NEWS IN BRIEF.

Otago Witness, Issue 3556, 9 May 1922, Page 29

NEWS IN BRIEF.

Frank Jocelyn Johnstone Fletcher, a commercial aged 24 years, admitted at Auckland a series of charges of obtaining goods by false pretences, and two charges of theft, the total amount involved being £536 11s lOd. The thefts included four diamond rings, valued at £lO6. The accused made various representations as to his business and standing to several people. The rings were given to him by a woman to wear, and she also advanced him money, which he promised to return. He was committed for sentence. Mr Massey said on the Ist: ‘'On account of the many matters of great importance waiting to be dealt with in Ne-v Zealand at present I have very reluctantly been compelled to postpone my intended, visit to Samoa. Parliament will meet in a very few weeks, and the business for the session must be prepared.” Ihe following message has been received by the secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department from Radio, Auckland, at 9.15 p.m. : —“The s.s. Kaitoa has sent the following message :—‘East Cape Island, 177 deg, 4 2-3 miles, passed vessel’s spar like top-gallant, mast, floating vertically six feet above water, apparently attached to wreckage below.’ ” Henry Alfred Marshall, alias James Fraser, pleaded guilty in the Dannevirke Court to breaking and entering and the theft of a cash box containing money, cheques, and bonds of a total value of £236 12s. 2d. He was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. For the theft of two overcoat s (separate charges) he received a sentence of six months’ imprisonment, the terms to he cumulative. Mr Boyd, of Onehunga Zoo fame, intends to petition Parliament for £IO.OOO compensation for loss incurred through interference with his collection by the Onehunga Borough Council. If unsuccessful he intends to start litigation, and take the matter to the Privy Council if necessary. Plans are well under way for the extension of the Savoy restaurant’s activities to provide the city with the latest and most carefully designed dining and dancing hall that all the arts of builder, decorator, and furnisher can produce; an establishment of distinctive, catering, thoughtful convenience, and refined comfort which shall become the centre for the social life of the city, and fill with envy the minds pf boastful cousins from the north. The Aew Zealand Sheepowners’ Federation has received a letter from the Prime Minister expressing his appreciation of the support .given to him by the federation’s executive in the course which he had taken in the dispute with the Post and Telegraph Officers’ Association. Mr F. J. Rolleston was elected chairman of the Tirnaru Harbour Board for the eleventh year in succession. He forecasted an early reduction of charges on shipping and in the harbour rate. The board has equipped the wharves with eleclric capstans at a cost of £SOOO out of revenue. The general cargo rates between Wellington ana Blenheim have been reduced 5s per ton. Charles M'Dougall has issued a writ against the Blenheim Borough Council, claiming about ±,6500, alleged to be due in connection with a waterworks contract, and also £IOOO general damages. Reginald William Gunn, taxi driver, was arrested on Friday at Masterton, and charged with receiving about 28 sovereigns and £l2 in silver, the proceeds of the safe robbery at Paekakariki, for which two men, Beil and Carmichael, are now serving sentences. Gunn was remanded, and James Ceeii Oliver, who was arrested last week in conwith the same offence, was also remanded. Meetings of householders where a committee was not elected on the date previously fixed will he held in the Otago district on the 19th inst. There is a branch in Dunedin of the Gore High School Ex-pupils Association with a membership of between 50 and 60. Mr 11. R. Domigan was elected president, with Miss J. Wright, of St. Margaret's College, as secretary. After occupying for five rears the position of Presidi nr of the Unturned Soldiers’ Assentation in Dunedin. Dr I-farrison declined re^iipmi nation, and Colonel -T. W. M‘Donald presidents. ' ' 1 Council of 1 ’ll l'i- •! ::>'! Congregation.rt < 'ii-'dch ■!' 'll pa.-.-' d a re .do lion c ! |.r->- . rain . the nr ..•meet which is .. ih rough_ the press of the Don urging Parliament to grant legal roc tuition to bookmakers.