LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19504, 3 February 1926, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

At a meeting of the executive of the Swankers’ Club, held on Saturday, it was resolved to assist the Queen Alexandra Band by tendering them a sacred concert next Sunday. The proceeds will go to the fund for the band’s expenses at the forthcoming contest at Dunedin.

A Wanganui insurance agent was given a bad half-hour yesterday by a telephoned intimation that a car which he had just covered with a substantial policy had been wrecked in a collision. Scouring the city garages, the agitated insurance man hastily endeavoured to learn the worst. Not until he had extended his investigations into all possible quarters did he learn that friends had hoaxed him. He is now biding his time.

Still another garage, is under construction in Wanganui, which is rapidly growing as a centre of the motor trade. The latest addition to the numerous garages already operating will be located in the Avenue, between Guyton Street and Ingestre Street. Here a large brick building is being erected behind existing business premises. The new garage will be the headquarters of a' firm distributing a comparatively new make of American car.

After a friendly chat with an Auckland racing man a Main Trunk settler was promised a thoroughbred from the former’s stable. Due preparations for its reception at the nearest station were made, and an interested knot of by-standers gathered to witness the arrival of the world-beater. An important looking horse-box drew up to the platform, and the door was opened with all the respectful pomp incumbent under the circumstances. And out walked a donkey!

The youth arraigned before the Magistrate’s Court on Monday for a breach of the Probation Act, appeared again yesterday morning for sentence. On the recommendation of Probation Officer Ching, the accused was committed to the’ Borstal Institute, Invercargill, for a term of three years. Mr J. S. Barton expressed the hope that the youth would respond to the treatment. The authorities would te*ach him to act as a normal human being, a thing that he had not done so far.

“Is it not possible for you to get a smaller and more nominally rented house,” inquired counsel of a judgment debtor who appeared at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. The debtor explained that his earnings as a labourer were £4 a week, and he had a wife and three children to support. He paid 30s a week in rent. The debtor pointed out that he would like to know where he could get a smaller house than the one he occupied. He had tried every land agent in the city, and it was the cheapest place he could find.

In dry weather the Wanganui River road is now open as far as Pungarehu, on the far side of Gentle Annie. Despite this motorists have so far shown little tendency to make use of the road, which opens up the unsurpassed view from the summit of the hill, whence jiiagnificent panoramas inland and seaward may be seen. Almost directly below is the Wanganui river, with the valley as far ns Parikino exposed to view at a glance. Along a bank beyond Gentle Annie arc many delightful picnic spots, which have been brought much nearer to city-dwel-lers by the improvements to the longneglected river road.

111-luck appears to be dogging the footsteps of a local butcher, who appeared at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning to answer a judgment summons. His earnings are £4 15s a week, and he has four children, all of school age. Only recently he had to remove from a house he rented for .18s to a five-roomed property, the rent for which is 30s. During the past two or three years every one of his children had been in hospital, and at present one of his sons was undergoing X-ray and medical treatment. Mr J. S. Barton S.M. agreed that the margin of £3 ss. left after rent had been ?aid, was not sufficient for the debtor to pay anything off his existing account.

A plea of guilty was entered by Clifford Tasker when he was charged at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday afternoon with cutting a corner at Aramoho on his push cycle. SeniorSergeant Lopdell stated that there was a further charge arising from the offence, as a collision had occurred. Tasker was also charged with using obscene language to Mr John Mcßeth. Senior-Sergeant Lopdell said that the accused added insult to injury by using the bad language to Mr Mcßeth, who was embarrassed in the first instance by the accused cutting the corner. On the first charge the accused was convicted and fined ss, and costs £l. Bs, while for using obscnce language ho was mulcted in the sum of £2 and costs 7s.

