TELEGRAMS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19687, 14 January 1926, Page 9

TELEGRAMS.

(Pek United Press Association.) HAMILTON, January 13. For travelling- on a railway train between Auckland and Frankton with a ticket, for travelling with intent to evade payment of his fare, and for failing to exhibit a ticket available for the journey when requested by the guard, Joseph Trotter, who faded to appear, but entered a plea of guilty, was to-dav fined £1 on each of three charges. Senior-sergeant Sweeney siaid he had been asked by the Railway Department to ask hie Worship to order the defendant to pay the amount of the fare. The Magistrate (Mr Wyvem Wilson, S.M.) said that if the department wanted this they could make it the subject of a civil action. He thought the Government was well recompensed in getting £3 for giving a man a MdC ‘ ■WELLINGTON, January 13. Before Christmas someone tampered with the Weetinghouse brake on a goods train travelling from Johnsonville to Wellington, a journey on which there is a steep incline which "descends 460 ft in five miles. As soon as the train started the driver found that something was wrong and he could not stop. He and the fireman took the risk of jumping off and trying to drop the hand breaks as the tracks passed. In this rather desperate and courageous attempt- they succeeded, or the train must have come to a smash. The matter had been kept secret in the hope of detecting the offender. NET .SON. January 13. Described by the police as a social pest, Frank Robinson, alias Harold Keer, alias Richardson, was charged with false pretences in that he obtained from a woman the sum of £5, with intent to defraud. Accused was apprehended at the Bluff when about to leave the Dominion. He pleaded guilty, and was convicted and fined £lO, and ordered to make restitution, in default two months’ in goal. CHRISTCHURCH, January 13. Sidney George Trusler, a returned soldier, pleaded guilty in the Magistrate’s Court to receiving pension payments on three occasions by moans of a fraudulent statement. Trusler said he made the statement that he was not working so as to get the unemployment pension. He had tuberculosis, and (lid not expect to be working long. He was convicted on each charge, and ordered to come up for sentence if called within 12 months. He was also ordered to refund £l9 to the department. The French steamer Sieventz completed discharge of the local portion of her cargo of sulphur yesterday, and sailed for Auckland. The discharge was effected without the aid of waterside labour, the Harbour Hoard’s two grabs being used. Hie watersider workers refused to accept employment on the vessel on Monday unless they were paid 4|d per hour above the award rates. The employers refused, and the matter was referred to the National Disputes Committee.but has now solved itself.