PATEA.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 28 November 1924, Page 6

PATEA.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) MAGISTRATE’S COURT. The monthly sitting of the Magistrate’s was . held here ; on Wednesday last, Mr Hewitt, S.M., presiding. A number of cases were adjourney to Deceipbpr 17. Judgment was given for plaintiff by default in the following cases: F. G. Williams v. J. McK. Mitchell, claim £2 8s 6d; M. A. Lawson v. Henere Terere, claim,£9 2s 6d and costs; McCarty and Hunger v. C. D. Hobern, claim £l9; 19s 3d and costs. The Inspector of Factories proceeded against the Patea Farmers’ Freezing Company for failing to report to the Department within 48 hours ,an accident to C. Adams, an employee. It outlining, his case, the. inspector said the Department was not pressing for a heavy penalty, as it was a first offence; but the Department looked upon the matter of failure to report accidents as a serious offence. The employee had been in the hospital for some time. There was no reason to suppose that the breach had been done on purpose.—Convicted. Inspector of Factories v. W. J. Fitzwater, for failing to close liis Shop at 1 p.m. and keepiiig same closed for the rest of tlie day oh the weekly halfholiday. The inspector stated that he had visited the shop on a Wednesday and asked the defendant if he had any cigarettes, and was informed that he had.one packet. On making >.a search he found a number of pounds of tobacco under the counter. He had .previously warned the defendant about selling cigarettes and tobacco on the weekly, half-holiday,, so no- plea of ignorance of the law could stand. —Convicted and fined £l, with expenses 12s 6d and court costs. The truant, inspector proceeded against T. Wiikinson, A. Tocker, E. Jury, Wyndham Mills ,(3 charges), Haemaia (3 charges), and Ngakuta (3 charges). After hearing Mr. Slipper, a fine pf 2s and costs 7s was imposed in all cases except those against Haeniaia and Ngakuta. when the judgment was a fine of 2s and translation fee 5s 0 hut no. costs were allowed. A further case was adjourned. I , general. The annual -bazaar in aid of the funds of St. George’s Church will be opened in the Town Hall to-morrow i afternoon, and will continue,until, Friday evening. A very large and choice i assortment of articles will be on sale • oil, the .various stalls, and it is to be ■ hoped that the result will , be, a very ’ hahdsoVne addition to tlie funds. : . . The bowling match, Patea v. Park (Hawefa), to have been played at Hawera on Wednesday, had. to he postponed on account Of the wet .weather. ■ Rumour says that the efforts Of. the | Mhenuakura settlers to keep open their post office after Die end of. this year > are likely to be crowned with . success. The Department, in compliance with a request from the settlers, [ has agreed to institute a rural de- • livery as from January 1 next, and in > riew of this fact does not-consider the retention of the post office necessary. [ That the reverse is the case was fully explained at a meeting of the settlers held at t.he Whenuakura factory laSt week, when it was decided to approach > the Department on the matter. No doubt, the Department can see the in- > stallation of a number of telephones > in, this district to take the nlac© of - the one now in the post office and at the service of the settlers on payment of the usual fee; but one can l only hope that such, is not one of the reasons for closing down the office, as WPst i of*, the, settlers Rave at present enough to think about,/without, having 1 to find extra money for telephones. It ; ls sincerely to be‘hoped that the De- ' partment.will, not close the office, but, ’ on the contrary, will keep it open and ! make it a money order office. v Such a convenience is long overdue.