HAWERA NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 November 1924, Page 9

HAWERA NEWS.

VETERAN OF THE ROAD. MR. HARRY SALES RETIRES (From Our Own Reporter.) Hawera, Nov. 21. A graceful act of kindness towards Hawera’s veteran jehu, Mr. Harry Sales, was shown to-day, when Mr. E. Dixon and a number of friends gathered round Mr. R. P. Morrissey’s rostrum and presented Mr. Sales with a wallet liberally stuffed with notes. Mr. Sales enjoyed the distinction of being the last horse cab-driver in Hawera. and he recently retired'at the age of 69 years after 49 years’ service on the road. In making the presentation, Mr. Dixon said ’ there was no man better known in Hawera than Harry Sales, and he was particularly well-known to the commercial travellers. He. had been in business for 49 years, and had proved himself to be a dependable and trustworthy man. The first man Mr. Dixon had met ■when he came to Hawera. was Harry Sales, and he had been associated with him for many years, and always found him ready to help people who could not afford to help themselves. In connection with the .present, Mr Dixon wished to thank Messrs. R. P. Morrissey. F. J. Gillanders and McCallum f<’i- their assistance. Mr. Mo; rissey thanked Mr. Dixon for making the presentation. It was good, he* said, to know that the ’leading citizens were ready to do a kindness. Replying, Mr. Sales said: “I am not ■ meh of a speaker, but- I thank you from the bottom of my heart.” TECHNICAL WOODWORK DISPLAY. The sound, practical usefulness of the instruction given at the Hawera Technical High School was strikingly demonstrated by the school’s woodwork exhibit at the Hawera A. and P. Show. Hie display was a credit to the school, and shows that the pupils are carrying out advanced work of many descriptions. Tin' articles exhibited included medicine cabinets, music cabinets, -trays with carved designs, palm stands, stepladders. table mats, pan rests, T and set squares, wall brackets, model farm gates, woodwork joints and timber specimens. The work was of such quality that the exhibition should induce other boys to take advantage of such useful instruction. NATIVE LAND AFFAIRS. Mr. J. Thompson. Government land purchase officer, who has been in Hawera this week completing purchases of native lands Uy the lessees (West Coast reserves) commented on the small number of lessees now taking advantage under the Act to convert their lands, which fact is regarded as an indication of the shortage of ready money. The officers of the court draw the inference that the Hawera district has not yet properly recovered from the slump. Judge J. W r . Brown, who presided over the sitting of the court, concludes the sitting to-morrow, and the court will be adjourned to Wanganui. Mr. Thompson leaves Hawera tomorrow for Taupo. INCIDENT IN HIGH STREET. MAN CONVICTED OF ASSAULT. As the result of an Incident in High Street, Albert V\ illiani Siever appeared before Messrs. J. G. Osborne and G. H. Buckeridge, J.P.’s. at the Hawera Court to-day charged with assaulting a girl and using indecent language in a public place. Sergeant Martin, giving the girl’s version of the affair to the court, said that two sisters were at the pictures on Wednesday night. At the interval they found the theatre oppressive and went into the street, for a walk. On the way they passed a group of men on the sidewalk and had to walk around them. One of the men came up behind the girls and asked if there was a dance on. The girls replied “No,” and then Siever came up, took one of the girls by the arm, and told her he wanted to toll her something. She warned him that she would have nothing to do with him and that if he was not careful she would smack his face. He persisted in his unwelcome attentions, and she administered the threatened smack with some force. Siever replied by punching her on the chest and using the language complained of. Mr. P. O’Dea. for accused, entered a plea of not guilty, and accused elected to be dealt with summarily.

Mr. Buckeridge said the Bench had decided, that an assault had been committed. The accused had no right to catch hold of a girl lie did not know in the street or suggest buying anything foi her. On the charge of assault he would be fined £1 with costs. "With regard to the charge of using indecent language there had probably been some mistake. In any case, the words the accused admitted using were too familiar, and he had better ent them out. The charge would be dismissed.

MEETLNG OF FRONTIERSMEN. HAWERA TROOP TO BE FORMED. Ther e was a large and enthusiastic gathering of frontiersmen at Hawera tonight in response to a call by Lieut. Vickridge and Q.M.S. Carson. Lieut. Vickridge presided, and frontiersmen from all parts of Taranaki, including Lieut.-Colonel C. H. Weston, (O.C. of the Taranaki Squadron), were present. The formation of a squadron or troop at Hawera was discussed, and the gathering was entertained at the Carlton tea-rooms. A meeting of intending members will be held at an early date to form a troop with headquarters at Hawera.