N.Z. TELEGRAMS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XX, Issue 191, 2 August 1930, Page 8

N.Z. TELEGRAMS

PARS OF INTEREST.

Before Mr. J ustice Reed and a jury in the case of an action for damages arising out of a collision on the Hutt road the jury found for the plaintiff, Arthur Hirschorn, on all counts, awarding £507 12/- special and general damages against Leonard Mervyu Wallace. Permission was given to apply for a new trial. Hirschorn, who was injured when his motor-cycle crashed into the car, held that the accident occurred through defendant failing to signal before turning.

His decision not to make public the document handed to the prison authorities by Arthur Thomas Munn shortly before his execution at Auckland on Tuesday was announced by the Minister of Justice, the Hon. J. G. Cobbo. The statement reached the Minister yesterday and be perused the contents. “There is nothing worth reading in the statement and no purpose would be served bv its publication,” he said. The Minister added that no confession had been made as was indicated earlier by the Controller-General of Prisons, Mr. 11. L. Dallard. The statement merely traversed the evidence given in the Supremo Court.

Stanley William Findlay, for carrying on the business of a bookmaker, was yesterday at Wellington sentenoed to nine months’ imprisonment. There were previous convictions and the Chief Justice said that be could not allow the law to lie flouted, defied and broken with impunity.

The jury returned a verdict of not guilty in the Supreme Court at Dunedin yesterday in the case in which Alexander Ralston was charged with negligently driving a motor vehicle, thereby causing the death of Robert Callander. The Methven Gun Club's grand national live bird championship shoot carrying a prize of £lOO attracted 27 entries. H. Grennell, E. Hammond, M. Pratt, L. Lemon and A. E. Brightling tied with twelve birds each and divided the prize.

» » » Ella Miller, a registered nurse, was yesterday in Wellington awarded £75 damages when Mr. E. Page, S.M. gave reserved judgment in a libel action against Mrs E. Williams, an ar' 'tment house keeper. The nurse’s action was based upon remarks made by Mrs Williams on the telephone when she said to the secretary of the Nurses’ Club that Nurse Miller “hud a man in her room until four o'clock in the morning.” The Magistrate held that qualified privilege could not be sustained in the circumstances. In evidence a fellow lodger had admitted that she nad a man in her apartments at a late hour, but Nurse Miller did not. » • « The warship Dunedin returned to Auckland yesterday after a five weeks' cruise in the Pacific, during which she called at a number of British and French possessions at Tonga Commodore Blake paid an official call on Queen Saloto, and much hospitality was shown the officers and crew. At Noumen five happv days were spent. Both at Vila and Noumea the Commodore laid wreaths on the French war memorials. On the way back to Now Zealand the Dunedin called at Norfolk Island.

Edward Kennedy, secretary of the Cooks and Stewards’ Union, was an unsuccessful defendent in an action for assault brought against him in the Wellington Magistrate’s Court by Arthur Ryan, an assistant cook. Kennedy was fined £5 and costs, * * • A deputation organised by the Women’s social progress movement waited on the Hon. J. G. Cobbo to ask for legislation in connection with the drinking of intoxicating liquors at cabarets and dance halls. Miss M. McLean said that ifeabarets and dance halls were clearly included in the definition of “resturants” in the Sale of Liquor Restriction Act. all w’ould be plain. Evidence of drinking disturbances and even deaths had caused social workers to realise their urgent necessity for immediate action. Other sp?akers added supporting remarks. Mr. Cobbo promised that the matter would have serious consideration.

The instructions concerning the limitations of school committees’ subsidies have been received by the Canterbury Education Board from the department. Subsidies on voluntary contributions towards the cost of school pianos, gramophone and non-essential ground improvements are to be limited to absolutely essential books, and no subsidies are to be granted towards the cost of continuous readers. These purposes cover most of the claims previously made on the department, for the greater part of the money raised bv the committees in the past has been for these purposes.

At a conference of the Wanganui, South Taranaki. North Taranaki and Manawatu Automobile Association at Wanganui yesterday, it was decide:! to adopt the suggestion that to ensure better road service for memlxms, an amalgamation take place, particularly with regard to the control of service officers. The scheme is the outcome of a Wanganui agitation for a North Island service and will apply mainly to signposting and the duties of service officers. Wanganui has been decided on as the headquarters for this coast.

Advice has been received by Mr. Walter Nash. M.P., that the Minister for Railways, the Hon. AV. A. Veich has countermanded all notices of dismissal issued to the men in the Hutt Valley railway workshops, subsequent to the announcement of the Government's policy in connection with the railways.