WEST COAST NOTES

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19146, 1 November 1927, Page 5

WEST COAST NOTES

MAGISTRATE'S COURT. . (SPECUr. TO tee r»xss.) GBEYMOUTH, October 31. At the Magistrate's Court this afternoon, before Mr W. Meldrum, S.M.. Charles Clayton, a trucker employed at tho Dobson Mine, on remand charged with, on August 19th last, assaulting John Voyce, and causing him actual bodily harm. Mr J. W. Hannan .•ippearecl for accused.

Voyce, in the course of his evidence said he shared a hut with accused. On tin 'lay in question he spoke to him about squaring up their store bill, and without provocation Clayton struck him twice on the head with a poker, one blow fracturing • his skull. U 0 had been in hospital 67 days. After hearing the evidence, accused was committed for trial on bail, self in £IOO and one surety of £IOO. Michael Kcanis pleaded guilty to charges of drunkenness and breaking his prohibition order. A fine was imposed of IDs on each charge, with £1 2s oil costs.

Thomas Willan pleaded guilty to charges of theft at Kotuku on October 21st of property and cash of the total value of £5, the property of James John Crimmins, also at Christchurch, on June 17th, of obtaining a suit-case, valued at 12s 63, from Ewart Smith, by faluely representing that it was for E. Musson. Accused was sentenced to one month's imprisonment with hard labour on each charge, the sentences to bo cumulative. An order was made for the return of the stolen articles to the owners.

Joseph Michael Clarke, who conducted his own defence, pleaded not guilty to the theft of jewellery valued at £2O, the property of Dennis Shannahan, farmer, of Marsden road. Clarke said In might have taken the jewellery, but he was under the influence of liquor, and did not know anything about it. After perusing Clarke 'c record, his Worship said drink appeared to be the cause of Clarke's troubles. He was sentencci to two years' reformative detention in Paparua Prison. An order was mado for the return of. the stolen jewellery to the owner. Francis Patrick Brady ' (Mr W. J. Joyce) appeared on remand On a charge of securing board and lodging to the value of £5 4s from Percy James Patterson, licensee of the Union Hotel, Grey-mouth. Brady pleaded not guilty. Another charge against him of obtaining goods to the value of 30s by means of° false pretences from A. Harrison, draper, or GreymOuth, was withdra%vn. His Worship held it had not been proved that defendant obtained board by false pretences, and pointed out that civil proceedings should have been taken for tho recovery of the amount. The charge was dismissed. Cycling at night without lights cost Hubert Turtill and Albert Ellery 15s each. Allowing a gelding to wander in Boundary street cost Frederick Henry• Macliirus a fine and costs totalling £1 l/»s. A charge against Gustav Halm, of/Ahaura, of allowing stock to wander on the Ngahere-Blackball County road was dismissed, his Worship holding that ownership of the stock had not been proved.

Personal. Mr E. C. Fletcher, manager of the National Bank, Hawera, has been promoted to manager at Greymouth, in place of Mr J- K. McNaughton, who is retiring. Mr Fletcher was for some years accountant in the Greymouth branch. Mr W. D. Olncy, manager of the Commercial Bank' at Bacchus Marsh, Victoria,. has been appointed manager of the -branch which, was recently opened in Greymouth. Dr. Violet Eains, of Brunnerton, left to-day for Wellington. Mr Joseph Lythgoe, who has retired from the position of engineer-manager of the Grey Power Board, was met this afternoon 'by the staff and presented with a travelling rug and wallet. The presentation was made by Mr A. J. McDowall, secretary to the Board. On the eve of her retirement from the staff of the Grey Hospital, Sister K. Maloney was presented by the nursing staff with a suitcase and cover. . The marriage wag solemnised at St. John's Presbyterian Church this morning, by the Eev. T. N. Cuttle, of Mr Andrew Cairns, of Blackball, and Miss Martha Sutton, of Durham, England. Miss Alice Neiman, of Jacksons, was bridesmaid, and the best man was Mr J. Maughan, of Inehbonnie. Mr and Mrs Cairns will reside in Blackball. Mr H. Chapman, railway district traffic manager for Canterbury and Westland, Mr .J. McNair, district engineer, Mr J. Taylor, railway locomotive engineer, and Mr A. 8. Wansborougb, assistant-engineer, Wellington, who have been visiting the Westland section, left this afternoon for Otira. The death of Mrs Letitia Affleck, wife of Mr Hugh M. Affleck, of Whall street, Greymouth, occurred suddenly at her residence this morning. Deceased, who was a native of Scotland, was 47 years of age. She leaves, besides her husband, three sone and four daughters, the oldest of whom is 19 years of age, and the youngest 19 days. Mrs Dickie, wife of Mr James Dickie, died this morning at Gore. Mr and Mrs Dickie laboured for many years in Kumara in connexion with the Presbyterian Church, and were well known throughout Westland. Golf. Playing yesterday on the Omoto links, Eevell defeated Parkinson, 5 and 2, in the final of the Orkney Cup. Gardo and Miss Berry defeated Bevell and Mrs Thomas, 1 up, in the semi-final of the mixed foursome. Wallsend Mine. ' The Brumier Collieries, Ltd., is shortening hands temporarily. _ The only men who will bo retained in the meantime are the three pump men, en-gine-driver, and manager. Sawmilling Accident. Through his right hand coming into contact with a circular saw which he was operating at Halm Bros.' sawmill at Kokiri, a sawyer, Kichard Saunders, suffered injuries to the indes finger necessitating amputation at the lower joint.