LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXIX, Issue LXIX, 29 September 1915, Page 4

LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS

In the House of Representatives on Tuesday the Postmaster-General said that he could not delay imposing a surcharge on letters for a few days, as the amount of taxation that is being lost was so great that he could not make any discrimination.

Mr Daniel Hughes, of Kapuni, has cable advice that his son James has been wounded and is dangerously ill. He is. at present in an English hospital. Another son is at Trentham in training for the reinforcements.

The New Zealanders reported from the front as missing still continue to increase in number. The last list contains the name of a son of Mr D. A. Poole, of Auroa. Their many friends on the Plains will sympathise with Mr and Mrs Poole, and hope to hear that their son is still alive.

"By a jury by all means," was the emphatic declaration of an eldery man in the dock at the Napier Court when he was asked what method of trial he desired on a charge of being a rogue and a vagabond. Mr Lusk, who was sitting at the bar, turned round and informed the prisoner that he would have to wait in prison for about six months, as there was no sitting of the Supreme Court until next February or March. Without hesitation the occupant of the dock replied: "Never mind. I'll guarantee that. I'll wait for a jury even if it is for twelve months." The case then proceeded, and accused was committed to stand his trial at the ensuing sitting of the Supreme Court at Napier. Prisoner seemed quite happy, and left the dock with a careless wave of his hand and a smile on his rugged face.

J: At Welingtoa on Tuesday Annie Kudd wa^ convicted by Mr Cooper, S.M., on a charge of bending to the Minister for Jusiice a, postal packet JK? • ? ontained grossly abusive words, me information was laid by. Constable £noe, or Kilbirnie, about whom Mrs is-udd had communicated in offensive terms to several high police officials in Wellington. The letters were in the nature of serious complaints against the constable. A fine of £10 was. imposed.

Three boys were conducting experiments in the manufacture of coal gas in the laboratory of the Petone Technical School when an explosion occurred, injuring Mr J. H. Lynskey and two of the pupils. A piece of iron pipe which was being used in the experiment was blown with considerable force against 'the ceiling, while Mr Lynskey r who was standing close by,, received) >sqme red-hot coal in his eyes. Two Bunsen burners which were being used disappeared, and a piece of one entered the leg of a boy named Commeiti, necessitating several stitches.. It was" at first feared that Mr Lynskey would lose the v sight of one eye, but prompt attention was paid to the injury, and he is expected to be well again in a fortnight's time.

In regard to the new postal 'rates, there seems to be some' uncertainty as to the scope of the £d additional charge on postal matter. The increase affects only postage to those countries which have adopted the universal penny postage scheme. The countries, therefore, to which the additional rate applies are: The British Empire and protectorates, United States and dependencies, Portugal and dependencies, French India, French Settlements, Oceania, Italy, Chili, Mexico, Malay States. Peru, Paraguay, Nicaragua, Serbia, Siam, Turk's and Caicos Islands. All the other countries, which combined as the Postal Union, as the result of a conference in 1891, and inaugurated a postage rate of 2sd, are exempt from the increase.