LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15685, 12 August 1914, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

A woman named Mrs. Bemrose, residing at Manawaru, has been missing since Thursday last. A diligent search has been made of tho district and along the river banks, but so far without success. Mrs. Bemrose had experienced indifferent health for some tunc.

A brief sitting of tho Auckland Supremo Court was held yesterday before His Honor Mr. Justice Cooper. Desertion formed the ground for tho application of Alice Selina Syme (Mr. A. Moody) for a divorce from Stanley Vincent Syme. The case was undefended. According to the petitioner, her marriage took' place in 1891, at Wellington. Later, she and her husband came to Auckland, whore trouble occurred in 1905 on account of respondent's drinking habits. A year later Symo disappeared suddenly, and since then had done nothing towards keeping tho petitioner and her four children. A decree nisi, to bo made absolute in three months, was granted.

"The first meeting of creditors in tho' bankrupt estate of John Edward Crook was held yesterday. Tho official assignee, Mr. Fisher, presided, and Mr. A. Hanna appeared for the bankrupt. Tho statement showed that tho debts totalled £18,531 9s lid. The amount owing to secured creditors was £11,667 4s, and to unsecured creditors £6864 5s lid. The estimated value of the securities held by secured creditors was £18,546 6s Id, leaving a surplus of £6879 Is sd. The assets amounted to £7381 17s 3d, made up as follows :—Stock-in-trade, estimated at £20, book debts, estimated to produce £221 13s 2d; cash in hand, £9 2s 8d; property, £252; surplus from securities, £6879 Is sd. This left a surplus on tho estate of £517 lis 4d. In his sworn statement, the bankrupt said that about four years ago he was working as a carpenter, and shortly after leaving thai occupation ho began dealing in land. His assets later on were mostly in equities or second mortgages, and lie could not raise sufficient money to meet his liabilities, and was forced to file. After some discussion the meeting adjourned sino die, and in the meantime tho official assignee will obtain legal advice regarding somo of tho property and a claim against the bankrupt for wages.

In order to do their share towards assisting the Empire, the nurses of the Auckland Hospital undertook to make 100 shirts for the members of the New Zealand expeditionary force. It has now been ascertained that, these shirts can be made quicker in the factories at a cost of 5s each, so tho nurses have -undertaken to fioilect the Bum of £25 among tho staSs of the Auckland Hospital and tho Alexandra Home. i

A case of shop-lilting came before Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M., in tho Magistrate's Court yesterday. Two women, May Wil Hams and Lizzio Sindlen, were each charged with the theft of two silk blouses, valued at lis, the value of John Court, Ltd. An assistant at the drapery establishment stated that when the accused entered the shop her suspicions were aroused because they were handling goods, but disclaimed any intention of desiring to make purchases; Further, she had seen one of the women before, and suspected her of dishonest intentions. George Ashley, manager of Courts, Ltd., stated that tho accused Williams was detained by him, because he was certain that she had stolen goods in her possession. A search revealed the blouses. The accused Sindlen pleaded not guilty, but as she refused to make' any explanation on oath in regard to her suspicious conduct, she was convicted with tho other accused, and fined tho same amount, £2.

A telegram "was" received yesterday from the Prime Minister by Captain E. J. Thomas, president of ., the Sailors' Home, expressing thanks for the offer of the home for the use of His Majesty's Imperial and colonial officers and men during the present European crisis. Tho Primo Minister stated that it will afford him very much pleasure to hand over tho building to tho Defence Department.

Judgment upon • tho question as to whether it is essential to the validity of an alienation by the owners of native land, subject to part 16 of the Act, that tho consent of the Minister for Native Affairs should be given before execution by the owners, was given by His Honor Mr. Justice Cooper at the Supreme Court yesterday. The applicant in the case, Albert John Rhodes, had been negotiating for a lease of 300 acres of land in the Waiariki Maori Land .Board District, and had obtained the signatures of the owners to the lease. The board, however, maintained that tho consent of tho Minister to the alienation was necessary before the lease could bo confirmed. His Honor ruled that the recommendation of the Land Board to tho Minister could be made, and the consent of tho Minister given, although tho document had been executed.

