CHRISTCHURCH NEWS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18555, 30 April 1930, Page 8

CHRISTCHURCH NEWS

(From Our Own Correspondent.) IN AND ABOUT THE CITY. CHRISTCHURCH, April 29. Welcome Rain. Rain fell this afternoon and was very welcome. Reports from the country indicate a satisfactory fall, and there are indications to-night of further showers. Maggie or Dot? Evidence concerning the fate of the motor fishing launch Maggie was heard in the Magistrate’s Court, when Arthur Smith, licensee of the Royal Hotel, Lyttelton, was charged that, on or about March 20, 1930, at Lyttelton, being the grantor of an instrument by way of security to his Majesty the King, he did by sale without consent of the grantee of the chattel, a motor fishing launch, attempt to defraud the grantee of the same. Constable Herron, of Timaru, produced a document covering the launch. He said that he had seen the boat in Timaru. It was called Dot. Underneath the paint could be traced indistinctly the name Maggie, and on the other side Oarnaru.

Jack Shears, living at Timaru. said that h,e went to Lyttelton in March, 1929. being on the look-out for a fishing launch. He bought the boat from accused for £3OO cash, and accused promised to hold the launch till witness returned from Timaru with the cash. He could not say why the receipt for the money was dated November 27, 1928. There was no mention of a mortgage on the boat, the certificate for which was transferred from Oarnaru to Timaru. The name Maggie was cancelled, and the launch was Dot, after one of witness’s daughters, and also to save confusion with a boat of a more or less similar name in Timaru. When witness bought the boat in Lyttelton, a man named Smart was fishing in it. Constable W. J. Irwin stated that he interviewed . accused regarding the alleged burning of the launch Maggie. Witness produced a statement by accused, in which he said that he leased the launch to a man named Anderson, who later left Lyttelton, and accused did not hear anything more from Anderson until about a month ago, when Anderson advised him from Wellington that the launch was a total wreck, having been burnt. Accused had wanted more particulars of the burning, and had written to Anderson, care of Auckland Post Office. Anderson had told accused in his first letter to write to Auckland, but accused had not yet received any reply. The launch was insured for £l4O, and was security for a loan to accused from the Repatriation Department. Accused pleaded not guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial, bail was allowed in £2OO. Traffic in Square. It has been decided to block the main route through Cathedral Square to all traffic except pedestrians and trams. Motor and vehicular traffic will have to go round the Square. The new scheme will be tried out for a fortnight from May 19th.