NEWS IN BRIEF.

Otago Witness, Issue 3698, 27 January 1925, Page 33

NEWS IN BRIEF.

At the Auckland Police Court on the 19th Les. Trevelyan Devlin, for wilfully damaging a car to the extent of £6O and converting the car to his own use, was admitted to probation for three years after the man who owned the car had put in a plea for leniency. The carnival recently organised to raise funds for the Wanganui Agricultural Association’s new show ground resulted in a clear profit of £5120. Representatives of the Nurserymen’s Association conferred with the Director of Forestry last week at Wellington on questions of common interest. The nurserymen’s secretary states that a general understanding was reached regarding procedure, and it had been decided to submit proposals to the Government for a seven years’ agreement regarding the supply of forest nursery gTade trees covering the estimated number required for all private supply to the public, and, if necessary, for a State plantery. It wa 8 also proposed that prices under the agreement be the existing prices, revisable annually. At the Auckland Police Court on the 19th Harry Edward Phillips, aged twenty-four, employed as traveller for an eleotrical firm, was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, for obtaining money by false pretences. There wore 41 charges. His method was to lodge bogus orders, on which he secured a commission. At the meeting of the Christchurch City Council on Tuesday the annual statement showed the city’s credit balance on the working account at March 31, 1924, to bo £2872, and tho net revenue for the 12 months £140,582, as compared with £140,185 in the previous year. The accounts of municipal electricity department showed a credit of £35,002, as compared with £13,872 the previous year. The council passed a motion of protest against the action of the Auditor-general in attaching & tag to the balance sheet because the unauthorised grants had been made to the St. John Ambulance and Workers’ Educational Associations. Another dam is to be constructed further up the Mangahao River at a cost of £60,000. This is part of the original scheme, but was not necessary at the beginning. It will, however, be required before the full load can be carried.

The order of reference to the Coal Inquiry C-ommittee directs it to report on the suitability of New Zealand coal for the railways, as to the quality, cost, and safety of property, and any other consideration; also whether the engines in use can altered to use New Zealand coal effectively, and the time involved; and, further, whether tho new engines can be designed for the purpose, and what advantages will accrue if New Zealand coal is exclusively used. Tto latest official figures available show during the last 2l months the sum of £9,6i6,00Q has been paid over by the State Advances Office to 10,234 borrowers. The amount of the loans authorised in the same period was £11,714,597 to 12,723 applicants. It is considered that this indicates the extent to which the operations of the office are striving to meet any trouble which might arise through the lifting of the moratorium which expires this yea/. In the Auckland Police Court on Thursday Martha Jane O’Shaughnessy pleaded not guilty to a charge of the unlawful use of an instrument on a girl of 19. arid was committed for trial. The young woman concerned saud that she paid two visits to accused, and was later admitted to hospital where she remained for 11 days. The principal Anniversary Day event in Wellington on Thursday apart from the races, was the regatta, of which there were many spectators. The first-class yacht race was won by which, with a handicap of lOmin, beat Rona by 6min. Marangi was third and Wairere fourth. Wnirere (16min) beat Rona (1 min) by 44sec in the general handicap. Eddie French, a negro cook who missed his ship the Trelyon at Auckland, appeared before the court on Tuesday charged with desertion and landing in New Zealand without a permit. The magistrate ordored that he be placed on board the Marama for Sydney. Placed on board on Thursday French attempted to escape as the moorings were being released. The waterside police and others grabbed and hand cuffed him, and thereupon commenced a violent struggle, but a few minutes later the Marama cast off with French on board The Grey Power Board on Thursday accepted the tender of the National Electrical Engineering Co., Christchurch, of £24,611 lOlp for the installation of a steam plant at Dobson for eleotrical supply. There were 18 tenders from all parts of the dominion. Joseph Lithgow, city electrical engineer, Christchurch, was appointed engineer to the board at a salary of £7OO from 19 applir cants.