NEWS IN BRIEF.

Otago Witness, Issue 3403, 4 June 1919, Page 29

NEWS IN BRIEF.

A case of leprosy has been discovered at Blackball. The patient, a male, with contact, has been ordered tor removal to Quad Island, Christchurch. The Labour party at Waimate chose Mr William Gardiner Paul as a candidate for tho Waitaki seat at tho general election. He contested the Waitaki seat in 1911. Mr D. J. Williams's store at Burnett's Face was burnt to the ground on Saturday night; also the s tables attached. Insiuranco on the building and stock, £IOOO in the Alliance.

The Technical Education Board decided on the 27th that competitive designs for a new Technical College should be called for, the competition to be open to architects resident in New .Zealand.

The Wellington branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants has passed a resolution protesting against the National Government depriving P. Webb and others of their political and civil rights. The Auckland City Council adopted the Mayor's recommendation to complete the option for the purchase of the electrio trams, and approved tho scheme to extend the electricity supply to tho suburbs, at a cost of £BO,OOO. The North Auckland Dairy Association has announced the result of tho Weddel Cup. Tho Aira Dairy Company (92.712) was placed first, the Kaitare Dairy Company (92.626) second, and tho Maungatuapere Dairy Company (92.425) third. Dr J. E. Ridded, who has launched a big scheme for the education of the children of soldiers killed in the war, waited on the Wanganui-Waitotara Patriotic Association to-day. It was resolved to vote £2OOO to tho fund, the sum to be paid in war bonds. The Auckland Harbour Board has approved of a scheme of harbour improvements to cost £1,000,000, spread over a period of 10 years, and decided to ask Parliament, for an Empowering Bill. Tho schedule of works includes additional wharfage, reclamation, and breakwater.. A district court-martial which sat in Christchurch has sentenced '■John Courtenay, a baker, of Timaru, to 90 days' detention for failure to concentrate with a reinforcement draft on May 20, 1918. Courtenay gave himself up to the military authorities voluntarily, and pleaded guilty to the charge. In the Hamilton Court, Cola Aldred was fined £SO for impersonating -a soldier on active service at the recent licensing- poll. Aldred voted in tho morning, and returned in the afternoon and asked for a voting paper for John Duck, a soldier. He wa» challenged by the returning officer, but denied that he was the man who had previouslv vot*d.

The" verdict of the coroner at the inquiry into a firo at the Marlborough Fruit Preserving Packing Factory was that the outbreak originated inside the building. The evidence showed that it was not accidental, and must have been kindled-by some person who gained access to the building after it was closed for the day, but the evidence was insufficient to show who the culprit was. The Rev. R. S. Gray has resigned from the pastorate of the Hanover Street Baptist Church, Dunedin, in order to take up the duties of Dominion organiser for the New Zealand Alliance. The congregation passed a motion unanimously regretting the resignation, and paying a tribute to tho work which had been carried out by Mr Gray. The Rev. R. Knowles Kcmptori lias been appointed to succeed Mr Gray.^ Two married women —one with five children and one elderly with no children, — residents of Woodvi'e, were on the 2nd sentenced on each, of tour charges of shoplifting. The accused had worked on a systematic plan, visiting several shops. They pleaded guilty, anticipating probation. There was a tragic scene when they were sentenced, the women making- oiteous appeals for mercy. One was fined, and the other was helped from the court. The Hon. J. T. Paul, M.L.0., and Mr A. Walker. M.P., addressed a meeting at South Dunedin on the 28th ult., when they explained the platform and the aims and objects of the Labour party. The administration '. oi, the National Ministry and ita policy were severely criticised, and its' failure to adequately deal with_ the continued increase in the cost of living condemned. Mr Paul declared that land aggregation was going on in tho Dominion, including Otago. In the court at Christchurch Arthur Vincent pleaded guilty to charges of being drunk while driving a horse and cart on the Riccarton road and driving on the same road at night without a light. Subinspector Mullaney said that about a week ago the defendant had been fined £lO for being in charge of a horse and cart while drunk. The magistrate (Mr S. E. M'Carthy) said it appeared to him that the defendant was determined to kill somebody. He was a menace to the travelling public, and would be sentenced to one month's imprisonment.