NEW ZEALAND NEWS. (By Telegraph.—Prese Association.)

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1774, 12 June 1913, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND NEWS. (By Telegraph.—Prese Association.)

SIFTING TRUTH IN COURT. COMPLIMENT TO MAGISTRATES. Invcrcargill, Juno U, At Iho Supremo Court to-day, Colin Gerrurd appealed ugainst Iho decision of tlio magistrate convicting liini of having stolon a motor-car tyre, four cases of petrol, mid a quantity of carbide, Mr. JO. RussejT appeared for tlio Crown, and Mr. 11. A, M'Donald for appellant. Mr. Russell said that, ns tlio appeal was in tlio nature of a rehearing, lie supposed that tlio raso for tlio prosecution would ho opened iii tlio usual way. His Honour (Mr. Justice Williams) said that tlio appeal was permitted under one of tlio laws borrowed from England. Tlio appeal there was from a decision of two justices of tho pace, and was taken by justices assembled at tlio Quarter Sessions. Hero it was from tlio magistrates to~tho Supremo Court Judge. To his mind, magistrates were just as well qnalitied as wero judges to distinguish between truth and falsehood, and, in some instances, perhaps letter qualified. "However," concluded his Honour, "wo liavo to take tho luw as it stands, but it. is a pity that it exists. Judge Dcnniston recently had something to say on tho eauio question." Tho case was adjourned aftc.* portion of tho ovidcnco had l>ccn heard. operatiWbutchers", v

SIDELIGHTS ON RETAIL TRADE. Dunedln, Juno 11. A rather unusual condition was fj'» closed at tlio. sitting of tho Conciliation Council this morning to hear an application from tho opcrativo butchers lor a new award in the direction of obtaining a fifty hours' week and wages rang'Eg from ill to J53 ss. Tho old award wai made twelve years ago.

Tho employers' assessors refused to discuss the demands, and announced that they wanted concessions on the old award. Tho Commissioner said it was the first occasion that such an application had been made to him. The union's representatives pointed out that tho masters in tonio cases wero getting up to 2d. per lb. moro than was obtained in other centivs whera higher wages prevailed. Tho masters replied that some butchers employed no labour, and undercut price!; severely. Tlio dispute was adjourned for a month, but there is little prospect of a eottlomont. GILBERD CASE, TEE FIRST OF 'ITS KIND HEIJE. Wanganui, J;uno 11. ' fttt interesting case regarding'vtho custody of a child occupied Judge Chapman all "day to-day and this evening, awl is unfinished. It concerns ?nc Thelma Gillierd, who is twelve years old. Since tlio ago of ono and a half years, and until About fifteen months ago. she resided (except for ( sundry intervals) with her uncle, John Forbes. There was, however, no formal legal adoption. Proceedings wero opened in Wellington, when the Chief Justico ordered that the girl should remain in tho,custody of her unclc, pend. ing tho hearing of tho 6uit in Wanganui! and mado a rule nisi in Gilbert's favour. Tho application to-day,was by D. li. Gilbert to have the dccreo made absolute) and tho child returned to her parents. Tho case is tho first of its land in tin Dominion. MILITARY DETENTION.

IMPOSED ON TWO TERRITORIALS. , Christchurch, Juno 11. , Two youths, for failure to pay their fines for breaches of tho Defence Act. wero to--day each consigned to 49 days' i military % detention at Fort Jervois, Kipa Island. These' arc tho first youths to bo awarded military detention instead of gaol.in Canterbury. Tho youths are Walter James Hooper and Harold William Thackwoil. Hooper was convicted, and fined for re-fusing-to take tho oath, and iailing to render service, and Thackwell for failing to take tho oath, failing to attend drill, and failing to render service. Hooper 9 lines amounted to XB, and fhackwcll s to ,£8 lGs., theso being equivalent t0',49 (lays detention, dangerous, hatpin by-law. IS IT ULTRA VIRES? Invercargill, June 11. Soveral prosecutions of women for wearing unprotected hatpins when travelling in tlio tramcars wero adjourned to-day. Counsel for tho defence contended that tho by-laiv was ultra vires, as it made tho offence complete. if tho hatpin was dangerous in tho opinion of tho conductor, thus usurping tho function of tho Court. UNWISE TO GO TO COURT. Invercargill, Juno 11.. At tho Supremo , Court to-day, Sir Joshua Williams gave judgment in the caso of tho Wallnoetown Omnibus Company versus Wright, Stephenson,.and Co claim .t2lO for damages, arising out of a motor-car collision. counter-claimed for. .£250 for damages dono to their car. His Honour held that tho evidence showed that plaintiff s du\cr was responsible for tho accident, and gave judgment for defendants on tho claim, and for tlio full amount of tlio counter claim, with costs.

LOANS FROM RESIDENTS. Wanganuii Juno 11. _ With regard, to tho Gisbonio Council's * propoaal to accept money on temporary loans from local residents, this is 110 now scheme. As far as \\ anganui is concerned, sonic three years ago tho then Mayor inaugurated a schomo by which money is accepted. . renajable «t call. Tho rate of interest; is 4 per cent, instead of tho i per cent, proposed by the Gisbor'no Council. The sctane fotind great favour, tho amount deposited being usually somo .£20,00 P. WITNESS WHO FORGOT. tnvercargill, Juno 11. A rather reinarkablo episode occurred in tho Supremo Court, when lett was giving evidence, lhis witness is at present undergoing n term of imprisonment. Ho stated that lio remembor giving evidence m tho Lower Court, and ho was not sure whether what ho said in ovideiico then, was correct or not. .< .CARRIAGE WORKS ON FIRE. Pahlatua, Juno 11. Bancko and Co.'s Crown Carriage Works at Maneahao Road wero badly damaged by fire at an. early hour this morning. A largo quantity of stock m the upstairs portion was also destroyed. 1 lie outbreak is believed to havo oiigmated in tho office in tho front portion of tho building. Instiranco:.State Office-Stock, £<00; building, .£350. MAILS & DISHONESTY. Auckland, Juno 11. At tho Supreme Court Lionel Detliiery. a lad charged with theft of a posta packet at Dargaville, was admitted ti three years' probation. BICYCLE THIEF. Gisborne,. June 11. James Lester, ivilh seven nliascs,.H cd guilty to steahne a bicycle at leildii g. and wag sentenced to six mouths ilmprisonment. CHINESE & HIS BOOKS. Auckland, Juno 11. Creditors in tho bankrupt estate ot .Tim Wong, a Chinese fruiterer, met todnv. The bankrupt's l'jvticr. A\ llliam Ch'an, Offered to 'pay lln ' f tho.debt., provided Wong set forth tho affairs clearly. The emliters vifuscd tho offer unlosj. Wong was prepared to pay ss. in tlio & as well. Firnlly, tho meeting was adjourned to enable tho books, of to 1)0 translated by the Clnuese Consul in Wellington.

EDUCATION TEST CASE. Auckland, .Tunc It. Tho City School Committee* has decided U take a test «i.«c b»fore tile Supremo Court U li*v» the powers of the committee defind i» respect to (lie appointments of teachers. A resolution to this efl'eet had been passed by tlw old t«mmittee, and Ins ken reaffirmed by tho newly-oleeted body.