NEWS IN BRIEF.

Otago Witness, Issue 3348, 15 May 1918, Page 25

NEWS IN BRIEF.

Cabinet has offered Mrs Hall, widow of tho victim of tho Runanga murder, £IOOO as compassionate allowance.

The chairman of the Bruce County Council stated last week that the price of road metal was now almost prohibitive. In tho Ohristchurch Coiirt on tho 10th, Peter Watson, dairyman, was fined 20s and costs for a breach of the Sales of Food and Drugs Act in selling cream containing bicarbonate of soda.

Joseph Thomas Christie, who previously mado several sensational escapes from custody, got through the window of hia cell at Avondala Mental Hospital on Saturday night, and is still at large. The Raglan County Council decided _to urge the Minister to force exempted Firs't Division reservists to assist in road work where suitable, owing to tho shortage of labour in the country districts. Threo men —named -Roebuck, Corbett, and M'Gregor—pleaded guilty at New Plymouth on the 6th to a charge of breaking and entering a store at Okato. They wei;e remanded to the Supreme Court for sentence.

Messrs Robin Reynolds (second eldest son of Mr W. E. Reynolds) and Mr Gordon Coull (second eldest son of Mr T. C. Coull) left yesterday morning for Christchurch to undergo a course of training at the Sockburn Aviation School. The Minister of Justice etates that ho has received the final report of the police on the canvass made at the Awapuni races of men who appeared to be of military age. Not one man was discovered who could be designated a shirker. The export of honey is likely to be heavy this year, as it is now one of the favoured! commodities, and will be taken by steamer whenever possible. The price for export is now about £l5O per ton. In March, 1917, the yield had been shipped, and there are about 270 tons in store now.

Two soldiers who were returning by tho hospital ship died en the voyage. Private G-. Thomas, of Tuatapere, Southland, died on April 18, and was buried at sea. Private C. T. MTCinley, of Balclutha, died on April 23, and was buried at an American port, American troops providing the firing party. The Hon. Mr MacDbnald (Acting Post-master-general) etates that, though parcels for prisoners of war interned in enemy and neutral countries may not be sent from New Zealand, persons desirous of sending parcels of food, etc., to the prisoners may do so by making arrangements with the High Commissioner. In the Court of Appeal on the Bth, on the application of the New Zealand Law Society, Howard Hill was struck off the roll of solicitors. Mr O'Leary, on behalf of Hill, stated that his client did not desire to be represented. An order was made striking him off the rolls. Mr von Haast appeared for the Law Society. The Union Steam Ship Company was fined £2O for employing an unregistered reservist. Counsel for the defence explained that when the reservist was being engaged by the master of one of the company's steamers, he was asked if ho enrolled, and he replied that he had lost his enrolment certificate. The company was most particular in the matter, and had issued strict instructions to officers. The minimum fine was imposed.

■Fire was discovered on the 7th inst. in the after-hold of the Mararoa at Wellington wharf. A consignment of quicklime was loaded at Lyttelton yesterday. A considerable quantity was discharged intact, but the lower bags were found smouldering. The loose lime was shovelled into baskets, and the hold was cleared 4 at noon. No damage was done. It is assumed that the limo became damp while lying on the trucks at Lyttelton on Saturday and Sunday in heavy rain and hail.

In tho Auckland Court, Cecil Barrie, a travelling picture showman, was fined £lO on two informations for issuing tickets not stamped indicating that tho amusement tax had been paid. When showing at a suburban township the defendant issued ordinary ls.6d tickets, and just before the interval ho' distributed amongst the audience war tax tickets, which he tried to collect as the audience left the building. Tickets dropped on tho floor were picked up and sold again. Two steam trawlers —the Countess and the Muriel —owned by Sandford, Ltd., were arrested by tho Inspector of Fisheries on suspicion of trawling within a prohibited area in the gulf. Both trawlers were allowed to continue trawling, but the department does not waive the right to ultimate seizure, and if proceedings are taken and conviction is recorded, the value of the fish will bo claimed by the department. The masters of both vessels deny that they were trawling in a prohibited area in Auckland. Mr Iveville Mayman, who has been touring New Zealand on behalf of the New South Wales Government, and has been studying tho dominion methods of saving infant life, savs ho has been greatly impressed with the St. _ Helens Hospitals not only as obstetric hospitals, but as most valuable training tchools for midwives. The Government is to be congratulated on tho policy of establishing hospitals of this description, which cannot fail to be of immense service in' tho reduction of infant mortality. Air Mayman is loud in his praise of the New Zealand Infant Lifo Protection Act

Mr W. Wilkinson was on the Bth inst. elected as chairman of the Ofcago Harbour Board, with Mr A. H. Bridges as deputychairman. Tho retiring chairman (Mr J. H. Walker), in the course of an adch-ess, said the condition of the harbour from a navigation point of view had been well maintained. The fmencial position of the board was. sound and stable, and the recent adjustments made in the tariff would meet all their requirements. Tt ; »ir Eeserve Fund stood at £30,000, and "Wat available for use

in case of stress or emergency. The disposal of some £IO,OOO worth of surplus -stock had been carried into effect on advantageous terms.

At a meeting of the Taranaki Producers' Company it was decided to tako up 25.000 £1 shares in tho Taranaki Farmers' Meat Company, on tho undertaking of the latter to erect additional storago accommodation at Smart road. At previous meetings it was. decided to increase the storage at the Producers' works at Moturoa, tho estimated cost_ being £31,000. Mr Arthur Morton (chairman) pointed out that when things were normal tho proposed additional buildings at tho Moturoa works would bo unrcmunerative, whereas the meat works could put them to very profitable use. -Besides the great bulk of tho shareholders in the meat works wero dairymen. The extra space will enable nearly tho whole of tho season's butter output to be stored, and leave the Moturoa works free to accommodate about 110,000 crates of cheese, which, with, the accommodation of tho factories, will provide for the season'3 cheese output.