LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Chronicle, 1 February 1902, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

■■ ■. ' Some interesting, reading matter is to be seen on our front page. At the Police Court yesterday morning, a' first offender for drunkenness was ordered to. come up for sentence when called upon. Captain Russell has informed the Hastings, "'Standard" that he has no intention of dissociating himself from politics, and the rumours to that effects have absolutely no, foundation. :. . .Several s'j'-grog selling cases were Leari at Ophir (Otago) yesterday. Hannah GfoodmKii was fined £15, Joseph Kennedy L? 5, James Robe-rtson £20,' and Jamr-s Clonn £25. In one case< against' Willia.ni Hal', judgment -was reserved. There was a good attendance at the annual rain, fair at Hastings on Thursday, but the bidding was very poor, for flocks and studs. The entries totalled 21 o_ flocks a.nd 108 studs. The highest price obtained for. studs was 21 guineas for a Liireoln ■ ram sent by Messrs. B. and W. Raynor, of Turatuhi, whilst 6i guineas'was tho; highest figure obtained .for flocks.

The open-air concert by 'the Garrison Band to-morrow afternoon will be given in! the Rotunda, commencing at 3 o'clock. Jllie programme will include selections from Mozart's and Schubert's works, the test march and cornet and euphonium solos, with Band accompaniment. A collection wi',l be taken up to assist in defraying the expenses of the Band at'the forthcoming contest at New Plymouth.

At the Police Court yesterday, before Mr! C. C. Kettle, S.M., two men named George /idler and John .Edmonds ivcre charged -with having, oil January j.f-th, procured liquor for William Nolan, kneeing him, to be subject to a prohibition orr., der.-Both pleaded guilty to prpcui-iiig %be liquor, but denied that they were aware of the existence of the order, YaUe? was Inei 55., and Edmonds 20s. Defeudanis were ordered to pay the costs.. •>

A fine selection of draughts trophies, to the value of four'guineas, donated for the T. Y.M.I. _ Draught Club's ■■-first tourney, ..,ci'€ittcd' a; lot .of.' interest, on Thursday eveninfi.'iit the Club Rdom, aud'tlieii' «übstantial nature was favourably commented' upon by allvihe; players,-.present, -The annual meeting of this Club takes place on March sth.- ■ Fiv.e .prizes are to be given for the fi^s* contest, ' and tho Committee arc determined to make., a great success of the coming season. All intending members shouldvinterview the Secretary, who will •be pleased to give all information concerning the Club.

A youth who was brought before the rWy,ndh.am ;Court on Tuesday for mLsbejnay'iour in. the'"precincts of the Public Hall at Mataura conducted himself with levity durihg the hearingi.of the cases (says the loral pa-pier:)" HeTpersistently protested that he was not'drunk, saying, "A fellow is not drunk until he has to lie down to it." When the case was over, he wenti.to the doorway and began puffing a cigarette. In a few moments he returned to the c'ourb, smoking and with cap. on head, saying to the clerk in a voice audible throughout the court, "I need not pay this unless I like." However, with the alternative of imprisonment in view, he thought better "of any such notion, r.nd paid out the money, being apparently very well supplied. As he counted out the money very deliberately, he remarked tbab the clerk was very particular or he would have allowed him a discount. He was mulcted in a fine amounting in all to £3 14s 4d.

Tho local papers (writes the Wellington ccrirespi ndent •of Truth) were .silent respecting a pitiable episode in connection with last week's patriotic meeting at t\u ■Ttieulra Roya.l.' While the big audience was engrassed with the proceeding within, an equally largo concourse without were entertained by the antics of a certain local politician—it is unnecessary to n«e him— who huskily endeavoured to make himself heard from the balcony of the theatre, while a branch of the family tree at intervals mopped the paternal brow with a handkerchief, and reminded tho crowd that .his. ■.patriotism was beyond question, for had. he not knocked out a dutchman in a ten-round spar long years ago? It .was a deplorable spectacle.

Kays the Otugo "Daily Timos" : The following resolutions have been adopted by liie Outlook Publication Committee : "That this committee accept Mr. Hutchison's resignation, and at the same time fully acknowledge he undertook the work to relieve the committee of v- difficulty, and thank him for bis .services so generously rendered to the committee:" It was further resolved. "Thic committee regrets the publication of the article (January 11) containing the acting-editor's personal views on the w;ir; the statements therein expressed being so antagonistic to the views of the Presbyterian and other churches represented by this paper.1"