NEWS IN BRIEF.

Otago Witness, Issue 3495, 8 March 1921, Page 37

NEWS IN BRIEF.

it is understood that Mr D’Arcy Ilaggitt, of Dunedin, is tile senior member living of the legal profession, having been admitted in February, 1665. In the annual report and estimates of the Otago JfctaiDour jjourii, uie revenue estimated for the present year is set down at £'116,520, ana tbe expenditure at £110,109, showing an estimated surplus of £7Bll. In order to take steps to imse the minmum ministerial stipend to £2i£) per annum, a strong committee of laymen, with Mr Secular as convener, was appointed at last week’s meeting of the Dunedin TTesbytery. The duty it was contended rested witn the laymen. It is not intended to interfere with the sustentation fund. William McLachlan, cl I'ahakopa, charged with driving a motor car through Green Island at a speed estimated at 30-miles an hour, returning from the races at Wingatui, was fined £5 with costs. The Dunedin Magistrate commented upon the driver’s heedless disregard for other users of the road, and trusted that the fine wuld be a lesson to him. The official opening of the Hick’s Bay freezing works took place on the Ist in the presence of several hundred of the settlers of Northern Waipu and visitors from Gisborne. The machinery was started by Mr K. S. Williams, M.P., who congratulated the settlers upon their enterprise. A speech was also delivered by the Hon. A. T. Ngata. During last session of Parliament allegations were made by Mr Holland (chairman of the Labour Party) that meat unfit for human consumption had been shipped to Great Britain from New Zealand. The following committee of three has been appointed to inquire into the allegations: Sir Thomas Mackenzie (chairman), Mr A. H. Miles, and Mr A. Macintosh. At the Dunedin Police Court, William Seoles pleaded guilty to four charges of forgery for various amounts. Cheques were issued by Scales bearing the names of various, more or tes.i. well-known people and circulated as if genuine among unsuspicious individuals, goods and cash being received in exchange «t times for valueless paper. The accused was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. As the result of the improved rate of exchange in China and India, the current year’s missionary burden of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand will be eased somewhat. It had been estimated that the foreign missionary enterprise would require an additional £17,000 this year, but the Rev. A. Don is now hopeful that £14,000 or £15,000 would be sufficient to meet the increased cost, of administration. Cabinet has decided to appoint Mr John William APDonald, at present Assistant Public Trustee, to the position of Public Trustee, rendered vacant bv the death of Mr R Trig gs Mr Macdonald is a New Zealander, and was born at Christchurch in 1883. In 1900 he joined the Justice Department and qualified for the legal profession. He joined the Trust Office as a clerk in the legal department, rose to solicitor, and in 1917 was appointed Assistant Public Trustee.