LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19974, 16 June 1928, Page 10

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The small scow Glenae, which capsized in the Hauraki Gulf on May 26, and was dismasted when she stranded next day at the mouth of the Puhoi River, was towed to Auckland on Thursday by the oil vessel Huawai. She is anchored at Shoal Bay. It is not yet decided whether she will be repaired and rerigged as a scow, or converted into a lighter. The distinguishing features of a signature were being discussed by Mr. Justice Blair in the Hamilton Supreme Court yesterday, and he remarked that some people could tell one sheep from another while others could pick one Chinese from another. How they did it he did not know. He knew he could never tell the difference. (Laughter.) Using gelignite, thieves blew open the safe at the Kumeu Post Office early yesterday morning and stole about £ls in cash and £5 in stamps. The intruders gained entrance by clambering through a window at the rear of the building. When the discovery was made papers were strewn about the floor and the room in which the safe reposed was in disorder. Owing to bad weather conditions, the Government steamer Tutanekai has been unable to land the apparatus for the new unattended light at the North Cape, but Mr. W. Eraser, lighthouso construction engineer, was able to complete the preparation work. Mr. Fraser will now go to Ivaipara to erect a new automatic light in the Kaipara Harbour. Residents in the vicinity of Stokes Road, Mount Eden, have been notified by the Auckland Power Board that the electric current supplying the area will be cut off to-morrow from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. It has been found necessary to disconnect the service in order to erect new high-tension lines and to connect a highvoltage cable to existing lines. By this means the whole of the supply to Mount Eden will be reinforced considerably, and a more satisfactory service will be assured. The load throughout this area has increased greatly during the past few months. Although householders will experience some inconvenience the board will complete the work as soon as possible. When prisoners are awaiting trial or sentence during the day at the Hamilton Supreme Court they are housed in a concrete cell at the back of the Court, the outsido dimensions of which are 9ft. by Oft. Sometimes several prisoners are in the cell at the same time, and the conditions in cold weather are exceedingly unpleasant. When the Supreme Court opened to-day, the Crown solicitor, Mr. IT. T. Gillies, asked Mr. Justice Blair when 110 would deal with two prisoners who were awaiting sentence. Ho said it would be inhuman to keep them longer than was necessary in the cell at the back of the Court. His Honor said he would sentence the prisoners at the opening of the Court in the afternoon. The prisoners were then removed to more commodious and comfortable quarters at the polico station. Two churches which have stood since the earliest days in Canterbury's history are to be demolished shortly. One is St. Peter's, Riccarton, and the other, the Anglican Church at Woodend. Archbishop Julius preached the last sermon in the old church at Riccarton last Sunday. It was built 71 years ago, and only the western end remains. This is very beautiful remnant, and age has endowed it with veneration and historic traditions, but it must givo way to a more modern structure. The church at Woodend has been condemned, and will be rebuilt. The last official service in it was also conducted by Archbishop Julius. The circumstances connected with a charge against a Greymouth lady, who was fined at the Magistrate's Court recently for riding a bicycle after sunset without a light, are rather humorous. It is said that the lady, who has not ridden a cycle for about 30 years, saw a young lady friend with her machine, and decided to have a little ride. She noticed a man just ahead on the roadway, in the darkness, and hoped that ho would get out of her way and not bo run over. The man stood hi? ground—he was a policeman! After having to pay 15s for riding a cycle without a light, and 10s for riding a cyclo not equipped with a red reflector, the unlucky lady will probably keep off bicycles for another 30 years. An amusing incident occurred at the Supreme Court in Wanganui the other day, when a witness entered the Courtroom through the door which is immediately opposite the dock. The door of the dock was ajar, and the newcomer, evidently thinking that the last witness had left it open walked into the dock, shut the door and faced the Judge, who, when ho looked up, could not hide his amusement. Witness, who obviously had not been in tho Court before, \v v as speedily conducted to the witness box. At a meeting of the Manawatu County Council this week a.letter was received from a settler drawing attention to what he considered a danger to the travelling public. The postal authorities required that all letter boxes must be erected on the edge of the metal and he considered that, in tho event of an accident, the owner of the box would be liable. The council decided to inform the writer that they could accept no responsibility for accidents caused by rural delivery boxes and milk stands erected on the roadside. The inspector, however, was notified to call 011 ratepayers to move the same back from the road metal in cases where they are in a dangerous position and also to make suitable approaches. Domestic instances of the need for economical expenditure) of available funds were cited by the Minister of Education, Hon. R. A. Wright, at tho Hutt Valley High School ceremony, by way of illustrating tho care with which he found it necessary to apportion the annual rate for education. "You girls," he said, "when you grow up, marry, and have homes of your own, will have allowances ; at least, I hope you will. Whatever it may be, you will have to do the best you can with it. i am ,in exactly the same position. As a matter of fact, I am like mother at Christmas time with that great big plum pudding. If mother did not look out, some of the boys with the appetites would get away with the lot. Like mother, I have to take a firm stand; I have to sit tight on the Treasury chest." Tho Government, the Minister said, did not begrudge anything that could be done within reason, but sometimes it was necessary for him to put a steadying brake on the enthusiasm of some board members. Otherwise, , they would get away with most of his allowance. Present necessities should come first and the extra? afterwards.