OHAKUNE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 85, 9 April 1936, Page 3

OHAKUNE

UNLAWFUL POSSESSION RAILWAY PROPERTY At the Ohakune Magistrates ’ Court before Air. R. Al. Watson, S.AI., Thomas Spry was charged with having a railway tarpaulin in his possussiou. Sergeant Harrison, who prosecuted, said that when two constables executed a search warrant at the defendant s place at Karioi lliey found a railway tarpaulin, opry said it had been theiv be Lore he touk ever the propei ty. Constables Frost and 'Chesnutt gave evidence that they found in a barn a railway taiqvauhn that showed signs of having been used a day or two previously. it had a number painted on it and it bc-re dates of repair in the work shops as late as 1930. When questioned about it he told the cunstab.es he did not know how it got there and when h-e took over the farm eight c-r nine years ago it was there. The tarpaulin had about a third torn off. A. 11. AlcKay, business agent for New Zealand Railways at Oiiakdiie, said that he inspected the tarpaulin in couij, and found it to be specially marked as is usual with railway tarpaulins. He found that it was branded workshops 1928, and again 1930. It was not a cond-emned tarpaulin and would be valued at about £3. Thomas Gpry, farmer, Karioi, defendant, said he saw the tarpaulin about six years ago near the Tikora Stream. It was rolled up and looked as if it had been used as a shelter. Lt was in a damaged condition when he first saw it. The magistrate said the charge was a serious one. '1 lie defendant had known for at least two years that the tarpaulin was railway property, A fine of £3 and costs was imposed. ALLEGED SLY GROG At the Ohakune Atagist rale *s Court Thomas IBpiy was charged witih keeping liquor for sale at Karioi. Sergeant Harrison prosecuted. Constables Frost and Ghesnutt gave evidence of searching the premises. They found a carton containing eight bottles of wine in the bedroom. In a shed they found some beer. Altogether thvy found eight full bottles uf wine, one 3 gallon keg of beer about one sixth lull, one demijohn about, threequarters lull of beer, 29 empty beer bottles, 9 empty quart wine bottles, 0 11 ' 1 empty whisky bottle, and a glass on top of the keg -with the dregs of beer in it. Spry denied selling any liquor and said that he received regular supplies of beer for his own use. George T. Baker, widower, Rangataua, said that at one time he lived at Spry’s. He saw liquor when h’c was there. He had never paid for beer when lie was there, but lie had paid for wine. He remembered making a statement to Constables Chesnutt. He could not remember how much liquor lie had got or how much he had paid for it. In reply to the magistrate, witness said he might have had a dozen drinks during the IS months he lived at defendant’s place. Thomas Spry, farmer, at Karioi, defendant, said he had 753 acres and 101 cows and 200 breeding ewes, the property of his wife and himself. He drank about a bottle of beer a day. He obtained a keg of beer for the sports committee. Debu Spry, wife of defendant, said she bought the wine about Christmas from Te Kaw’hata. She gave her friends a drink when she had a. bridge evening. She had often given witness, | Baker, a drink but had never sold him any wine. The magistrate said the evidence ol Baker was unreliable and the informacould be dismissed. _ ( preesnted to the winners by Air. S. B. Abel, president of the club, who con- • gratulated the winners and thanked i the public for the support accorded j the sport in Alarton. The winners were:-—Cha in ey Cup: R. Ellery; Rex t Alarshall trophy, AV. Bush; Wood i trophy, Airs. A. Griffin; Preece Cup. E. Gibbs: A. and I’. Association’s trophies, I R. Hammond (men’s running) and Miss - Coles (ladies). Galpin Cup: E. Gibbs ; and R. Hammond (six months each). i — i MARTON ATHLETIC CLUB HONOURS AIR.. A. M. SMART. ( Opportunity was taken at the Ath- ; letie Club dance on Tuesday evening t to show in a tangible way appreciation of the services rendered to the club c bv Air. A. M. Smart. The president of the club. Air. S. B. Abel, said that > “Smartv ” as he was popularly known, had been associated with athletics di Alarton for 20 years and had rendered signal service to the club. He had not just been a member, said Air. Abel; he i had ben an enthusiastic worker and t able administrator. As a handicapper Air. Smart may have been criticised [ and as a secretary he may have made ] mistakes, but no one could deny th it , he had always been actuated by the . highest ideals of sportsmanship. (Ap- j plause). The speaker also made refer- . enee to the part which Airs. Smart had played. To allow Air. Smart to render . his* service she had been called, upon to make sacrifices and she had made ( those sacrifices willingly, well knowing that, the service was being given to one of the finest of sports bodies. Air. Abel , then asked Afr. and Mrs. Smart to ac- , cept a chiming clock, suitably en- ( graved, as a small mark of appreciation from the members. < Air. Smart suitably returned thanks. The presentation, he said, had come as a complete surprise and he felt it was ( quite undeserved. If he had done anything to build the club to its present proud position he felt that in doing so he had been sufficiently rewarded. (A plause). The brief, but pleasing ceremony concluded with the singing of “For Thev Are Joby Good Fellows. ’ ’