COUNTRY NEWS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 17066, 20 August 1917, Page 4

COUNTRY NEWS.

amBW^S SKi^ 01

A STAMP INDSCRETION.

WAS IT "SPOOKS"?

A large fissure has been di&e^ered at Pate! Heads, bemg the • result oi th« ground extends some distance, an<! has rendered the cliff positively daneerouß. It appears that the «shal^ mov- I sifp?°t T of.. t I he^ l)ncl>etc wall of the water tank, with-the result that ii,e water escaped through' the fissure. ® At the monthly meeting or the Wai?M? O° fo^.^^!. &c Chui^nan InJ ,+ ■;■' •. Pemberttm) said that in retiln railway he had received a letter trom an interested settler, who, wiS others, was in favour of the counterpetition, excepting sub-clause «C" winch staled that Wellington was tn* Svan?. 0? °f *ft f istri« S and Xat no «iclvanfe,go-would, be-gained by railing produce over th 3 proposed line to VVau- • ganui.—lt wa& decided that even it a mistake had been made it was too late hL« .' . * Petl*ion n ™, it having been largely signed. Thomas Davis wjis charged at Taum-i-- ' nmui Court with naving signed a recejpt tor the amount of £2 is 9d without aflixmg a stamp. Accused pleaded" not guilty. 'Ihe evidence went t 0 show • toat^uough the defendant had receii'- ) ed the amount in fuii, it was in :&. ' \ fcpect of two different debts. The S.\L "^V% ccnsidered it was not a matter for a, fcne, but ordered the defendant to pay cost 3 Totalling 9s. J Second-Lieut. Alfred G. Jennings, °l JJ 16 .{fo^mberland l f«si]iers, soA . ot Mr \\. T. Jennings, M.P., has -Wi awarded the Military Oross for gallantry in the field. Complaints are made'of. cattle-steal- • ing on an extensive scale in the Auc»-' land Province/ Speaking at the Farmers Union meeting, it was stated that ono man near Morrmsvilie had recently last 25 fat bullocks. The executive was ot opinion that hundreds of cattle belonging to men at the front were °"omg the srfnie way. -, The Nerehn Dairy Co., in the Wair^ rapa, havo paid suppliers Is od per lb. outter fat, and with an additional 6d per pound to come, brings the total payments up to Is lOd per lb.—practically double what they received when the war broke out, i

A Hindu named Kahan Singh brought an action to recover. £24, balance of contract ior work done, from James Connolly, farmer. The plaintiff and other Hindus who did the work gave their evidence in fairly good English. One interesting fact was that the defendant failed to recognise his own signature to a document, between himself and the plaintiff and other Indians who worked with him. For some hours the Magistrate tried to fathom the problem oj: the mysterious signature, and he finally remarked that what they called " spooks" had been at work. After evidence'had been at great length, his. Worship said nj felt satistied that the fencing was uab satisfactory, and, going fully into the matter, he reduced the claim to £6 4s 6d. Judgment was given for that amount, with costs £7 7s. 9d,

Another case that created a good deal of interest was that of Rosaline South v. Winifred Uden, of Aukopae, Wangamii. River, claim £21 3e.,;.made up as follows: (1) The sum of £10 the value of certain goods alleged to belong to the plaintiff, and taken from her by the defendant; (2) the sum of £10 for damages for trespass on such goods; (3) the sum of £1 3s for moneys paid by the plaintiff for the defendant in respect of certain godp ordered from Auckland. His Worship finally non-suited plaintiff on the first and second claims of the .action, with costs totalling £3 10s. On the remaining charge judgment was given for the plaintiff for the sum of £1 35., costs 6s.

The resignation of Or. T. McArthur (Parapara Riding) was received with regret at the monthly' meeting of the Wai mar in o County Council. Councillors.Pemberbon, Kennedy and Powell have-been appointed to represent the Waimarino County Council at a conference to be held at Taihape concerning the merging of the Upper Wangaehu Road Board.

Mrs. Jack Graham, of Mangaweka, lias made such a recovery from the operation she recently underwent at Taihape, that it is hoped she will be able to return to her. home to-day. Mangaweka. sale on Thursday last proved quite a surprise in the way of prices. A pen of fat bullocks, the property of Mr Len Weston, realised £18 165., while a Shorthorn bull yarded'by Mr Sweet realised 28£ guineas.