NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9694, 23 June 1917, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

A Press Association message from EciMing .states that Christian Julius, aged 3S. single, committed suicide with a revolver to-day.

Bv inadvertence it was reported yesterdav that -Mr R. Hannah, instead of Mr M- Hannay. was present at the 6 o’clock dosing deputation to too Hon. Sir James Allen on Ihmsday.

Tho reports received -yesterday from the Eoathcrston, Tauhcrcnikau. and Tronthsun camps by Surgeon-General Henderson stated that the health of tho men was extremely _ satisfactory. There were no cases of infectious disease.

At the Alexandra Hall on Sunday evening, Mr I£. McDonnell (‘ | tugh Stone,” of •‘Maoriland Worker ) will give tho fourth of tho series or addresses on great plays, the drama chosen being Henrik Ibsen s . 'An Enemy of tho People,” the play that in order of production followed “Ghosts.”

Surgeon-General Henderson, Direc-tor-General of Medical Services, insjjectcd the Medical Corps at Palmerston North on Wednesday, and was perfectly satisfied with tho progress thev have made in their training. General Henderson said that tho men looked fit and well, were keen in their work, and showed by the way they carried out manoeuvres that they had been well drilled.

Tho Mayor (Mr J. P. Luke, 0.M.G.) has issued a printed statement of accounts of all the moneys ho has received for patriotic purposes, and how they have been disposed of. Altogether the Mayor dealt with twentyone separate accounts, and the aggregate amount of money that passed through his hands was in the vicinity of £60,000.

Two sowing-machine sellers, John H. Childs and Walter Tait, wore parties in a dispute heard before Mr L. G. Reid, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Childs alleged that Tait had assaulted him-, and, having fear of further trouble, asked for sureties of the peace. Childs stated that _ Tait had insulted himself and his wife on March 26th last, and when he ordered Tait out of his shop Tait struck him a severe blow on the temple. Tait, on the other hand, alleged that Childs had rushed him in the street with a chisel, and to defend himself ho hit him. The Bench decided that an assault was committed, and Tait must be fined 40s for the same. An application for sureties of the peace was dismissed. Mr 11. K. O’Leary appeared for informant, and Mr J. J. McGrath for defendant.

William Gooch, George Isaacs, and Thomas Kielly evidently set out to have a good time last King’s Birthday. They had a few drinks, and then on arrival at Cambridge terrace stopped to .watch an express being loaded upi outside a secondhanddealer’s shop. Isaacs took a fancy to a rat-trap being carted in a tub with other articles to the express. He offered the owner a penny for it, and on being refused mode to march off with it. In the meantime, Kielly had struck up an argument with another man round the corner, and Gooch was having a little bit of fun with a sofa on the express. The fun grew more serious all round, and another man with the original trio commenced to display his boxing prowess. He hit one dealer named Lamb on tho mouth, and knocked out one of his teeth, and then hit an associate dealer on tho •Jihad, i A crowd gathered, and then the inevitaible happened. The police arrived. Gooch, Isaacs, and Kielly were inarched off to the police station. Tho trio appealed before Mr L. G. Reid, S.M., in tho Magistrate’s Court yesterday, when the facts detailed above were narrated. Tho Bench decided that all three were responsible for the disturbance, and fined each 10s. One of the strangest and most vi-cious-looking quartettes of offenders seen in the dock at the Magistrate’s Court for many a day was to bo seen there yesterday morning. Its members had been hauled forth from a den of iniquity in Martin street tho previous day, and were now called to account for their sins. The most striking and perhaps most repulsive figure of the lot was a wizened little old woman whose crafty eyes pierced through the disordered grey hair that hung about her face. Ellen G-ott was her name, 80 years of age, “just as old in sin,” as Inspector Marsack put it, and Gorman in nationality. Gott was charged with keeping a house of ill-fame contrary to the War Regulations. Her associates were Kora Nugent, a little old woman of 65 years, whoso name had been entered many times on the police registers, Myra .Donaldson, aged 28, and Eva Grell, aged 28, both of whom bore marks of the vicious life they were living. Each of' the trio "was charged with assisting in the management of the house. Sergeant Scott and Constable Brennan, who wore responsible for bringing about the arrest of the accused, gave evidence as to the prostitution that was carried on on the premises. The house was frequented by soldiers and 1 civilians, and general complaints had been received as to the condition of soldiers resulting Upon visits to this house. Mr L, G. Reid, S.M., who was on tho Bench, sent each accused away to gaol for three months.

An extraordinary case came under the notice of Mr L. G. Reid, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday afternoon, when Arthur Schaef, photographer, sued two young women, Isabel Davey and Gladys Davey, for possession of two rooms in Vivian street, along with rent, £2 10s. The two girls, professing to be dressmakers, engaged the rooms in plaintiff's premises several months ago. For plaintiffs Mr J. J.‘ McGrath called evidence to show that through a small window above the girls’ bedroom there had been seen acts of impropriety between defendants and others. Another boarder had seen similar behaviour through a keyhole. Plaintiff alleged that the two girls wore leading an immoral life and living on their gains in this respect. The dressmaking was only a blind. Mr B. M. Bcechey, for the defence, called medical evidence to show that the younger girl gave no evidence from examination of having led an immoral life. The elder girl, however, would shortly bo confined. Several witnesses were called, ivho stated that from their knowledge the girls were very respectable. The younger girl, in her evidence, alleged that plaintiff had _ her. tihe emphatically denied having been guilty of immoral behaviour. _ “If God strikes me dead,” she exclaimed, “I swear on my dying oath, as there is a God in Heaven, that it is untrue.” At the conclusion of the case the magistrate said he was quite satisfied. on the facts disclosed, but that he would adjourn the case until he heard legal argument. ,

The Congress of Auckland Trades Unions resolved unanimously that tho ti/Jie has arrived for linking up the Labour forces nationally, and that tbe keynote of tho conference be unity of Labour.

