TELEGRAMS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22136, 14 December 1933, Page 10

TELEGRAMS

(Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, December 13. Charges under the Municipal Corporations Act involving a former Upper Hutt councillor were preferred against Amos Howell in the Upper Hutt Police Court to-day. A charge of voting at a council meeting on a matter in which he had a pecuniary interest was dismissed, but on a charge of attending a meeting, of the Borough Council when he was incapacitated as a councillor he was convicted and fined £3. Three charges similar to the latter were withdrawn. Mr E.Dage, S.M., to-day committed to the Supreme Court for trial Benjamin Kirkbride, who pleaded not guilty to a charge of assaulting Clifford Baxter so as to cause him actual bodily harm. The alleged assault took place on August 26 in a house in Tinakori road. One witness, Robert Wilson, gave it as his opinion that Baxter slipped and broke his leg through pure accident. Six charges of failing to account for money totalling £lO2 10s to Smith, Wylie, and Co. were admitted hy Arthur De Vine, aged 58, a salesman, and he was committed to the Supreme Court for sen. fence. The money was in respect to shares sold on behalf of his principals. MASTERTON, December 13. A fairly sharp shock of earthquake, lasting two or three seconds, was felt tonight at 8.50. CHRISTCHURCH, December 13. A decision in favour of the Pratt Estate Company, Ltd., in its appeal against income tax assessment was given by Mr Justice Ostler in bis reserved judgment to-day. The company appealed against assessment ns an ordinary commercial company, claiming that it was merely the trustee of the beneficiaries under the will of William Pratt, In allowing the appeal, his Honor said the company must be deemed to be merely the agent of the beneficiaries, and would be assessable accordingly.