NEWS IN BRIEF.

Otago Witness, Issue 3347, 8 May 1918, Page 24

NEWS IN BRIEF.

A boy, aged 14, charged with stealing two letters, containing cneques, from the post office at Hamilton, was admitted to probation for 12 months.. Mr John Townley was re-elected chairman of the Gisborne Harbour Board for the twenty-seventh time in succession. He v.-as first elected in 1690. The Forbury Park Trotting Club withdrew its objection to the valuation placed upon its property at Forbury Park, and the valuation of £5400 unimproved value and £13,450 for improvements now stands. Owing to the calling up of the Second Division Sir Joseph Ward hns stilted that it is proposed to at once reduce the hours during which tho publio may send telegrams or may expect letters to bo delivered. Tho Minister of Customs states that tho Customs revenue collected in the dominion during April totalled £305,105, and excise beer dutv £23,083. The figures tor April, 1917, were £250,185 and £15,496 respectively. . The Red Triangle campaign at Uishorno has closed with subscriptions amounting to over £II,OOO, which, Mr Varney remarked, is a record for the dominion, being equal to over_los per head of the population of the district. The Rev. H. B. Goertz, vicar of Holy Trinitv Church, Port 'Chalmers, having enlisted with the Forty-second Reinforcements, was nresentcd by the parishioners with a well-filled purse and with tokens of esteem from the boy choristers and Sunday school children. Mr J. G. M'Lean, an old and respected resident of Puha. is missing, and the discovery of his riderless horse covered with slime lends colour to the theory that he was accidentally drowned while -crossing the river between Puha and Tekaraka on tho 29th. Tlt> nolice are dragging the river. Tho war is affecting the Dunedin Art Gallery Society. The membership shows a decrease while owing to absence of social functions, etc., tho income from the gallery had fallen away somewhat. The active membership is only about 60. Ihc retiring trustees—Mrs Fergus, Messrs John Roberts, Geo. Ritchie, and A. Bathgate—were reelected. . The conference ordered by the Minister of Labour in the Auckland tramways dispute closed with an agreement that a further conference under a different chairman must be j called immediately. Failing any recommendation, a secret ballot must be taken by the registrar on the question of a strike. So far there has been no threat of a strike. As assistance to the sufferers by the Raetihi fires, tho Cabinet has authorised provision by way of loan up to £75,000, with interest at 5 per cent. Tho loan will be for 32 years, with the right to borrowers to repay off a portion or the whole at an earlier period. Cabinet also granted a subsidy of £10,003 by way of pound for pound on subscriptions raised. The Pahiatua County Council unanimously -esolved that, owing to a great shortage of labour, it is of opinion that Territorial camps should bo discontinued until normal conditions are restored. Several instances wero quoted of men engaged in essential ferm or road work having to go to a Territorial camp when they learned the same drill in the main training camp. At Auckland on the 22nd George Carrick, alias James W. Wilker, on whom £l6O in cash and bank securities worth nearly £2OOO were found when he was arrested, was charged that, being a reputed thief, he frequented public places with felonious intent. It was stated that he behaved in a suspicious manner in a queue outside a place "of amusement, the police suspecting him of picking pockets. He was remanded for a week. The Wellington City Council has adopted tho following motion:—"That the council, while regretting that a considerable number of its most valuable officers have been called up in the ballot under the Military Service Act, feel that it would be failing in its duty to tho dominion and to the Empire at the present time of crisis if it prompted any appeals for exemption." Among the municipal officers drawn in tho last ballot is the city solicitor, Mr J. O'Shea. The 'Dominion Conference of the Protestant Political Association on the 24th elected the following officers:— President, Mr A. Donald; vice-presidents—Messrs J. A. Hay, E. M'Gregor, and Major Johnston; secretory, Mr H. S. Bilby; treasurer, Mr S. As'ton; national lecturer, Rev. Howard Elliott: committee—Hon. W. Earnshaw, Rev. G. Knowles Smith, Messrs J. Middleton, J. Aston. J. S. Dickson, M.P.; auditors—Messrs E. C. Ludwig and J. Kellow and Son.

On Friday, 19th tilt., the Omakau Hall was crowded, the occasion being a furewoll social to Mr and Mrs Jas. Anderson, of the Commercial Hotel. Mr W. C Pitches occupied the chair, and pointed out the high* esteem in which Mr and Mrs Anderson were held in the district. On behalf of the large gathering ho presented Mr and Mrs Anderson with a well filled purse of sovereigns. Speeches were also made by several others. Mr Anderson suitably replied on behalf of Mrs Anderson and family. Three youths, charged at Auckland with damaging motor cars belonging to eight owners, wore sentenced as follows.:—J. W. L. Casev, years of age, to three years' reformative treatment; George H. "Welch (19) and Albert C. Brown (17), two years' reformative treatment. The evidence showed that, accused, of whom Casey was the ringleader, took cars at night and returned them before morning, causing damage to varying extent. One car was damaged to the extent of £lB, and taken again after it had been repaired, being then damaged to the extent of- £l4. The Bruce Herald states that buyers were present from Dunedin, Oamaru, and the south at the sale the other day of secondhand timber and iron on behalf of Mr J. H. Graham. Bidding was spirited, and considering the timber was at least 40 years old it was' remarkable the prices it brought. Eight hundred odd sheets of Bft roofing iron realised an average of 7» 3d per sheet. Most of tlio heavy timber was bought by an Oamaru buyer, who expects, after paying railage, and two handlings to make a satistory profit. The gross amount realised is close on £SOO.

Private advice from Melbourne states that the Supreme Court there has given judgment for £6850 in the case brought by Charles Faulkner, James Coutts, Henry Barnes, Georgo Jones, and Thomas Anderson, of Auckland, waterside workers, claiming damages amounting to £B3OO from the Mischer and Co. Proprietary for_ injuries received by the effusion of sulphuric acid from a drum on board the Monowa-i at Auckland in September, 1916, due, it was alleged, to neglect in the method of closing the

drum adopted by defendants, who shipped it. Mr P. J. O'Regan, banister, of Wellington, represented the plaintiffs. A stained glass window to the memory of the late Lance-corporal Donald Macdonald was unveiled in St. Hilda's Church, Edendale, on which occasion a memorial service was held, the building being crowded. The Rev. R. dc Lambert officiated at tho dedication ceremony. The subject of the window is a splendid study of the Crucifixion, showing the Saviour on the Cross with the Virgin Mary and the beloved disciple St. John standing by. Underneath is inscribed tho sixth "word"' from the Cross, "It is finished." Tho side panels of the work support the central piece excellently, both in colouring and design, and inscril>ed on them is, "To the Glory of God, and in memory of Donald Macdonald. Killed in action at Messines, June, 1917." Frederick Roebuck, Frederick M'Grogor, and Arthur Corbett appeared before Mr Crooke, S.M., at New Plymouth, and were remanded till this week on charges of breaking, entering, and theft at Oka.ro. it appears that early on Sunday, 28th ult., the men were seen by the proprietor and an employee to leave Groenaway's store premises with oases of benzine and Kerosene. A chase ensued, in which the pursuers fired a revolver. Roebuck and Corbett were caught later, being entangled in barb wire. Later Constable O'Neill arrested M'Gregor. Tho nccused were motored to New Plymouth. About 5 a.m. on tho 50th a search warrant was executed by tho police, and miscellaneous goode, valued at £SO, were discovered under the premises of Roebuck and M'Grogor, who were rearrested. The goods have been identified by local storekeepers.