LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18320, 9 February 1923, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

An operation for appendicitis was performed at sea by Dr. Lyon, the ship's surgeon, on board the Shaw, Savill and Albion steamer Pakeha, which arrived at Auckland from Liverpool yesterday. The patient was one of tha ship's firemen, and the operation took place three days before the vessel reached port. The invalid was making good recovery when he was sent to the Auckland Hospital yesterday for further treatment.

A pleasing ceremony took place at the Newton West School yesterday morning, when Thomas Walding, a boy aged 13 years, who resides in France Street, Newton, was the recipient of a book in recognition of his act of bravery in saving two kittens and a dog from a burning building in Haslett Street, off Eden Terrace, in December. The book was given by Mrs. Preston Chambers, of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and the presentation was made by Miss Outhwaite, a member of the society, in the presence of about 850 children. The chairman of the society, the Rev. P. Smallfield, addressed the children.

A request to hold in trust war medals and memorials awarded in favour of the late Robert Barris and William Timms, both of whom died as a result of war service, was received by the City-Council last evening from the New Zealand Expeditionary Force War Accounts and Records Office. It was pointed out that the latter had been unable to deliver the medals and memorials, not having been able to obtain the names and addresses of the deceaseds relatives. It was suggested that it would be a gracious act on the part of the council to accept the trust, pending an application from persons entitled to receive the trophies, and to place the latter on exhibition in the Public Library. There would probably bo 20 or 30 cases of a similar nature, and any decision of the council would be accepted as governing these also. It was agreed to comply with the request without accepting any responsibility, the matter to be referred to the Library Committee.

A citizen who tried most inopportunely to air a grievance in the Town Hall yesterday, after Sir Edwin Mitchelson had made his request to Mr. J. H. Gunson, that ho should again serve as Mayor, got his reply when Mr. Gunson rose to speak. Complaint was made regarding the condition of roads in a certain part of the city, and Mr. Gunson said that, while the City Council did not claim to be a perfect administration, there had been no remissness so far as appreciation of the needs of the city was concerned. Any failure had been determined by their human limitation, and also by the limit of their financial resources.

Brief reference was made by the Hon. G. Fowlds at the annual meeting of the Chamber of Commerce yesterday to the criticism of the Dominion contained in Major E. A. Belcher's report to the executive of the Empire Exhibition. " Some who met Major Belcher when he was in New Zealand were not surprised at the report 'he has presented," said Mr. Fowlds. "I do not consider it necessary for the chamber to take any action in the matter. Sir James Allen and the Prime Minister are taking the proper action to conserve the interests of the Dominion."

' The entrance to the Veterans' Home has for some time been in an unsatisfactory condition owing to road excavations. The Veterans' Home Committee, of which Mr. J. H. Gunson is chairman, reported yesterday to the Patriotic Association that the Mount Roskill Road Board had undertaken to render the main entrance easily accessible. The whole of the gateway approach had been cut down to a new level, and the gates re-erected. The question of a subsidy for the upkeep of the homehad not yet been determined, as the matter was still under consideration by the Minister for Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. Downie Stewart.

An application for the renewal of the license of His Majesty's Theatre was before the City Council last evening. The lessees, J. C. Williamson, Ltd., wrote stating that alterations were contemplated, including new entrances to the orchestra stalls. < The renewal of th< license was deferred pending the receipt of the plans, the current license to run meanwhile.

A siting in Chambers will be held by Mr. Justice Stringer at the Supreme Court to-morrow at 10 a.m. At this sitting fixtures will be made for the hearing of the cases on the civil calendar, which are to be taken before a Judge alone.

Formalities in connection with : the handing over to the City Council of a strip of land at the back of Karangahape Road and Pitt Street, forming an entrance from the former thoroughfare to Myers Park, were completed by the council last evening. The business effected was the execution of a transfer of the strip in question from Mr. D. L. Nathan to the council; and also the execution of a conveyance of a small strip from the Methodist Church trustees to the council, and an area of £-acre for addition to the park. The Mayor, Mr. J. Hi, Gunson, said the arrangement would give a right-of-way 20ft. wide through buildings proposed to be erected in Karangahape Koad, and would give direct access to the park. For its part the council undertook that no buildings should be erected on the £-acre area referred to.

The action of counsel in stating to a jury at the Supreme Court yesterday that if found guilty, the charge . being one bf having performed an illegal operation, his client would be liable to imprisonment for life, was strongly resented by Mr. Justice Stringer. His Honor assured the jury that the reference to a possible life sentence was merely adopted by counsel for rhetorical effect, but in any case he objected \to the mention by counsel of punishment. The maximum punishment for such an offence, said His Honor, was life imprisonment, but it did not follow that such a penalty would be imposed. The matter of determining the sentence was not for the jury, but rested with the Judge, who, in the event of the accused being found guilty, could impose a term of from six months' imprisonment to anything he thought fit in accordance with the gravity of the offence.

The returning officer for the city, Mr. P. F. Notley, reported to the City Council last evening, that the electors' list is now in the hands of the printers, and should be completed by February 28, except for the certification clause. It was decided to hold a meeting of the council on March 1 to pass the list, thus enabling its completion by March 4.

The methods of members of the police force in gaining statements from accused persons were criticised by a defending counsel in the; Supreme Court yesterday. He said a young and enthusiastic'constable had, by subterfuge and falsehood, gained certain information. Mr. Justice Herdman interrupted counsel's speech, and said, " You must not make observations like that about a member of the police force. To say that subterfuge and falsehood were employed, and that is contrary to my thinking, is not to be allowed, and I will not permit it."

A demonstration of a new lighting system is to be given in the Albert and Myers Parks at 8.30 this evening for the City Council. In announcing this fact last evening, the Mayor, Mr. J. H. Gunson, said the device was known as "floodlighting." It was claimed that such was the brilliancy and diffusive power of the new light that one of them would suffice for the whole area of Myers Park, and be immeasurably superior to any light the council had Had in the past.