LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Waikato Times, Volume 97, Issue 15185, 10 March 1923, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Chief Postmaster, Hamilton, has been advised that mails which left Auckland on January 29, via. Vancouver, by the R.M.S. Makura, arrived in London on March 7. A London cable message states that the final dividends in the Eastern Telegraph and Eastern Extension Companies of 2J per cent free of income tax, make the total dividends for 1922 ten per cent. Three dairy cows were electrocuted at Te Aroha a few nights ago through a faulty transmission wire of the Thames Valley Power Board snapping. The live wire dropped into the paddock where the dairy herd was grazing.

The Home Builders' (Ltd.) competition for hoys and girls of the fourth, fifth and sixth standards of the Hamilton district schools is advertised in this issue. The prizes are liberal, and the subject, "How to make Everton an Ideal Garden Suburb," is interesting and one that will appeal to the imagination and genius of the competitors. A youth, Charles Edward Clarkson, aged 17, a carpenter, employed by his father, Mr Charles Clarkson, builder, fell from a ladder while assisting in the construction of a house in Claudclands, yesterday. Jlc was admitted to the Waikato Hospital suffering from injuries to his leg, but it will not be known until an X-ray examination is conducted whether the teg is broken. A man whose identity has now been established as .lames llennie Maxwell was found by the police in a semi-conscious and very weak and emaciated condition in a timber yard on the Auckland waterfront abo'ut mid-day yesterday. He was removed to the hospital, where he died at 11.20 bust night, bis condition generally leading to the belief that death was due to starvation. The ladies of Hamilton an; beginning to realise that since Hooker and Kingston have commenced mcir .special price shopping days, il is easily the best store to trade. Prices are cash down to make buying the best possible, for instance, you can buy unbb'acbed roller towelling for <>i<l yard, strong lea towelling for Is IJd yard! 27in. strong white towelling for ), | |fj and beautiful unbleached table .Inuiask for 2s ltd >ard. Honker and K'us:-!"" - '•"" ree.-vgn''-'"'! is lh' h"st

s i or » In tftv, yrujr motl"? "p rr pufc-h4»c, *ud the> wti prcAi it'

A message from Brisbane stales that soaking rains are reported in the western districts, and the drought position is alleviated. A Nottingham taxi-cab owner, Mr Frank Lees, has fitted a listening-in apparatus to his cab, so that passengers can hear broadcast concerts on their way home.

A petition in bankruptcy has been filed by Sydney Pratt, farmer and land agent, of Te Awamutu. The debts total £l99') 18s sd, and the assets £483, leaving a deficiency of £1512 18s sd.

Interdenominational camps will be held as usual at Ngaruawahia at Easter, from March 29 to April 2. Among the speakers will be Dr. French E. Oliver, Revs. A. A. Murray and A. S. Wilson, and Mr Gibson Fountain.

The biggest deal in Giant special pictures ever put through in Hamilton was arranged yesterday between Mr J. W. Hicks, of Paramount pictures, and Mr Barrio Marschel, representing Hamilton Theatre Royal, Ltd. In a southern town one of the members of the Chautauqua, in the course of some remarks on community spirit in towns, said that in one town in the States they had put up the following notice in a prominent position: "Are you a citizen of this town, or do you just live here?" A youth of 17 years, whose name was ordered not to be published, appeared at the -Police Court, Hamilton, yesterday, on a charge of stealing a £lO note from his employer's house at Gordon, near Te Aroha. He was admitted to probation for two years.

The official opening of the first stage of the Waikaremoana hydroelectric power scheme took place yesterday. -The Hon. J. G. Coatrcs, Minister for Public Works, performed the ceremony, turning on the current at the head works near the lake, 28 miles from Wairoa.

A message from Waiho Gorge says the highest peak of the Triad Range, situated west of Conway Peak and east of Newton Pass, was conquered for the first time on Tuesday by Mr Julian Grande, accompanied by two guides, Peter Graham, of Waiho Gorge, and Frank Milne, of the Hermitage. Mr Grande named the peak "Barnicoat," in memory of his deceased wife, nee Miss Constance Barnicoat.

The departure of the- HuddartParker steamer Ulimaroa for Sydney from Wellington yesterday was delayed for three-quarters of an hour because of the refusal of the crew to work until they were assured that some of the Australians who assisted to maks a crew to get the Moeraki from Australia to New Zealand were not on board. They objected to the ship's taking "blackleg" Australians back to their homes.

In the Magistrate's Court, Taumaru■nui, before Mr Platts, S.M., F. MacLaren was charged that on January 17 last he kept intoxicating liquor for sale within a proclaimed area; further with bringing a package of liquor into a proclaimed area at Taringamotu on January 17, without navmg a statement in writing of the r line and addrss of the owner attached io same. The charge of keeping liquor for sale was dismissed, but on the other charges accused was convicted and fined £25 and costs.

