LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 13 August 1925, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Metropolitan Rugby Sub-Union of Wanganui has decided to purchase a property of eight acres at Aramoho, known as the Todd Estate, for the purpose of converting it into football grounds. The case of the girl, four years of age, who was admitted to the Palmerston North Hospital from Bulls a week ago, believed to be suffering from infantile paralysis, has now been diagnosed as meningitis. Her condition is serious

Rugby, hockey and basketball were well represented on the mail train this morning. Of primary importance- were the Taranaki Rugby representatives leaving on their tour. The Feilding Agricultural High School football, hockey and basketball teams were also returning to their home town by the same train.

The Highway Board has notified the Waikato County Council that it had re_ duted the Council’s jurisdiction over portion or the Great South Roacl between Ohinewai and Taupiri. Notification had already been sent that this would be done. If the road is not satisfactorily repaired the board has instructed its engineer to carry out the work. Two-thirds of th e cost will bo charged to the county. This is the first time the board has exercised these powers. Some I.W.W. adherents have been amusing themselves by posting up small “stickers” inviting the residents to boycott the U.S. fleet till certain I.W.W. members who were sent to gaol in ’Frisco were released (says a Press Association message from Wellington). The obvious purpose was to create mischief, hut mostly the stickers were torn down as soon as they were noticed. According to the discussion at the Pihama factory meeting, the Opunake branch railway, from Kapuni to Opunake, wil] not be taken over by the working railways until about six months hence* (says an exchange). This will not preclude through business being done on the Public Works Department section. As a matter of fact through business has been operating for some time. When the branch line is oiffcialtaken over the through charges may he a little les<, than is at present the case operating under two departments. “This man has been employed as a wharf labourer for the past 18 months, and during that time stole the articles.” said l the Chief Detective at Auckland when John Harold Davies, aged 30, pleaded guilty to stealing a cardigan jacket and felt hat, valued at 27s 6d, and two vanity cases valued wt 10s, the poperty of the Commonwealth and Dominion Shipping Line. He is a man of means,” said Chief Detective Cummings, “He has £2oo' in the Savings Bank. £252 in the Post Office, £1250 in property in Auckland, and £BOO in a. farm in the North. The accused was sentenced to 21 days’ imprisonment.

During; the week-end at Eltham the annual Taranaki Salvation Anny Young Peoples’ Councils were held, at- which young people from the- various corps were present. Papers were read by Mr Herbert Robinson, Miss Vera Boyes and Mr Clough, on various subjects, and Majors Bladin and Macaulay and Ensign Matthews delivered addresses. The annual young people’s demonstrations were held on Monday night. The programme included items given members from Hawera, -Stratford, and Eltham and the Boys’ Home at Eltham. The Nautical Court of Inquiry at Auckland concerning a collision between the steamer Wainui and the launch Iris Eileen, in Rangitoto Channel, on duly ”, returned the following finding : “The Court is of opinion that the collision was caused by the master of the Iris Eileen (A. L. O’Brien) failing to port his helm when he became aware that the Wainui was turning and showing \ll navigation lights, there being simple- time for him to do so; also, the master of the Iris Eileen failed to observe the regulations for the pfeveil. lion of collisions at sea. The Court vs further of opinion that, the Rangitoto beacon being a recognised tuning point, it behoves incoming launches to exercise great care at this po-int. No order is made as to costs, and we order the certificate of the master of the Wainui (Captain Chat-field) to he returned.” *

Unusual circumstances surrounded the admission to the Auckland Public Hosp.tal recently of an old man, James Craig Cummings, aged 74, who was charged in the Police Court yesterday for the sixth time since 1917 with attempted suicide, says a) Press Association message. Sergeant Calwell said the accused had no money and no friends. He had led a wasted life and was making his twentieth appearance in court. His record included mostly convictions for drunkenness and offences arising out of drunkenness. He had already served two sentences, each of six months’ imprisonment, for alternating to take his life. Accused spent hi s last penny in purchasing a bottle of poison, said Sergeant Calwell. He went to the hospital and swallowed the contents, and then walked inside to die. The magistrate (Mr. Poynton) said it was useless allowing accused his liberty and he would be better under supervision. He would be sentenced to six months’ imprisonment. The Manaia W.E.A. class meets tonight at 8, the subject being “The control of industry: what part should the State play in this?”