The Auckland Central Committee of the Bible in State Schools League states that tho £1000 offered to tho Government by the league to provido the two field ambulances to accompany tho expeditionary force will not como out of the funds of the league, but will be raised by subscription among the members of the league. In addition to this, tho Auckland Women's League is providing each man who goes from Auckland with a pocket Testament. Members of the league who desire to contribute to either of these funds aro asked to send their contributions to the general secretary of the league, Box 4, Newton. At a largely-attended prayer meeting on behalf of tho Empire, held in the Pitt Street schoolroom yesterday afternoon, and promoted by the Bible in Schools League, it was arranged that a prayer meeting for this object should be held every Tuesday afternoon, from a quarter to three to a quarter past three o'clock. The suggestion was also made that all churches should be open daily, in order that they may bo used for prayer during tho crisis.

A caso was partly hoard in the Magistrate's Court yesterday before Mr. F. V. Frazer, 8.M., in which Reginald Waller Hill and Hector Morpeth sued tho Pukemiro Collieries, Ltd. (Mr. Holmdon) for £106 ss, being b per cent, commission alleged to bo duo to tho tirm of Hill and Morpeth, now dissolved, in connection with tho sale in June, 1910, of certain mining sliareß. Evidence was given by the lato secretary of tho defendant company that commission was paid to others than the company's brokers, but he thought the directors considered that Hill and Morpeth's claim had neon more than covered by the settlement of a large bill of costs. Mr. Hill, who conducted the case for the plaintiffs, stated in evidence that in order to further sales, his firm and others were promised commission by the directors of the company. To Mr. "Holmdon, he said that his firm's bill of costs had 785 items. Ho did not know tho amount of tho bill, but tho firm had received £450 from tho company. The disbursements would exceed £100. Mr. Morpeth was not in Court, and Mr. Hill stated that his late partner had been subpoenaed as a witness. Ho asked for an adjournment in order to secure Mr. Morpeth's attendance. Mr. Holmden, opposing an adjournment, contended that Mr. Hill was not merely suing on tho name of Morpeth and Hill, but that Mr Morpeth was a party to tho action. Tho magistrate,-in granting the' adjournment, said ho did not like to throw out a caso because a witness, who had been served with a subpoena, was absont from tho district,

To-day's edition of the Auckland Weekly News is almost entirely a war number. The numerous illustrations deal most fully with tho march of events in Europo and the New Zealand mobilisations. One of tho most interesting pictures portrays the reading of the declaration of war in Wellington, when tho King's message was announced to nearly 10.000 people assembled in the Parliament House grounds. Tho selection, equipment, and departure of tho first two detachments from Auckland aro tho subject of several excellent pictures. An impression of tho great number of fighting ships controlled by tho German nation is conveyed in a lull-page drawing of tlio entire fleet in its present strength. Various views appear of British battleships in action, a modern Dreadnought discharging a full broadside, and a light between presentday men-o'-war. Tho portraits aro a feature of the edition. These are numerous, the principal ones being " Our Sailor King," Karl Kitchener, Sir John French, Sir lan Hamilton, the King of the Belgians, M. Poiucaro (President of France), Genera] HoetzciKlorff (chief of tho Austrian Army), the admirals in charge of the British North Sea Fleet, Mr. John Burns and Viscount Morley (ex-Cabinet Ministers who disagreed with tho British warpolicy), the Premier of England, and tho Prime Minister of Fiance. Amongst tho vessels illustrated arethoKoenigin Luiso, sunk while mine-laying; H.M.S. Amphion, which struck a mine and was lost with many live.'.; the German warship Emdcn and tho Russian cruiser Askold, which sunk each other off tho Chinese coast;tho elusivo German cruiser Goebcn; ships of tho Now Zealand, Canadian, and Australian fleets; and tho "gilt" battleship New Zealand. Other illustrations portray the personnel of a German man-o'-war, New Zealand's previous assistance to tho Homeland, the British War Office, and a Gorman cruiser passing through tho Kiel Canal. Illustrated events in Now Zealand co\er tho fatal firo at Bluff, English laxly hockey players at Wellington, and a fancy-dress ball at Palmerston North.

