LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1956, 13 January 1914, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Jn an editorial published yesterday it was stated, in reference to tiio Cirey and Lyttclton by-elections, that the Government candidate headed the first ballot poll in caeli ease. . This was correct in regard to Grey, but at Lyttclton the Government candidate (Mr. Miller) was placed second in £bo first ballot contest.

According to a witness who jjare evidence! in the Magistrate's Court yestei'dajythe most favourable timo for misappropriating .property at'the Petone Railway Workshops is between noon and 1 o'clock on Ssturdavs. Then evcryono but the watchman is off the premises, and., it is said, pillagers seize their opportunity. If they can evade the watchman the course is clear.

The stocking as a purse was featured in a case in the Magistrate's Court'vesterday. A woman who was alivgec\ to have no means of support retorted that she had a small sum of money in ),er possession, Tho fact that her possession of mouov was not revealed by JUiy police search of the defendant when she was arrested was remarked on, "I had tho money down my stocking," she explained as she triumphantly- clinked £1 17s. 9d. on to the top of the witness bos. "You can't get a conviction against her if she lias money," shift the Magistrate, and he. dismissed the cktrgeii'i"''

A quarter of an hour's lively encounter between a police constable aftd a fireman took place an one of the wharves on Saturday; ■ -The iir-eir.au was a njuch better athletic sample than tho average man wlio works 111 the beat below the waterline. He was under the influence of liquor and vigorously resisted the constable, who pet out- to apprei',end him. Tho pair t;«i <ln\vu a.nd struggled on the wharf decking, and after a strenuous ten minutes the constable hailed assistance. The aid sought did not hasten to tho rescue, but a taxi-cab happened to pass along that way. The driver of this whiclo and the policeman gently assisted the encrgetic fireman into the cab, and motored him to the Lambton Quay Police Station, where lie was a guest for the night.

A husband has to maintain his wifo whether she behaves well or badly, according to Mr.- J. S. Evans, S.M. There was a matter before tlio Magistrate's Court yesterday in which a wifo, who tmd been in. receipt of maintenance money from her husband, had telegraphed to him to the effect that slio did ftot want any more money from him; that she had sold his furniture and could keep herself. The. Magistrate observed that the telegram did not relieve the man of responsibility to keep his wife. /'Tho husband has to maintain his wife," he 'remarked. Mr. Jackson: "If she; behavea -herself.". The Magistrate: "Whether she does or not. There is only one escape, and that is divorce." Mr. Jackson : "Do you mean t-« say, Your Worship, that if a woman leaves homo and refuses to live with Ivor husband, he is bound to maintain hei'f" Tho Magistrate replied that if slls did even wars© than that the husband would still be liable for hor maintenance.

At last night's mooting of the Poto'no Borough Council, a letter was received tiom a resident, who complained that' someone had let his horse out of a paddock. The complainant explained that his horso was tied to the fence, and he contended that "horses cbuld not undo knots, for if they could tho 'chew marks' would bo o-u the ropo, and there were no 'chew marks' on my rope." As tho complainant's horse was found waiidering, it was impounded, and the council, after considering the owner's hitter, decided to let him Off with a caution.

A meeting of the executive of the Wellington Carnival Association was held in the Mayor's Room last evening, His Worship the Mayor presiding. A discussion tools place with regard to the for tlvo next carnival, to bo held during the first week in March. It was dee'ded to hold an axoHwn's earnival, athletic sports, sohcol children's sports, a' military tataq, and to organise a pfosession of public bodies,_ friendly societies, and industrial bodies. It was resolved to call a meeting of tho general committco on Tuesday evening, January 20, in tho- Council Chamber, and to'invite any of the general public interested to bo present- to malso suggestions. After the general meeting tho various subcommittees will meet.

