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Otago Daily Times, Issue 16916, 31 January 1917, Page 8

An important case heard in the Magistrate's Court, before Mr L. G. Reid S.M., in Wellington on Friday. The defendant was a young man named Augustus Sullivan, and the charge was that he failed to give notice of his change of abode in accordance with section 43 of the Military Service Act. Mr 11. F. who appeared for the defendant, stated that his client enlisted at Millcrton, but was rejected as being medically unfit. His registration was in order, and he notified the postal authorities at Millerton of his change of address. This was apparently not sufficient as the Act stipulated that the Government Statistician should be advised. .Counsel submitted that an illiterate man, or even an educated man, might become, confused when told that he had to notify the Government Statistician. "Why, if you told some people that they were expected to notify such a person as the Government Statistician they would faint," smilingly rcma.rkcd counsel. It was submitted that there had been no attempt on Sullivan's part to evade his responsibilities. The magistrate remarked that he had not been aware that it was necessary to notify the Government Statistician. The present case would act as a. warning, but ho did not think it was a case for a penalty. He merely recorded a conviction.

Sc-vore hardships wen: experienced recently by George Anderson, 24 ycars o f. I age, an experienced shepherd, employed on Double Hill Station, at the back" cf Laike Coleridge, Canterbury. On New' Year's Day he left the homestead, accompanied by four sheep dogs, for the hills. As lie did not return. a search party was organised. He was found on a hillside, at a considerable height above vegetation. There, for four days in the burning- sunj he had existed without food or water,: he had no hat, his face was severely burned by the sun, his tongue was so swollen- th.-it it would not remain in his mouth, an<i.~hbwas delirious. A bruise behind his right ear had caused concussion of the brain, and from this he is still suffering. How he got the hruiso no oik; knows. He may havo fallen on a sharp stone. All his dogs but one remained with him. When found they were in the last stage of exhaustion The Japanese grow a plant which furnishes a, sort of vegetable- leather. It is a pretty shrub called the " mitsumatu " and its inner bark, after going through certain processes, is converted into it substance iis tough ;is French kid, so translucent that one can almost seo through it and as pliablo aad soft as calfskin. '