Untitled

Otago Witness, Issue 3755, 2 March 1926, Page 52

*‘T want to impress upon the mothers that this is one of the wor%t cases that has come before this ourt vor long time," stated Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., after hearing evidence against three boys, aged between 9 and 10. who ve~.ro charged with damaging property, M a sitting of the Court ‘on 's•!«* relay. The- boys were charged thM on Vcbruarv 19. at 'tomahawk, they commuted mischief by damaging a chair, a number gramophone recorua, seme* tins cf biscuits and canned fruits to the cxleut of £4. It was stated that She beys had been before the court in -September on a previous charge, which had been withdrawn. Mr J. Lock said that the beys entered a hones through a window, and after their visit the interior presented a highly disordered scene. They bad then climbed through the window of .another house. A passer-by saw a pair of feet disappearing through the window, and this lea to their detection. When the place was inspected the gramophone records were found to be broken and scattered about the floor. The boys had also attempted to set the records alight on a chair. From another place they had stolen a trolley. They had admitted the charges. Mr Lock said he could not give the boys a good recommendation as their home control was not good. The Magistrate sr.id it was unfortunate for the owners of tho damaged property that restitution could not ho orderod as the parents were not in a position to pay for the damage. Hu had considered sending the boys to a homo, hut he would give them another chance to make good. 'flic boys would be admitted to probation for one year. Some time ago the Dunedin Free Kindergarten Association was given a piece of land at Caversham from the Hudson family, and this gift is now to be supplemented by a further benefaction in the •hape of a kindergarten building for which the donors have let the contract to the Fletcher Construction Company. The institution, which will be one of the most up-to-date of it* kind in Now Zealand, is intended ai a memorol to the late Mr Richard Hudson, sen., whose love for ahildren was well known.

The sixteenth annual conference of the New Zealand Poultry Association opens in Dunedin to-morrow, when about 20 delegates from all parts of the Dominion are expected. We are informed that Messrs Mandeno and Fraser, architects, of Dunedin, were the successful competitors for the fiveroomed cottages to be erected by the Lower Hutt Housing Committee. One hundred and seventy-eight designs were deceived from all over New Zealand. The first prize was £125. The competition was for two types of houses—five and four rooms respectively—and the latter competition was won by Mr Greelish, of Wellington. * Figures compiled by the Customs Department show that there was a decided drop in the revenue collected at the port of Otago during the month of February this year, as compared with the figures for February, 1925. The net Customs revenue received for the month ending on Saturday amounted to £65,873 Is 3d, and the beer duty £19,079 17s 2d. The amounts collected during February last year were: Net customs, £70,523 12s lOd; beer, £18.895 14s 3d. As compared with the return for February. 1925, last month’s customs revenue showed a drop of £4650, but the beer revenue for the past month showed a slight inereaso. As an experiment, the Railway Department proposes to run a fast express trip from Ross, on the West Coast, to Dunedin, via Rolleston Junction, a distance of 385 miles, on Wednesday, Maroh 17, returning from Dunedin on Saturday, March 20. This will enablo West Coasters to spend two days at the Exhibition, with a minimum of time occupied in travelling. The train will leave Ross at 6.40 a.m. and pick up passengers at Hokitika, Kumara, Greymouth, and other stations. A special train from Reefton will connect with the excursion train at Stillwater Junction. After leaving Arthur’* Pass the train will stop only at refreshment stations and for water for the engines. It will arrive at Dunedin at 10.30 p.m. the same day. The return on the Saturday will leave Dunedin at 7.45 a.m., and arrive et Roes at 10.45 p.m.