LOCAL AND GENERAL

Chronicle (Levin), 23 November 1946, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Maori's Pick In a North Auckland hotel a group of men was dis.cussing election prospects. Some favoured the chances of the National Party, and others thought Labour would be returned. Near the pakehas was a big and cheerful Maori. "Who do you think will get iri?" he was asked. "I dunno," he replied, "but I think itTl be the photo finish!" — Star. Burglars' Haul A haul of £960 in cash, jewellery and scrip was secured by thieves Who broke into Stephenson Shoe Compa'ny's premises, Gisborne, on Monday night. The absence of Mr. Stephenson from Gisborne caused delay in assessing the loss. The front door was forced and the safe key taken from a locked drawer in the office. , The contents of the safe were removed with little disturbance. Mishap on Bridge ' . While a motor lorry was towing a trailer was proceeding over the ; Ashhurst bridge yest.erday morning, a wheel of the' trailer collapsed and jthe bridge ^was Lffo.eked. The ! trailer was carrying a 15-ton shovel [ and the strain proved too great for |one wheel which collapsed in the niiddle of the bridge and it was necessary to send to Feilding for spare parts to effect repairs. No damage was done to the bridge but all the traffie was blocked. The bridge was re-opened for traffie at 2.30 p.m.

Grave Allegation • In the Dunedin Police Coijrt, Horace Seymour Sparrow, aged 32, described as conducting a motor driving school, was charged with taking an upmarried girl under ihe age of 18 years — her actual age being 16 years 10 months — out ; of possession of her father with intent that she should be unla'wfully and carnally knqwn. He was further charged witli making a false declaration at Christchurch by falsely representing that the girl was 21 years of age for the purpose of procuring a marriage certificate. Sparrow was remanded for a week. Unusual "Tennis Elbow" Two nights before he left London he had been telephoned by Field-Marshal Lord Montgomery, Dr. Arthur Porritt told members of the Wanganui Rotary Club recently. The field-marshal complained of having a sore elbow, and when he examined it, Dr. Porritt found it was a fine. example of the "tennis" variety. Knqwing that Lord Mont-' gomery did not play tennis, Dr. Porritt was puzzle'd, but found that the condition was caused by the fact that the field-marshal had shaken an average of 500 hands a day during a recent trip to the United States. Smuggled Pearls Auckland jewellers' shops, since. Monday, have been visited by Customs officers, accompanied by detectives, in search of strings of artificial pearls of Japanese origin Large quantities have been seized' and are being held by the Customs authorities. So far, the owners of the property have not beem advised what action, if any, is to be taken against them, but some expect later to receive summon'ses for having goods in their possession which- have not been passed through the Customs. The search is stated to be t)ominion-wide. The Collector of> Customs has decline'd to comment on the matter. ' '

Confidence Trick In Caj*s By a cunning 'ruse, a well-dressed rogue made himself the richer by .over £300 recently in .Christchurch at the expense of a potential car buyer, according to a report to the police. When a resid.ent offer.ed his car for sale, the well-dressed man called and examined it, and agreed to buy it at a price in the vicinity of £50,0. The buyej: produced a cheque book, and made out a cheque for the full price. The seller asked the buyer to write his address on the back of the .cheque. The buyer agreed, received the car, napers and the car, and drove away. Within an hour the well-dressed man called' on a person offering to buy cars. He gave the new buyer a trial, and quickly made a sale at a figufe slightly above the £300 mark." He was paid. in cash. When the original owner of the car weht to cash the cheque he was surprised to find it was a forgery and valueIvSS*