10-day's Weather Forecast

Hokitika Guardian, 23 May 1917, Page 3

10-day's Weather Forecast

The indications ere for westerly strong to gale winds. The weather appears likely to be etoudy and unsettled. Heavy rain is to be expected with rivers rising shortly. Tbe barometer is falling. Seas considerable, tides good.

TRIAL OF PC. WEBB. Charge of Seditious Utterance. The Hearing Resumed. r—i- Christchurch, May 23 The adjourned trial of P. 0. Webb i M. P. for Grey, for alleged seditions utterances on the West Coast, was resumed at fche_/.Palice Court this morning. Sir John Findlay appeared for the accuied, and with him, Mr J. A. Caeaidy. The Crown’s counsel, Mr Raymond, dealt first with the Greymoufch speech. He submitted that Webb, by that speech, indicated a total 'aok o' appreciation of the fact that the couatry was at war.

Constable McMahon gave evidence as to the taking of notas of the speech, FindUy clcssly cross examined the constable as to the scouracy of his notes. Corroborative evidence was given regarding the speech. Constable Black said he heard Webb’s speeoh regarding conscription and after the meeting he read McMahon’s transoript note 3 which were correot. This closed the case for the Crown and the Court adjmrned till the afternoon. Coal Supplies to be Pooled. Wellington, May 18 Wellington people received a mild, shock when they learned that the City Coancil intends doubling tram fares, our tailing the service, and reducing street light though the coal strike danger is apparently over. The G.is Company announces it recently had to use reserves, which had been in sijre Borne years. At this time of year the company is o&rbonising 120 tons a day. The scarcity of ooal had tended to increase th 9 demand for gas when everybody was looking for economy. In regard to what might be done in curtailing gas supplies no definite decision baj been arrived at. Although it is possible the company will work in harmony with the corporation, no differentiation oan be mtde in regard to consumers. The company has a’ready supplied coke to the corporation to enable it to keep its boilers going. A very large quantity of gas is used for gas engines utilised in connection with some of the most essential industries.' Three million feet of gas are required every month for 110 gas engines in tbs city, The Mayor understands from the chairman of the National Efficiency Board that all ooal supplies in the Dominion are to be pooled.

Coal Shortage.

Wellington, May 21 A special meeting of the City Council was held this afternoon to consider the oity engineer’s proposals for diastio outs in the tram, lighting and other oity services, because ooal is very short. A deputation from the picture theatre .proprietors w sited on tbe council, asking not to be oat out in the daytime.

The spokesman claimed that the industry was the filth largest in the world, and said that 90 per cen» of the money taKen in New Zealand was retained in the country. In Wellington alone, about £IOO,OOO was invested m tbe i»dustry v The Mayor said that the Minister of Munitions had assured him that afternoon that 30,000 tons of coil monthly were coming from Newcastle. This, the Mayor said, put a different complexion cn the matter. Finally the council adiourned consideration of the report until next ordinary meeting. Savings Banks Figures Auckland, May 20 Regarding the savings of tbe people of the Dominion for the past three years, the Hon A, M. Myers, in the course of a epeeoh ac the Commercial Travellers’ Club on Saturday, quoted figures showing the position at Match 31st last, with March, 1914. They were as under : 1917. 1914 £ £ Postal Savings Bank depositors ... 547,036 491.358 Xotal deposits... 26,901,829 17,422,563 Private Savings Bank deposits 2,412,465, 1,792,102

Thu Wheat Purchase.

Auckland, May 22 The reported purchase on behalf of the Government of 1,500,000 bushels of wheat in Australia at 5/6 net f.o.b, was the subject of some enquiries by a “ Herald ” reporter. Questions put to those conversant with the wheat trade elicited the statement that the price mßotioned is one penny a bushel less than the present market prise ip Australia for last season’s wheat. The bargain, if concluded, should be a favorable one. The statement oable d evidently referred to last season’s crop that being superior to this season’s wheat. The price of new wheat was Btated to be considerably less than the price said to have been agreed upon by the Hon W. D. S. MacDonald.