"If three or four dogs ran at your head you'd pull back, wouldn't you?" Senior-Sergeant Fahey was asked in a cruelty to animals case at the Timaru Police Court one day last week. The case concerned a cow that had allegedly been dragged along on its haunches, and defendant wanted the senior-sergeant/ to believe that the cow's pulling back was due to an attack on it by dogs. Senior-Sergeant Fahey attempted to ignore the question, but the defendant declined to be snubbed. "Now, straight," he urged, leaning over the box towards the senior-sergeant, who hurriedly turned away from the earnest and searching gaze of the defendant.

A very novel suggestion for revolutionising the_ market for glaxo and bringing in a higher return for their produce, was propounded by a wise supplier to the glaxo factory at Te Aroha West yesterday, when the usual quarterly meeting of suppliers was held. The meeting considered that only jjbout 60 per cent of the value of their produce was at present being received by the suppliers, and after discussing ways and means of improving the return, one man, wearing a profound air of wisdom, arose, and provided the solution. "Let us," he said, "pass a resolution that all officers of the Dairy Company, drawing over £SOO per annum, receive only a GO per cent advance payment monthly until this thing is remedied."

Cheque-books for depositors in the Post Oflice Savings Bank are wanted by the Wellington Branch of the Amalgamated Society of Painters and Decorators. The following remit, from the society is to be discussed at the annual conference of the Labour Party: "That with a view to the establishment of a Slate bank, the Parliamentary Labour Party endeavour lo have extended the facilities of the Po>! Office Savings Bank —(1) By granting depositors the right of use of cheque-books on accounts exceeding £100; (2) the issue of Government or Treasury or State Bank notes through the Post Office Bank. The number of notes issued by the Post Office Bank to be deducted from the number issued by private banks."

"Start the circular headed 'Another tax on butterfat' and the farmers will have it off by memory before night,"

said Cr. K. O. Banks at yesterday's meeting of Hie Matamala County Council when the clerk reported that, at the meeting of delegates held at Morrinsvillc for the purpose of deciding the best means to take lo oppose the £60,000 Thames harbour improvements loan, it was considered circulars were not read by farmers. The Council decided to circularise the county ratepayers wilh a heading as suggested, and the chairman was appointed to attend the meetings to be arranged by a delegation, this latter course being decided upon at the meeting at Morrinsvillc. Cr. Stopford (chairman Sunny Park Dairy Co., Te Poi) promised to attach a circular lo each supplier's cheque.

Although a large majority of soldiers who served with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force have received the war medals to which their services during the late war entitled them, there are many who have neglected to inform the Defence Department when they changed their places of address, and for these, medals, certificates, etc., are being held. On Anzac Day, which is not far distant, those who take part in memorial or other services, should wear all war medals which they have earned by reason of the sacrifices made for the Empire, and It, therefore, behoves every member of the N./.E.K. who has not received medals and who considers he or she is entitled to be issued with them, In communicate without delay with the Offlcer-in-Charge, War Accounts and Record office, Wellington. The .-.mi" procedure should be followed h> tho>e who are entitled lo reeejvr medals or memorial.-- on account ~f soldier- who -<-rvd overseas and ar r ,ier.-Hs(<'l. and for those soldier* .who diAU prior v< •vmbarkßtWJO

A message from New York states an epidemic of encephalitis lethargica (sleeping sickness) has broken out. Thirty-two cases were reported to-day . There have been 360 cases since January 1 and 112 deaths. The Health Department says that it is a concomitant of influenza.

A deficiency of £1173 has been shown in connection with the estate of Joseph Saul Johnson, carrier and contractor, of Ngaruawahia,, wtto has 1 filed his petition in bankruptcy. In a statement to the deputy official assignee at Hamilton, bankrupt stated that his debts totalled £2151 and his assets £877. He said that he had been 6| years in business. He had a cream carting contract for the dairy company. He bought a property for £550, paying £SO on account, but he rescinded the agreement to purchase in consequence of his financial position. Bankrupt attributed his failure to costly Supreme Court proceedings, which went against him. A meeting of creditors in the estate will be held on Monday.

Joseph Thomas Christie, alias William Maxwell, 29, stated to have been sentenced 18 times in New Zealand and twice in Sydney, and to have escaped from a lunatic asylum m Auckland in 1918, was sentenced at the Sydney Police Court on March 2 to six months' hard labour on a charge of being a prohibited immigrant. On the magistrate imposing the sentence, defendant said he had just finisned one of two years and had a wife to support and a home to go to. He asked if he could not be deported to New Zealand. The magistrate (Mr Edwards) explained that the sentence was more or less formal and he would be sent back as soon as arrangements could be madeK ■

—probably within four or five days. Christie is a man with a record, being known as a particularly persistent and daring criminal. His career of mis-. chief culminated in his being declared an habitual criminal and whilst in gaol, he was medically examined, pronounced to be not of right mind, and transferred to the asylum at Avondale. He escaped almost immediately, was re-captured and escaped again. On the second occasion he got clear away and was last heard of in Sydney, where he is said to have married. Christie took chances when looking for liberty. On one occasion, in his youth, he made a sensational escape from custody by leaping from a moving train when being escorted from Dunedin to the oßrstal Institute at Inve"rcargill.