POLICE COURT. I'HIH DAY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 9921, 5 February 1894, Page 2

POLICE COURT. THIS DAY.

Monday, February 5. — Before Major R. Parris, J.P., and C. Rennell. Esq., J.P.

INEItRIATL'S.

Joseph Hannan admitted he was drunk in Devon-street on Saturday last. He asked the Bench to overlook the offence, as it was over twelve months since he appeared before the Court for a similar offence, and if let off this time he would guarantee that it wouid be twelve months before he appeared again. — Major Parris said that there was a disgraceful record against the accused, and fined him ss, and costs 3s. — Sergt. Duffin said that he would ask for a prohibition order against the defendant! — Accused said that 2 an order was issued he would drink, but he would not if left to his own will. — Major Parris told accused not to threaten what "he would do. — An order Avas granted. James Murphy was charged with being drunk on Saturday, and also being drunk within the last six months, namely, on December 11, 1893. He pleaded guilty to the offence. — Sergeant Duffin said that the accused was an inmate of the Old Men's Home, and broke stones for his living. — Mr Free, Inspector of Nuisances for the Borough, said that it would be to the accused's benefit if an order was issued against Murphy.— Sergeant Duffin concurred. — The Bench granted an order, and fined accused 10s without costs. — Although Murphy had lls in his possession ho preferred to go to gaol for four days rather than pay the fine.

The Court rose,

Mr Bewley, the Chairman of the Taranaki County Council, spoke his mind to the members this (Monday) morning with reference to the slow way of transacting business they had drifted into. He said that the members would have to speak to the motions according to the rules of debate, and thus prevent a waste of time. It was necessary that they should be more expeditious in the transaction of their business.

An " army pensioner with an artificial head " has long been, like a " Swiss Admiral," synonymous in colloquial French with something that does not exist in nature. The first-named phenomenon, or something like it, has at length been found. In a little village in the neighbourhood of Avesnes, not far from Lille, resides a retired artilleryman named Moreau, who was one of the horoes on the French side of the war of 1870. At the memorable action at Bapaume, Moreau was wounded by a shell which exploded right in his face. He was summarily .attended to by the surgeons, who were afterwards surprised to find him still alive at tho end of four days. Of his face, nothing remained intact but the forehead and the jaw. An operation was performed, and thirty five pieces of bone were taken out of the wounded part. This left a hideous cavity in the front of the face, so that a wax mask had to be resorted to. Moreau recovered, and for years he petitioned tho Government to give him a platinum mask, a request which was at length acceded to ten years ago. The metal mask is said to answer wonderfully well, but it has to bo repainted from time to time. Moreau lives with his wife and a granddaughter. His photograph is to bo been in Paris in a shop in the Boulevard Saint Germain.

Germany as a competitor in the salt trade is proving herself most formidable, and appears to be possessing herself of the major portion of the trade. Before the formation of the Salt Union nearly all, if not actually all, the Rangoon trade was in the hands of Liverpool suppliers, and the salt earners from the Mersey formed a numerous and magnificent fleet of ships to the East. At tho present moment, instead of three being half-a-dozen ships loading salt at Liverpool for Rangoon, there is one solitary vessel fixed, whilst in Hamburg there are four ships taking altogether to Rangoon alone nearly ten thousand tons of salt. Tne loss to Liverpool through the absence of these vessels is very serious, and it is no consolation to Englishmen to find that the departing trade is going to a foreign competitor. This lobs of trade is solely on account of the high prices now charged by the Liverpool suppliers Cheshire salt always had the jueterence at equal rates. Middlesborough is also talcing a portion of tho trade from Liverpool, but not by any moans so much as Hamburg.