A '‘staff tour” through Karori is to bo made this afternoon, weathei permitting, under tbe auspices of the. Wellington Officers’ institute. Major Sleeman will conduct the tour, and officers are to meet at Karori Park at 1.30. Should the weather prevent the tour, officers will bo advised in the course of the morning.

Speaking at tho Empire Service League meeting yesterday, Captain Barclay stated that the present was not the time for people to do as they pleased. They all had their responsibilities. All should work harmoniously together, and not bo suspicious of other people’s efforts. Suspicion brought about tho present world chaos.

“You need not swear so much on your dying oath,” remarked His in the Magistrate’s Court y.sterday to a witness who showed a tendency in her evidence to be dramatic in her assorvations that she was speaking the truth. Tho magistrate p.ointod out to witness that she was already on oath, and need not make it stronger. At tho meeting of the Wellington Empire Service League, held yestciday. it was resolved to appoint a committee to keep in touch with the Legislature with reference to any contemplated legislation or amendments to existing laws affecting the work of tho league. Another committee was formed to formulate a

plan of campaign, and ascertain the directions in which practical work could bo undertaken by tho league. A Press Association telegram from Palmerston North states that at a conference of motor garage proprietors it was decided to form an association for the whole motor trade of the Dominion. Mr John Bott, of Palmerston, was appointed first president, and fitted’ members representing dilforent districts of tho Dominion wore appointed a council to conduct tho association’s business. One hundred and thirty firms have joined. There were representatives present from Dunedin, Invercargill, Tiiharu, Christchurch aud Auckland.

It was announced in tho Arbitration Court yesterday that a complete agreement had been arrived at in tho hotelworkers’ dispmte on the lines recommended by tho Conciliation Council. Mr Justice Stringer remarked that in these abnormal times when hotelkeepers did not know exactly what was about to happen tho parties were to bo congratulated upon tho conciliatory spirit which had been shown in The settlement which had been made. Th# award is to come into operation on tho 25th inst,, and is to operate fo' three years.

The annual meeting of the Pcton« Bowling Club was hold on Thursdaj night, Mr W. F. Rennie, the retiring president, being in tho chair. Tho balance-sheet showed a credit balance of £l3 9s 7d. The following officers were elected:—President, Air AV. H. Melhuish; vice-president, Mr A. 11. Hancock; bon. secretary, Air O. E. Naughton; hon. treasurer. Air J. G. Castle; auditors. Alossrs E. S. Jones and F. AA’ilkinaon; management committee, Alessrs Dixon, Robertson, Arcus, Hay, Walton and Rennie; trustees’ representative on committee, air A. Carter; delegate to Wellington Centre, Mr W. F. Rennie. Owing to a recurring failing of his of purchasing one penny section and overlapping it with a second section, a Wellington citizen named Thomas Phillips Williams has anado himself unfavourably kpown to tram conductors. Indeed Ids behaviour had become so troublesome in this respecl that the City Corporation though' it advisable to take proceedings agamd him. A charge was accordingly laio against Williams in the Alagistpate’s Court yesterday'of failing to pay his tram fare when called upon by tho conductor. Evidence was given by two conductors. Fine and costs totalling 26s wore imposed. , At the meeting of tho Pefione Borough Council on Monday night, the following motion will ho put: “That it is the wish of the Petone Borough Council that tho Government allow all letters, newspapers and parcels to bo carried free of postage to soldiers and sailors who are on active service at the front. Tho heavy tax on many persons who are eking out a hare existence is almost prohibitive in sending comforts and reading matter to those who are grateful for them. AVe suggest that tho articles be conveyed free of charge, which will mean taxation over the whole of the people instead of a portion, as at present.”. Lecturing at tho Garrison Hall last night on * ‘The Evacuation of Gallipoli,” Alajor C. E. Andrews said that tho story went that shortly before they left, after one of the very severe stonnis they had, in which both, they and the Turks got a particular gruelling, somebody wrote to the Turks suggesting that they must have had enough of it, and tliat they should “give it best.’' To this thp Turks were supposed to have replied that they were all right; that the British had got ashore, and what they (the Turks) wondered about — they almost died with laughter whenever they thought of it —was how on earth the British were eyer going to got away again. “The time soon came, however,” stiid Major Andrews, “when we tried if, and you all know with what result.”

At the Garrison Hall last night, Major C. E. Andrews, N.Z.S.C., told how keen the New Zealand Anzacs were to be among the last to leave Gallipoli. “When they knew that I was to bo in charge of the rearguard in my section,' 3 he said, “man after man came to mo, and begged to he allowed to leave with me in the last lot of boats. One man would say, ‘You see I was among the first to land, and I think I have a right to be among the last to go’ ; while another, taking just the opposite tack, would urge. T have just been here about a fortnight. I have been in Egypt, and have seen very little here. I think I ought to have a right to he in this show. 3 They were very keen about it, and it was fine to see the splendid spirit they displayed.” The last man in the trenches, said Major Andrews, was a man who went back for his pipe, hut in saving his pipe ho lost his breeches, for that very important article of his attire was literally torn off him—(laughter) —as, in his endeavour to catch np with the rest, ho hastily negotiated a very awkward obstacle left behind to hold up any Turks who might have got on their, tracks. After clearing that obstacle, the man travelled light, and soon caught up with them. (Laughter.) Donnelly’s Hair Restorer.—A real tonic. Cures dandruff, stops hair fall, ing. Chemists, stores, hairdressers, 2s 6d. Donnelly’s, 65, Vivian street. 4