A judgment debtor, who appeared at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning, pointed out that his circumstances had only allowed him to pay £4 off a debt incurred over four years ago. His average earnings were £5, and he was a married man with eight children. The rental of the house he occupied in Wicksteed Street was £2. “That is a big rent for a man in your position, is it not,” queried counsel. “It is the only place I can get suitable for my family,” was the reply, but counsel reminded witness of the fact that properties in Wicksteed Street were some of the highest valued in the city. Debtor explained that he had to remove from Gonville, where he rented a place for 30s, bn account of his children’s health. No order was made.

Judgment was delivered by Mr J. S. Barton, S.M., at the Wanganui Magistrate’s Court yesterday, in the case in which Mrs Pridham proceeded against her husband for the recovery of a gramophone and articles of Egyptian ware, alleged to have been given her as presents and removed by the defendant. Having previously traversed the facts of the case, His Worship held that the plaintiff was entitled to recover specific goods described, listed and filed by counsel, and which formed the subject matter of the action. Mr L. Cohen, who represented the plaintiff, stated that if the goods were not recoverable, then their value had to be made good. The magistrate said that if they wore satisfied that the goods could not be recovered, a value would be placed upon them. Mr Cohen said that it was common ground that if goods were not recoverable within a certain time a warrant should be issued for their value. The gramophone was not recoverable, and it had bqen disposed of for £5O. Judgment was accordingly entered for the plaintiff for the value of the gramophone, and for the recovery of the articles of Egyptian ware, together with costs. Mr Slipper, who represented the defend- | ant, signified his intention of appealing 1 against the decUiQß.

Primary schools throughout Wanganui district opened for 1926 yesterday. Punctual resumption after the mid-summer holidays is a new experience for many children. Last year, at this time, the infantile paralysis epidemic was at its worst, and the first term’s work was lost.

Barley crops in the Rangitikei district are ripening at the present time, and it is thought that the yields will be quite good in spite of the season. Judging by present appearances, although little threshing has been done, the wheat yields will be a few bushels to the acre lighter than they were last season.

The advent of heavy and steady rains has been welcomed by dairy farmers throughout the surrounding districts, who are anticipating a splendid autumn season. However, those farmers who still have crops in stock are not benefiting by the rain, which has put a stop to harvesting operations in the Rangitikei district.

A Kauangaroa sheeprun was the scene of a nasty accident on Sunday, when a fencer named Robert Harvey broke his ankle. He is now in the Wanganui Hospital. Harvey was riding along a track when his horse slipped, arid man and steed rolled over together. The injured man was carried a mile to the homestead, and was then brought in. tu Wanganui by car.

Birds are reported to be doing a considerable amount of damage to wheat crops in the Rangitikei district this season. There is apparently a shortage of other feed, for the*birds’ depredations in this direction—more particularly those of sparrows—are more extensive than usual. Farmers are much perturbed at their already comparatively small yields being lightened still further in this manner.

A formal enquiry into the stranding of the Gabriella between the moles some weeks ago was conducted by the Collector of Customs (Mr P. Doull) on Monday evening. It was disclosed that the grounding, which was not serious, was due to the vessel’s not answering her helm quickly, owing to a westerly wind. Consequently her stem touched the edge of a bank near the south mole. She was refloated, undamaged, without difficulty.

A judgment debtor at the Wanganui Magistrate’s Court yesterday showed ignorance concerning his outgoings for household expenses. His explanation was that he handed all his wages to his wife. “You cannot shirk responsibilities by doing that.” pointed out Mr J. S. Barton, S.M., “unless you can show that the money went in legitimate expenditure.” His Worship, after further-investigation of the case, ordered the debtor to reduce the debt by instalments.

Four Sunday joyriders had a nasty spill on the Kai Iwi beach road last week-end. The party —a mixed foursome—was approaching the settlement by car, when a wheel ran into the water-table on one side of the road. Twisting quickly to recover, the driver shot the car over the bank on the other side. It somersaulted gaily two or three times, and was well smashed. The occupants escaped comparatively lightly, a deep cut in the driver’s hand being the worst individual injury.