LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 92, 13 January 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A Press Association telegram from Waipawa states that the will of tho the late Josiah Howard, an elderly she.epfarmer who died recently, leaves the wljole .of his estate to "His Majesty the King," and hopes the, farm will be utilised for tho purpose of founding an agricultural college. The property consists of eight thousand acres, and thp estate is worth approximately £100.,Q00. •

The steamer Willochra, formerly employed as a troopship to convey New Zegland soldiers to the war zones, is at present running between Rotterdam ,and Hull, oarr.vihg British prisoners of war who hiive been released from Germany. News of tho vessel's diversion to this work was brought by soldiers who returned by the troopship Maunganuj. It was also learned that, prior to making the present journey to New Zealand, the Maungonui was engaged in carrying American troops to England. She made at least three trips, on the first occasion carying 2300 men, and accomplishing the run from New York in' 11 days. ' , Messrs. D. J. Cameron and Robert Cameron have' .'(says our Masterton correspondent) purchased the old showgrounds in Masterton and intend handing them over to the Memorial Committee as a memorial to the late Lieutenant Norman Cameron (son of Mr- D. J. Cameron), who fell on Gallipoli, and other fellow-soldiers. The. price paid for the grounds was £2500. Tho public is being appealed to for an additional £3500 with which to erect buildings and otherwise equip tho grounds. At a meeting of the Thorndon Branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, held yesterday, the following resolution was carried unanimously : "That this branch is of the opinion that tho time has arrived when the religious and conscientious objectors now in gaol should be released, as no good purpose can be served by keep* ing theni there." The grievances of sea-faring men are piany and varied these days, but cn absentee from tjie Devon put forward a novel excuse when charged at the Magistrate's Court, before Mr. D. G. A. Cooper, S.M., on Saturday, with having been away from tho ship without leave, His reason for not fulfilling his contract to undertake a voyage at the rate of 30s. per day was that lie had not been medically examined. Tho defendant's namo was Joseph Edmcades. "I did not go aboard because I ivas 'crook,'" he replied in answer to the charge. Evidence was given that Edmeades signed on the Devon's articles on Jauuary 9,__ but did not present himself lor duty. Meanwhile the ship had sailed, the services of another man having to be obtained. Defendant had been engaged at tho rate of 30s. per day, or £60 for the trip iqf forty days. He had not received any advance on his wages, howover. Edmeades said he had hurt himself by falling down some steps on Saturday week. He did not join the vessel, as lie considered tho crew should have been medically examined to see. whether 01* not they were • ut to undertake the voyage. Tlie Court did not extend any sympathy to defendant, who was fined 305., _ with 7s. costs, in default three days' imprisonment.

Plain-clothes Constable Parrant, of the Mount Coolc Poljco Station, arrested a womajj . yesterday on » charge of. stealing a parrot and cage, value at £5. ' The accused wi)J be brought before tho Magistrate's Court to-day-

Several cases were dealt with by Mr. J?. V. Frazer, S-M,, at n sitting of the Juvenile Court on Saturday piorning. A girl aged five was committed to ' the Wellington Receiving Homo, and a condition was.laid down that her pother should' be allowed to see her, provided she was sober when she called. In the case of a spall boy who was accused of jiaving an air-rifle in his possession it was .stated that his mother did not exercise control over him, consequently Jie and his younger brother were committed to the gare of their grandmother. Three boys were arraigned on _a charge of Ji&ying thrown stones at 'railway carriages between Wellington and Ngaio, and of' having broken some of the windows. : One was ordered to pay 12s. 6d. damages, another was placed .on probation for six; months, and the case of the. remaining defeadant. was adjourned. Two small lads were admonished on a charge of having stolen bundles of newspapers, ■ i A Press Association telegram from New Plymouth. states tlmt.' the TaranaUi Oil WoUs Co.'s refinery plant has been acquired by tho Anglo* Persian Co., in which the British Government is largely interested. A deputation from the Canterbury Trades and Labour Council .waited upon tlio Actiiig-Priroo Minister, Sir James Allen, and asked that more liberal provision should bo made by the Government for widows and orphans,especially in view of the recent influenza epidemic, says a Press Association telegram. Sir James Allen said that no amendment to tho Act could ho made quickly enough to meet the case, ; and the matter must come before Cabinet. The position in regard to the epidemic was that it had been decidcd that widows and children were to hecome wards of the State. If no help was forthcoining he would h? surprised, but the matter was in the Department of the Hon. G, W. Russell, to whom h? would refer it qn hisTeturn to Wellington. Though the Government realised the responsibilities it thought that local bodies should do something. , There was a very light charge-sheet for Mr. D. G. A. Cooper, S.M., to deal with at the Magistrate's Court on Saturday. John Syke§, who pleaded. guilty to being drunk while in Icharge .of a horse and cart, was fined 205., in default three days' detention. Acting-Sub-Inspector Emerson said defendant wjs not addicted to drink and had never been before the Court before. On Friday afternoon lie had been invited to have a drink, and ho partook of a beer. Unfortunately, lie mixed his drinks, for iie afterwards had some whisky, and the result was that lie became incapable of driving his horse and cart with safety. For insobriety, Bartholomew Mahoney, who was stated to havo been convicted oil 106 previous occasions, was fined 205., in default three days' imprisonment, and Thomas Troy was mulcted in a penalty of 10s., in default 'IS hours' imprisonment. One first-offender was convicted and discharged for insobriety.