LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20564, 15 May 1930, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Information was given by the town clerk of Norlhcoto, Mr. H. W. Wilson, at a conforonco of the Birkenhead and Northcoto Borough Councils last evening that inquiries had been made on behalf of the Telegraph Department regarding (he immediate landing of the cable for the automatic telephone installation at Norlhcoto and Birkenhead. It is to be landed at Little Shoal Bay to serve the two districts. The intensity with which the details of the Munn murder trial are being followed by a certain section of women of varying ages was well illustrated during the luncheon adjournment yesterday. The gallery reserved for women was cleared at 1 o'clock, and the entrance to the Court at the foot of the gallery stairway was barred. A few minutes later the door was quite innocently unbarred by the Crown Prosecutor, Mr. Meredith, and in an instant it was flung wide, and ho and several others with him were brushed aside by a disorderly stampede of women back to the upstairs gallery, from which they' had just been ejected. There they spent the lunch hour and the rest of the afternoon presumably in satisfied triumph.

A house of four rooms on Mount Victoria, Devonport, has been transferred free by tho Naval Department to tho Devonport borough. It is possible that use will be made of tho property in connection with a proposal to open a teakiosk on tho summit of tho mountain, and to construct a motor-road to it. The house was formerly used by the carotaker of tho magazine on the mountain, but since tho magazine ceased to be used it has been occupied by ono of the naval ratings. Tho transfer took effect from May 1, but tho tenant's lease has somo months to run. A letter from a grateful motorist, not a member of tho Auckland Automobile Association, expressing appreciation of the signposting dono by the association, was received at a meeting of tho council of tho association last evening. 'the letter read as follows:—"We have just finished a very pleasant holiday, and escaped hidden culverts and other dangers owing to your signposting. Wo now have a conscience, and would liko some data from you." Tho inclusion of Little f?hoal Bay Reserve, of 22 acres, in ono of tho boroughs was recently suggested to both tho Birkenhead and Northcote Borough Councils by tho Under-Secretary for Internal Affairs. Tho matter was discussed at a combined meeting of tho two councils last evening, when it was decided not to tako action at present.

When a telegraph official was giving Avidence in the Munn trial in tho Supremo Court yesterday, ho said that ono of tho telegrams produced had been handed in at Auckland at 12.22 p.m. Counsel for tho defence asked how the witness knew this. Tho reply was that it was shown at the top of tho telegram. Counsel, looking at a photographic reproduction of the telegraph form, asked in which corner was it shown. "In tho middle," replied the witness. Counsel, still puzzled, went toward tho box to see tho original. It was then revealed that tho official was referring to tho letters "N.D.5.," which, ho said, formed tho code for "12.22." Tho championship banners of tho Waikato Winter Show Association for factory butter and cheeso have this year been replaced by wooden panels with replicas of tho banners painted upon them. Tho panels, which are about sft. by 3ft., are protected by folding doors -and have the awards sinco 1923 inscribed on them. That the South Island farmers are not looking forward to tho coming winter with any great hopes is the opinion oxpressed by Mr. J. W. Deem, of tho Fields Division of tho Department of Agriculture. Mr. Deem, who has just returned from a visit to the South Island, states that there had been no rain to speak of in Canterbury for weeks, and that in some parts water was being carted to stock. "Even," added Mr. Deem, "if they do get rain now, it will do no good; it is too late—better far for tho dry weather to continue." Included in the cargo on tho steamer Regulus, which left Westport last Saturday for Tarakohe, were six tons of pebbles picked from the beach between Granity and Ngakawau for grinding cement. This industry has been going on for several years and many hundreds of tons have been shipped to Tarakohe and Milburn. Originally the companies used European flints, but during the past five years tho supplies have been derived from Westport. Unfortunately the rearranging of tho plants will do away with stone for grinding, as steel balls are to be used in future.

Appearing in a judgment summons in the Magistrate's Court at Palmerston North tho other day, a defendant stated that shortly after a judgment had been obtained against him last year, lie had given his wife a bill-of-salo for £96 over his stock, in consideration of money which ho owed her. "Then you will pay this amount forthwith. Wo will have no nonsense," commented tho magistraio in making an order and fixing 21 days' imprisonment as tho ponalty for default. "I think wo'll have it understood that at .any bankruptcy meeting in Christchurch I won't allow smoking," said the olficial assignee, Mr. J. 11. Robertson, at a creditors' meeting in Christchurch. Tho lawyers pointed out that- they wcro allowed to smoke in magistrate's chambers and in tho jury room; indeed, tho Judges sometimes gavo them tobacco. Mr. Robertson, however, remained firm, although ho said ho would agree to a quarter of an hour's adjournment if they wanted very badly to smoke. A creditor in a bankruptcy case heard in Christchurch last week has had rather a sorrowful experience. Ho and his wifo lent money without security, though tho debtor had sonio property dealings in which they might have secured themselves by a second mortgage. They trusted to tho debtor paying, but ill-health intervened, and his affairs are being wound up. Only a mill worker, the man and his wifo havo been thrifty enough to secure their own cottage and an income of £1 a week, and they had looked to the repayment of the loan io see them comfortably through their declining years. They found it, a "hard pinch to live on £1 a week and tho old man had tears in his eyes when ho described -how "J and my old woman saved it ouL o) my earnings of £2 2s 6d a week." Thero is some property involved in the bankrupt's estate and tho official assignee has hopes that tho land may bo moro profitably realised than was expected, in which case the old couple may look for a partial return of their pavings,: