TELEGRAMS

Hokitika Guardian, 26 May 1920, Page 3

TELEGRAMS

j (run muss association.- copyright.] , ADDRESS TO GRAND JURY. WANGANUI, May 25. The treatment of prisoners, and tho New Zealand prison system, was the subject of interesting remarks by Sir Robert Stout, addressing the Grand Jury at the Supreme Court to-day. Referring to the recommendation by an Auckland jury that flogging l e administered to those guilty of sexual offences, Sir R. Stout said he considered flogging a brutalising method, and only suitable for brutal types. The responsibility did ot rest with judges, but on juries who shouid be careful in administrating justice f ife see that the feelings of mercy did not influence them to acquit, where the evidence was clear. If they sternly but humanely, carry out their duties, crime would decline in their district. If it were possible to get people to realise that prison is not a place of honour, hut an ethical hospital, then would they realise the task before them in trying to reduce crime.

WANGANUI’S NEW MAYOR. WANGANUI, May 24. Cr T. B. Williams was to-night elected to fill the position of Mayor of Wanganni, which was'rendered vacant by tho resignation of O. E. Mnckay, owing to his arrest and prosecution. Cr. Richardson was elected Deputy-Mayor. A CONFERENCE. WELLINGTON, May 25. The conference between the representatives of the Railway Department and the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants has not yet concluded. The representatives of tho two parties were not sitting together during a great part of to-dnv. It is understood that the parties wbre examining in private, claims and proposals submitted from the A.S.R.S. on the one hand and presumably also from the Department. There has been nothing in the nature of a breach of negotiations. WAR MEDALS. WELLINGTON. May 25. Supplies of memorial plaques which the War Office are distributing to the next-of-kin of those who fell in the war are now being received by Base Records. - The plaques arc njaue of copper, and five inches in diameter and circular in shape. They are simple yet artistic in design, each plaque bearing the words, “He Died for Freedom and Honour.” On the front there is ,a representation of Brittannia holding aloft a laurel wreath .and in the foreground is the .British lion. The regimental number. and name of deceased will be engraved on each plaque. It is anticipated that the work of issuing British war medals to those who served in the war will he commenced within the next three months, and that the Allied Victory Medal will he available for distribution by the end of the year. Approximately 100,000 New Zealanders are eligible for both these medals hut the task of engraving and issuing them will involve an immense amount of administrative work, for the. personal file of each name, has to be scrutinised carefully by Base Records in order that the necessary data may he obtained. No decision has yet been arrived at in connection with the clasps, hut it is understood that there are to he seven clasps for the Western Front and three clasps for other fronts.

OUR POPULATION

WELLINGTON, This Day

There was an increase of 9734 in the European population of Dominion during quarter ended March 31st., as shown by the Government statistician’s record. Tlie total population now is 1.1:4,139, compared with 1,095,994 in 1914. Including Maoris and Pacific Islanders it is 1, 236, 7f2. Details are, population on ->|nr{:h ,31st. 1920; males 549,555; females, 597,584; Maori population, census 1916, males 25.993; females, 23,843, Population of Pacific Islands,, census 1916, males 6,552; females 6,245,

Acting Government, Statistician draws attention to the fact that the improvement in the birth rate disclosed by the quarter ended December 31st 1919 have been fully maintained during the quarter ended March 31st when the number of births registered was 7,531,-an increase of 1.170 over the corresponding quarter of 1919. The birth rate for the quarter is equal to t]ie annual rate of 25.85 per thousand) as compared with the rate of onlv 21.55 for the year 1919,

A MENACE TO THE COMMUNITY CHRISTCHURCH, May ?

At the Supreme Court. Beimnd Oilsun (with several aliases) was sentenced to seven years imprisonment with hard labour, for an attempted unnatural offence. He had been convicted for indecent assault at Auckland in 1910, and of attempted carnal knowledge at Christchurch in 1915, when he was sentenced to live years imprisonment. Mr Justice llcrdiuan said accused was a menace to the community, and lie must he kept under lock and key. PARMER DROWNED. AUCKLAND, May 26. Matthew Meek, a farmer of Ruhoi, aged 57, fell from a bridge and wan drowned. A MIRACULOUS ESCAPE. WANGANUI, May 26.

A sensational motor car accident and the miraculous escape of the driver occurred about 12 miles up the Wanganui river yesterday. W. ‘Tennant. Wanganui a taxi driver, motoring along the bank in the vicinity of the starting point of the rowing championship course and had just dropped some passengers. In turning round the wheels became locked and the engine began to race. The car leaped completely over the bank, dropped a hundred and fifty feet. Turning complete somersaults in the air and depositing Tennant on a ledge oniy two feet wide. The ear then again leaped and dropped in the* bed of the river. Tintotal drop is estimated at 300 feet. Tennant escaped with a few bruises. LUNAR RAINBOW. TAUMARUNUT, May 26. Residents going home from the tlie- ! ntre last night at eleven, witnessed the unusual sight of a magnificent lunar j rainbow, a perfect white arch from one I horizon to the other. »