■A certain man. appeared in tho Magistrate's Court, yesterday morning, accused of having broken his prohibition onter. Ho admitted tho ofi'enco, but approached tho Magistrate and {Mimed a. budget- of reasons why bo should bo extended consideration and leniency. Tlio Inspector of Police eyed tho defendant keenly awhilo, and then stayed the flow of eloquence by quietly remarking: "I am afraid that Mr. • —- has broken his prohibition order again this morning, Your Worship." *

Sir. R. B. Grange Ims handed ovc to tho Mayor a sum of £30, with a subscription list, wliicli amount lie lias collected to be added' to the H. N. Fletcher benefit fund.

A woman who appeared in iiio Magistrato's Court yesterdav stated that slio had come out from England with her husband eight years ago, and that they had been separated eight months after thoir arrival in Now Zealand. Hoihusband had tateii her to a certain part of tho Main Trunk country, and she had found the hard lifo there unbearable.

The Defence authorities have granted permission to St. Patrick's College to establish an artillery section in connection with tho cailct companies attached to the College. The Cottego will lie supplied with two {i-wtinder Norrtcnfeldt guns, and the cadets will bo instrutted iu gun-drill, etc. It is reported that drilling operations will shortly be resumed on tlio Bonitlioii Oil Company's property near New Plymouth. Three weeks ago a break ocC ( f fed in tho boring shaft at a depth of 2509 feet, and ever since then attempts have been made to recover from too bbre- the broken piece. It is expected that these efforts will be sucefcssiul in the course of a day or two. This bore is near to tho Blenheim well, which is now said to be producing 3< barrels of oil daily. Four of the athletes to represent th<3 Dominion at the Australasian championship moetain in- Melbourne on January 24 .an<T SO left Auckland for Melbourne via Sydney last evening. Tho mombeis of tlio team are: Messrs. K-ruldeir, Dormer, M'Holm, Cashiuan, aim Buatson, Tho first-mentioiwn four, who had been at Auckland at the Exhibition meeting, went from Aueki?i rtt Ifoatscm loaves from tho Blair. Other passengers by the Sydney steamer from Auckland yesterday were tho members of the American athletio team, irho ero also going to compete at the Australaisian meeting. Mr. C. E. Bridge, tho manager of the New Zealand team, wifi leave Wellington on .Friday to join his men in Sydney. ■ The tourist traffic to Mount Cook this 6easoTt has been exceptionally heavy Tho new Hermitage has bceii used fo; the sleeping accommodation of a large numher of visitors, iind the furiiituie tc equip tho. hostel fully will' bo in tJu building very shortly, a contract having ■ been lot for the supply of .it. The traffio over the Milford track has also beer good for tho last few wseks. Additional business set &otfn foi hearing at tho criminal session of the Supreme Court, winch opens in Wellington on February 2, us indicated in the following cases, which- have been appended to tho list, a summitry of which was _ published a few days ago -Frank Collins, theft from tho person; Edward Croft, theft; Edward Hunter, seditious words; and Charles Vivian lYrtcous, theft. The Wellington Range Committee., which has power over the Government grant formerly expended by tho Ptibiie Works Department, has put in many improvements at- Trenth.im rifle range, in anticipation of tho Dominion' Rrflo Association mooting,,_ which comes, off next month. An important addition under way is a. miniature rifle range, tho first open air ono in Now Zealand, and on this will he fired, during tho D.R.A. meeting, the miniature championship. The range will be 40 yards wide, with a centre wall dividing it into two sections of 20 yards, and so cutting oft' the wind. This wall will be sft. high -anti 3ft. wide, while walls will run out from tho sides of the range for 25 yards. The work is being carried, out by tl.i.v labour. New range mounds have also been built on the Somervilie range, 300 yards, and on the 800 and 900 yards ranges. The tenth annual prize meeting of the Mawnvatu Biflo Association will he held at Palmer-ston North on Thursday, January 22. Many Wellington riflemen have signified their intention of making the journey for tho ene-tlay meeting.