Elaborate preparations are being made by the combined committees of the Awatuna-Te Kiri branches of the Farmers’ Union for the grand ball to be held to-morrow (Friday) evening in the Te Kiri hall. Boulton’s orchestra will provide the music and the ladies are providing an excellent supper. The floor is known as one of the best, and e. erything promises an excellent evening.' A feature of the function will be a s wee-I stake waltzing competition. W~»-

Special attention is drawn to the Hawera Howling Club’s complimentary social given ’by" the members as an acknowledgment of the good work done for the Club by th e ladies during the season. It will be held at Hodclles’ tea- rooms to-morrow (Friday) evening, ami all arrangements will be of the best.

A very interesting programme has been prepared for the grand school concert to-night at Auroa. Children’s items will he a feature' and they will be assisted by a concert party from Eltham. There will also be the preset?_ tat ion of Boys’ and Girls’ Club prizes. After the concert, a dance will be held. OUTRED’S. Just opened all new season’s goods. Spring Millinery, featuring models, smart English and American ready-to-wears, exclusive and original creations. Great variety of smart dressy tunics in serge, gabardine, knitted silk and printed crepe de chines. Latest costumes, showing smart sporting tweeds, gabardines and serges. We invite your, inspection. —Outred’s, High St., where i the smart goods are.—Advt.

At the Supreme Court at New Plymouth vesterdayy, on the application of Masters Ltd., 'William Kerr, bank manager, of Stratford, was adjudged bankrupt.

At the Supreme Court at New Plymouth yesterday, on the ground of desertion, Frederick Robert Leigh, labourer, of Pihama (Mr P. O’Dea) was granted a decree nisi, to bo made absolute after three months, against Maud Dorothy Leigh. The petitioner deposed to the desertion taking place in October, 1921, and cori-oboration of this was given by E. C. Frost. John Mathews, a wharf labourer, was admitted to probation for two years yesterday at the Supreme Court at New Plymouth, when lie appeared for sentence on his plea- of guilty of theft of china valued at £4 4s Gd. It was stated by the Crown Prosecutor that between £4OO and £SOO worth had been stolen from cargo ot the New Plymouth wharves during the past six months.

A sad occurrence took place at New Plymouth last night, when the two-year-old son of Mr J ames 1 Curtis, a telegraph linesman, fell into- the Mangaotuku stream and was drowned. The child had been playing by the side of a bridge which crosses the stream. The body was found some distance down the stream, but the child was then dead. On the ground of mutual separation by deed of agreement, which had been in force for over three years, Stanley George Pether, accountant, Dunedin, for whom Mr J. Houston, of Hawera, appeared, was granted at the New Plymouth Supreme Court yesterday a decree for the dissolution of his marriage with Muriel Pether, the decree to he made absolute after three months. At the Supreme Court at New Plymouth vesterdav. before Mr Justice Alpers,' the following were granted discharge from bankruptcy: Hauora Pikirapu, native. Ohangai; Ilee Leonard Whiting, picture theatre -operator, Opunalce: William John Melville, farmer, Hawera; Sydney Herbert Anstis. farmer, Oeo; Lewis Charles Goodson and Dawson Trevor Goodson, farmers, Hawera. The application of Tommy Tutawa, native, of Manutahi, was deferred. In speaking at -the meeting ot the Eltham Chamber of Commerce last night, Mr. T. B. Crump (chairman oi the Southern National Park Committee) pa-iil a tribute to the manager oi the Dawson! Fallis house (Mr. Murphy), and referred to the excellent arrangements made for accommodation • and -also the catering in connection with the visit of the 200 National Dairy Association delegates. Mr. Grump proceeded to outline the new (Schemes for the development of the Park as a tourist resort to be submitted to the department by a joint delegation ot the Park Board and the South Taranaki Automobile Association in the very near future. Ho explained the formation of the National Park Board executive, .and its representation, comprising members of the North, South, Ba-sit and "West Committees, together with two Government representative,s. In all their considerations they were endeavouring to get away from- any parochial spirit or small aspect of the whole position and to develop the mountain -ais a- -tourist resort and to generally popularise it. A united effort was necessary, and he hoped thateach committee would work in the same -spirit. The previous committees had (Suffered considerably by reason of a shortage of funds. The revenue, wluc-h was solely obtained by the tolls collected, was approximately £6OO from each house, and some of this money had to be applied to the payment Of care-takers. lb was now proposed to ask the. Government to assist the development with a .substantial subsidy, and as Taranaki had shown unity in the general proposals, lie had every hope that a. favourable consideration to the proposals would be given. He outlined the suggested improvements and also stressed the importance of the Eginont National Highway as outlined by the Automobile Association. Mr. Crump was thanked for his address.