and two bars, (Wellington), and mentions in despatches to Temporary Sub-Lieuten-ant Ronald Arthur Mitford-Burgess, (Te Araroa) and late Temporary Sub-Lieutenant John Withers Gordon (Christchurch), according to advice received by the Minister of Defence, Mr. Jones. All three awards are for good service in coastal forces in various actions with the enemy. All the recipients are members of tne R.N.Z.N.V.R. „ Gordon lost his life as a result 01 enemy action during a gallant hardfought battle on the night of July 19. RUGBY HALF-BACK REFUSES OFFER. AUCKLAND, September 18. An attractive offer to play League football has been refused by M. N. Paewai, half-back for the University team which wen the Auckland Rugby Union's senior champiinshop. Paewai said he had considered playmg the League game, but finally decided not to leave Rugby. Overtures had been made to him by two Auckland League clubs. City had made him L substantial offer. Had he turned .over to the rival code lie would have linked up with the Manukau Club. What influenced Paewai to remain in Rugby was that his final medical examinations were looming up and he thought it wiser to concentrate on his studies rather than upon football.