NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9691, 20 June 1917, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

For the purpose of delivering sentences on prisoners who have pleaded guilty at the lower’courts, there will bo a sitting of the Supreme Court to-morrow morning.

A young Russian named Max Wapper, who was charged with drunkenness in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, took the matter in a very business-like way. “How do you plead?” asked the clerk of the court. “How much?” camo the reply. Everyone smiled, and the magistrate obligingly told Wappcr that it would be ten shillings—or forty-eight hours' •gaol.' * -

The Postal .Censorship notifies for the information of persons who correspond with British and colonial soldiers and civilians now, detained as prisoners' of -war-in enemy countries, that the regulation published on pages 4 ’ o, 'aid 6 ,pf the "Post and Telegraph Guido” (red fly-leaf) must be carefully observed if writers wish to be reasonably sure of the letters reaching the addressees. . Letters should not .exceed two sides of a sheet of no tepaper. and bo clearly written. ' Enclosures ofany kind may entail delay. It, cannot be too strongly impressed oh the friends of persons interned abroad'’ that post-cards, entirely plain, will be much more likely to reach the addressees with reasonable promptitude than any other form of correspondence. Scenic post-cards should not be used. All communications must contain the name and address of the sender, unless the sender he a member of the Expeditionary Forces (see the “Guide”). The addresses. of the communications should tie very carefully written, as directed in the “Guide.” The use of initials, such, as “N.Z.E.F.,”. for “New Zealand Expeditionary Force” should, bo avoided, and the-words written out fully. . Letters must be left unsealed, but the flap of the envelope may bo turned in, if the gum on the edge is not damped.

There will be a sitting of the Appeal Court next Monday. At a joint meeting of the New Zealand Patriotic Society, the 'War Holier Association and the Mayor’s Patriotic Committee, held last night, it was agreed to amalgamate and also to abolish all art unions and raffles, on tho ground that they only tend to increase the gambling spirit.

Conflicting evidence was heard in the case in which 'William Hunter Poole was charged with drunkenness and breaking his probation order, After hearing the evidence, the magistrate. -Mr L. G. Reid, S.M., decided that there was not sufficient evidence to convict the accused of being drunk, and on the second charge a lino of 2Us was imposed. Mr J. J. McGrath appeared for accused. James Herbert Barrett was charged in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday with obtaining by fraud a meal from tho Silver Grid in Cuba street and refusing to pay for the same. According to the evidence, there was some misunderstanding between the parties, and the magistrate (Mr L. G. Reid, S.M.) dismissed tho charge of fraud, and ordered accused to pay costs, 4s, and the price of the meal. Mr G. Allport, president of tho Public Service Association, stated at the annual conference of that body yesterday that about 700 members wore with tho forces at the front. These members were freed from tho obligation to contribute, while on active service. Ho thought that was the least the association could do for tho men who were not only worthy members of tho association, but worthy citizens of the country.

In the Magistrate’s Court yesterday afternoon, before Mr W. G. Riddell, 3.M., tho hearing was continued of tho case in which tho New "caland Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Ltd. (represented by Mr Myers) sued the Huddart Parker Company (for whom'(Mr A." IV. Blair appeared) for £9O 10s Id, ■ being the value ot 60 sacks of nitrate of soda shipped by one of the company’s vessels for delivery at Wellington, and alleged not to have .been delivered. . The case for the defence was opened and an adjournment was made until til-day.

While in Auckland last week the Minister for Defence (the Hon. Sir James Allen) ordered at thirty hours’ notice a surprise jparado of cadets and territorials for Friday evening last. Considering the restricted suburban train service, there was an astonishingly good turn-out of both units, tho cadets parading 2600 strong and the territorials 1800 strong. The parade wag held in’ Princes street, just above the Albert Park, and cadets and- territorials marched thence in column ot fours to Queen street, presenting a stirring and imposing spectacle.

If anyone were asked to name tho greatest recent.triumph of Americanism in the British-speech, the Chance would probably fall on the ■ word “■some,”- used as an ! adjective or a superlative. Yet it must be kept in mind that words,, like - curses and chickens, come homo to roost, and tho ’use of “some” in this relation is only the return of a "prodigal. A correspondent in a recent "Saturday Review” (London) pointed ; out , that “some” in the present American usage is really of Cornish origin, and was transferred thence to the United States, ’ and re-impotted. So do tflio years make whips of our pleasant provincialisms. ...

Judgment by consent was entered in the Arbitration -Court yesterday in the case of Rudolph Hirter v. w. Cable and Co. - The plaintiff claimed compensation for the loss of an eye through an accident which occurred in October, 1916, while he was employed in the company’s foundry at Kaiwarra. Judgment was entered for £216 15s, and the court ordered that £179 should bo vested in the Public Trustee on behalf of tho plaintiff until ho attained the age of twenty-on® years. Mr P. J. o’Regan appeared for the plaintiff and Mr H; E. EVans for the defendant company. The bench was occupied by Mr Justice Stringer and Messrs_W.-Scott ahd'J. A. MoCullough, employers and workers’ representatives respectively. ...