A PRISOKER’S ESCAPADE

Theft of Motor Gar

HAMILTON, May 10. A sensational affair occurred on the •Hamillojii-Oambridge road yesterday, when a taxi-driver named Edward ' Hetniry Peebles was assaulted by a man named Pebib Jasper Orago, an escape© from Waikiroa prison, near Te Awamutu. Orago bad engaged Peebles to drive him to Hamilton from Cambridge. Crago stated that it was his intention to render Peebles unconscious, seize the car, and make his escape to Auckland. Peebles’s hands were badly lacerated, and one nail was torn ott. Crago was before the Court this morning, and was charged with assault and with being an escape© from prison. DetectivcnSergeant Cojoney said that the accused was serving a sentence of ton years for attempted murder at Auckland. Ho escaped from Waikiroa prison on 18th May last. Further charges are pending. A remand was granted for a week. Crago was the aotor in a sensational attempt to steal a motor car at Dfevonport, Auckland, four years ago, a revolver being used, and was sentenced to ten years’ reformative treatment. When about four and a half miles along the road, Crago said: “Easeher up,” and as the car was stopping Peebles felt a string go round his neok. The string was drawn tight, and P'doblels became un)conscious. The' next thing he knew was that he was struggling with Crago on the side of the car, and both fell on to the road, Crago biting afc Peebles’s hands. During the struggle thoy separated, and jumped to their feet. Others cars then came up, and Crago was guarded until the police arrived. Shunter Killed. Auckland, May 21 Harold Tomlinson, singl’, about 30 years of age, employed as a shunter at Mercer, was killed this morniDg through bsirg craved between two cars. It is stated that he jumped m between the oars to turn on the Wealingbouae brake, and is supposed to have been caught in the tap. He was so badly injured that he died in a few minutes. Mayor and Council Tijiaru, May 22 Tbe new Mayor for Waimate, Mr Geo. Dash, has fallen foul of the ovuccil. At Oie meeting on May 8:h be' ordered the Town (Perk to eater in tbe minutes the fact that he had “censured” Councillor Inkster (on 9 of the oldest councillors) for defying the chair by continuing to talk “Old Estimates” when told not to do so, The councillors protested at the time against the Mayor’s order. To-night the Mayor ruled out of order a motion to expuDgs that minute and, the councillors insisting, the Mayor declared the meeting dosed and left the Chambe-, and ordered the Town Clerk to leave also. The councillors immediately appointed a deputy-mayor and continued the business.

A motion was moved th at the censured minute be expunged. It was said that this could r.o r . ba doue, as it was a correct reojrd, and an amendment was moved and carried unanimously expressing disapproval of the Mayor’s action in censuring Councillor Inkster. The latter thanked councillors for the fight tb3y bad put up far tbe rights of councillors generally.

A Dangerous Road. Wellington, May 21 A serious motor accident occurred yesterday on Paokakariki Hill, at the Bpot where a car dropped 300 feet a week ago, when tbe vehicle and its occupants had a marvellous escape. Yesterday’s acoident occurred in a similar way. A patty from Hawera, comprising Mr and Mrs Cleaver and their infant child. Mrs Barkla and her infant were motoring to Wellington. On reaching a steep pinoh the driver changed to the low gear and then while changing to the second gear, slipped into the neutral. Before the brakes could be applied the car ran back over the aide of the road, and had a sheer drop of 80 feet. It turned over three times as it fell. Mrs Cleaver managed to jump clear with her ohtld before the oar dropped over the cliff, bat the other occupants fell with the vehicle. Mrs Barkla and her child fell out at the first overturn, but Mr Cleaver went right down. He and Mrs Barkla’s child was out about tha head, and Mrs Barkla wa? injured in

the back. Tbe marvel is bow they ail escaped death. Other travellers coming along shortly afterward)? brought the injured people into Wellington for medical treatment.