DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 September 1915, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

TARIKL A concert and mock court was held on the 2nd inst, in aid of the war relief fund. Owing to the short notice the attendance was not quite up to the mark, which has been usual at patriotic gatherings here, but those present spent a very enjoyable evening, and what was still better participated in raising a good sum for such an excellent object. The concert items were: National Anthem; song, Mr. W. Rudkin; recitation, Mr. R. Mathers; song, Mr. T. Long; song, Miss Richardson; sonf, Mr. Riley; song, Mrs. Jemison; song, Mrs. T. Long. Mr. H. 0. Hill, chairman of the Wellington Patriotic Society, was introduced by the chairman, who explained that Mr. Hill was there, at tho invitation of the committee, to explain the scheme of administration of war relief funds as drawn up by Mr. Skerrett from the results of the conference of patriotic branches recently held in Wellington, and he (the chairman) considered that Tariki was honored by the presence of one so wellknown as a leader and organiser of patriotic movements . (Applause). Mr. Hill, on rising, was received with applause, and delivered an eloquent and effective speech. He drew attention to the great debt that New Zealand owed to the splendid achievement of the British Navy in safeguarding trade routes, and referred to tho gallant way in which our boys were fighting for us. If the audience had seen, as he had seen, some of the wounded and disabled that had returned by the Willochra, they would realise that we could not make too great an effort or do too much for those who had made such sacrifices and suffered for their country's sake. (Applause.) Peowere apt to brand those whom they considered should be fighting for their country as cowards, but he thought that those who did not come under the qualifications of fighting units, and yet, although enjoying safety and immunity from danger here, failed to recognise their duty to give and do all in their power to help our brave defenders on sea and land, were doubly cowards. (Applause.)

At the conclusion of Mr. Hill's address the hall was converted into a court of justice, the officials consisting of Mr. H. G. Hill, judge; Messrs F. Mills and T. Therkleson, police sergeants; Mr. J. Therkleson, clerk of the court, and Messrs E. Crossman and Stephenson, counsel. They lost no time in dealing with a number of offenders. Needless to say, Mr. Hill, as "your honor," was quite at home, and his method of ladling out justice and inflicting penalties delighted the audience, especially the ladies, who, with one brave exception, objected to being placed in the prisoners' dock. The maximum fine was 10s, and in reporting the cases when a larger sum is mentioned it denotes that the offender contributed more than the penalty inflicted. E. Crossman, shooting seven bullseyes, 10s; J. Pettet, for petting a cow, 10s; B. Riley, being a hard baked Tory, S3; J. Hucker and A. E. Laurence, belonging to gangs of highway robbers (Moa Road Board and Taranaki County Council), Hucker 10s, Laurence £1; H. Kerr, kerlcssly walking without lights, ss; T. Therkleson, making iron crosses, £1; H. Glen, being an Irishman from Glasgie, 3s; G. Kilsby, consorting with respectable people, ss; Jacob Therkleson, stripping cows. 10s; A. E. Cowley, having no visible means of support, 10s Od; J. Therkleson, sending liquor into a no-li-cense district, £1; Mis. Jemison, scaling tho mountain, 2s 6d; 11. Eason, allowing the "wild cat" near the school, 10s; Rudkin, selling brandy balls without a license, 10s; K. Karalus, £1; J. Karalus, for draining a ford, 10s; G. Ackland, being an incorrigible rogue, 10s; C. Therleson, driving a milking machine witliout lights, 10s; W. Coutts, nick-knocking, 10s; Wu. Langman, driving cattle without number plates, 10s; V. Harkness, being out in the darkness, 10s; T. Long, being so long, 10s; F. Mills, perjury, 10s; C. F. Young, fording a dam, £l;' 11. G. Hill, attempting tj pilfer Mt. Egmont, 10s; N. Stephenson, fining the judge, 15s; F. G. Knowlcs, watering milk, H. Knowles, not watering milk, 4s. Including door takings, the receipts amounted to S2Q.