It has been officially announced that articles in the way of pipes, tobacco, books, games, tinned fruit, provisions, shaving outfits, etc,, intended for use on ■board by members of the expeditionary force, will be received at district beadquarters. .Such articles will bo forwarded to the vessels conveying the troops free of all charge to the donors. It is hoped that all gifts of this nature will be securely packed to prevent damage or breakage in transit.

A breach of promiso case, Webb (Mr. J. 11. Reed, K.C., with him Mr. Black) v. Patterson (Mr. J. R. Lundon), was mentioned in the Supreme Court yesterday. Defendant did not appear, and pleaded, in. the course of a telegram, that he had no money with which to meet expenses connected with the case. Mr. Reed remarked that Patterson was in business in Gisborne, and although he was in a good position he had declared that ho would not pay the plaintiff damages. The caso was adjourned until Friday.

A cablegram from Lieutenant-Colonel Driscoll, D.5.0., in London, CommandantGeneral of the Legion of Frontiersmen, was received yesterday by the Staff Officer for New Zealand, as follows:—"My heartfelt sympathy is with my comrades who Have not been permitted to go with the expeditionary force.' Having offered our sen-ices, we have done our duty, and must wait patiently. Offer the legion to the New Zealand Government for service' at home or abroad, and abide cheerfully by the result— is a soldier's duty." Tho offer of service either abroad or in New Zealand was mado to the Government last week. ,

At" the Auckland Acclimatisation Society's meeting last night, when there were present Messrs. J. S. Brigham, in the- chair, J. Gillett, J. J. Walklate, B. Noakes. A. H. Chatfield, and Dr. T. Hope Lewis, it was decided to purchase hawks' beaks at a rate of 3d each. A statement was made- that the- Acclimatisation Societies' which was to have been held in Wellington next month, had been postponed indefinitely on account of the war. The chairman reported that the society's financial, position ,had greatly improved, there being at present a credit balance of £572 lis.

The Executive Council of the Southland League is protesting against the action, of the Government in prohibiting the export of cereals. One speaker stated that if the Government was going to. prohibit the export of foodstuffs, so that the people of the Dominion might haTe plenty, wrong means were being taken to accomplish that end. The only way to increase the amount of grain being produced was to make it profitable for farmers to grow it. The average farmer was compelled by commercial necessity to produce what paid him best, and prohibition of the exportation of grain would not have a beneficial effect upon the market. He knew a great many farmers who had enough oats to' lant them for two years, and they did not intend to sow any this year. To grow oats would be to defeat their own object, unless they were allowed to export. The only way was to let prices rise, and when they had risen a little it would have the effect of stimulating production.

Tho result of tho election to fill threo vacancies on tho Education Board was announced yesterday by the returning officer, Mr. R. Crowe. Mr. G. W. Murray, an ex-member of tho board, was returned unopposed by the committees of the West Ward to tho seat vacated by Mr. G. Edgecumbe, and Mr. E. C. Banks, the sitting member, was similarly elected by the committees of the East Ward. An election in tho North Ward resulted in Mr. J. D. McKenzie being returned with 691 votes to 268 votes given for Mr. It. C. Smith, of Matakohe, Kaipara. There were 45 informal votes.

With a view to assisting in the production of foodstuffs and fodder, The farmers of Buckland have derided to plant as largo an area as possible in grain and root crops this season. The acreage originally intended for growing such crops in Ihis and adjacent districts will now bo increased.

Tho refusal of the City Council to take over Halsey Street was considered at yesterday's meeting of the Auckland Harbour Board. Tho chairman, Mr. J. 11. Gunson, moved, and Mr. W. K. Hutchison seconded., "That in view of tho fact that the street had been thoroughly formed by the board, tho council bo informed that its decision was considered to be arbitrary, and that it be again asked to reconsider the board's request." Mr. Gnnson said there was absolutely no reason why the council should refuse to take over tho street. The board had complied with the City Council's requirements to the very letter, and had spent almost £1000 on the thoroughfare, which was a very small one. In every way a first-class job had been made; and tho work was a credit to the hoard. It was improper that the further maintenance of tho street should fall on the board. The attitude of tho council must be considered hostile. No further settlement of tho street, which was formed on reclaimed land, could tako place. The motion was carried.