The Arbitration' Court will to-day take evidence and hear argument in tho cases of two plaintiffs—Catherine Cary and Benjamin Clifton —against hho Government Insurance Commissioner. The cases were mentioned in court yesterday by Mr P. JO’Regan, who appeared for both plaintiffs, and who explained that they arose in consequence of the wreck of the scow Southern Isles. In May, 1916, he explained, the scow was lost at Cook Islands with all hands, including the two owners, Messrs Gibson and Foster. Tho Vessel was found bottom upwards at Farewell Spit, and was towed to Nelson. The sale of tho hull and machinery was not sufficient to pay off a mortgage, but the compensation claims now made would have to take preference. The owners of the scow had a policy for £IOOO with the Government Life Insurance Department,' indemnifying them against liability under the Workers’ Compensation Act, and proceedings were now being taken under section 62 of the Act. In reply to Mr Justice Stringer, Mr O’Regan stated there -was only one other claim which might possibly bo made in tho matter. " ,

An inquest- was-hold by -Mr W. G. Riddell, S.M., yesterday-afternoon concerning the death of Thomas Drown, who committed : suicide by shooting himself at Upper llutt on , Sunday. Evidence was given iby James Brown, railway guard, a brother of deceased, who, he stated; was * single man, thirty-eight years;, He was , a farmer, and had. been farming at Mildura in Victoria./. Jus( befon?-; June he sold his farmland .jeiUisted, b,uti.Whs pronounced, medically, unfit. "Howent under an operation for varicose Veins, but this was nof a success,, and he was deemed to be permanently medically unfit. He got a. permit t-6 leave Australia, and came, to. New Zealand. His health was indifferent, and he complained of insomnia. -He went to various places to-try to benefit'his health, and from Rotorua he'came J to Upper Hutt about the 6th inst.,'and was living with witness. He was advised to consult a doctor, and after doing so he seemed a good, deal brighter. On Sunday ho went for a walk, and on his return he told-witness-he had had no sleep on the previous night. About noon witness was sitting by the fire reading, when his son told, him he had heard a gunshot in the yard; On going- out he found that deceased had shot-himself, the right aide of his head ‘being blown, off. The deceased must, have put the gun in Ids mouth. There “had been ! nothing to,. indicate that he was developing suicidal tendencies He apparently worried,- how. ever, over the fact that ho was unable to enlist. The verdict was that deceased shot himself while in a fit of mental depression

A youthful-looking Maori debtor ir the Napier Court told the magistrate that he bad been married for twentyone years and had thirteen children, four of whom had died. The eldest child had married, and there wen 1 five children still at home, the eldest of which was twelve years old. A story comes from Brussels which Illustrates the spirit of the uncompleted Belgians and their contempt for the Prussian invader. A Prussian officer sat opposite a young woman in a tramcar. Ho stared at her for a while, and then, leaning across, said: “Pardon me for looking at yon s.) hard, hut you are exactly like an Englishwoman whom I know.” hike a flash the answer came; “Nurse Cavoll t”

Tho Mayor (Mr J. P. Luke, C.M.G.) lias received the. sum of £5 from tho Busy Bee Sewing Guild as a contribution towards the fund for tho child victims of tho recent German outrage in East London. Mr Luke would bo pleased to receive, other amounts Irom those desirous of assisting. The Wellington Education Board has decided to afford school children in tho district an opportunity of voluntarily subscribing a penny or more to a fund which it is proposed to raise for the benefit, of the children. The collections witi be received by the. head teachers or tho various schools, and tho hoard will make arrangements lor cabling tho money to the High Conunissioiuir in London.

It is stated now that butter has been withdrawn from store and sold in Now Zealand at Is lid, remarks the “Mercantile Gazette,” which adds: “If this he so. then tho butter should bo retailed at Is 6d instead of Is Bd. Even the lower price is unwarranted by the conditions. In Victoria, where there is a scarcity of butter, the prieo has been fixed at l s 5d per Hi, and that ought, to he the retail price in Now Zealand. The more prudent holders of butter will presently recognise that it is better to cut losses and get the best price obtainable locally. Tho London market is dead for the present, and although wo are promised an improvement in tonnage by the end of nest month, there is no guarantee of fulfilment. If butter is placed on tho markets here at a reduced price the consumption would readily increase, and that would help to relieve tho congestion.” No one who knows the game at all doubts that all the wars that ever were invented colild kill off tho potty party spirit that has spoiled political life (says the Podding “Star”). That tho spirit is still rampant and _ that jealousy is as green-eyed as ever is demonstrated in such a simple dung as the arrangement of the programme for tiro opening of Parliament, next week. It has been the custom from the first days of debates on the Governor’s Speech at the opening of Parliament for two members belonging to the party in power to move and second the Address-in-Reply. To-day wo have a National Cabinet!. Therefore the Reformer and a Liberal had to he chosen for the honours next week. It happened that by-elections bad provided a now member from each aide. The Reformers selected Mr G. H. Smith, the hew member for Pahiatua. to open the debate; but the Liberals did not nominate their returned member, Sir John Findlay, They arc putting Up .that veteran, the Hon. D. Buddo. _ If the Liberals are looking for trouble from Sir John, they will get all they want*— As a free lance, he should lip able to out a wide swathe in the 1 homo paddock during the coming session.