LATE LOCALS.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 June 1920, Page 3

LATE LOCALS.

Recently it was stated that Mr Justice Chapman, having reached retiring ago, would B oon take his final leave of the- Supremo’ Court bench. There is said to lie a probability also of two other judges retiring in a while. A paper recently published a report that another Wanganui scandal had been unearthed over the arrival of twins in the* river ’ city. The “Wanganui Chronicle” has investigated the alleged scandal, and sums up the result of its investigations as follows: —“No girl, no twins, no doorstep, nothing but a tissue of wicked, cruel, and unfounded fabrications!” presumably having their origin in the author of a scries of vile and threatening anonymous letters. The Prince of Wales is employing only ex-service men as male servants in hi s new bachelor home, York House. One of the footmen wears a wound stripe and the Military Medal; another, the Mons Star. Ail the men servants in the establishment have war ribbons. It ■is likely .that the custom of permitting men servants to wear war ribbons with their livery will he followed in many private hoysos.

“I do not propose to press any further argument that may be brought on the economic aspect,” said Mr \*.. C. McGregor, K.C., when dealing with the D.I.C. profiteering charges in the Magistrate’s Court at Christchurch. “The result in the previous ease was rather disastrous. Immediately the economic argument started, the densest fog ever known in Canterbury settled down on Christchurch. I have no wish for a recurrence. I understand that the cause of tlie fog was that one of the court room windows was inadvertedly left open during Sir John Findlay’s address.”

One .of the recent arrivals in Now Zealand was a lad from Ireland. He had left his own farm behind, and was bringing some capital. His conversation wa s rather interesting. Had a brother in Greymoutli; understood it was a coal district down there, and the Auckland “Star” man was somewhat surprised when he mentioned the word ‘snailways” in connection with certain means of communication. He told how he had ridden in England over five hundred miles in less than twelve hours, and evinced no surprise at all when he was told a trip from Auckland to Wellington would take about seventeen hours. . But he asked whether Cook Strait was a dangerous place. Said be Lad heard that there were often inisfor. tunes occurring in that piece of water.

A joy ride, more in association with a picture film than stern reality, caused considerable consternation in Cathedral Square, Christchufeh, on Monday evening. A party of young men hired a taxi that day and spent a day of joyriding all over the country. Returning to tlie city in the evening they Y- d tea at a. certain hotel and then commenced to break the speed limit in the city streets. Not satisfied with enrreering along the streets, they began a wild dash round Cathedral square at a speed estimated at from 40 to 50 miles an hour. The hour was just before 7.30 p.m., and the Square was full of people, and as the motor flew round the Squaie, its driver heedless of all warnings to stop, it seemed that only a miracle would prevent an accident. Constable Packer at- length, with the assistance of a large crowd, m a aged to bring the joy-riders to a stop at Broadway’s corner. The crowd were in an ugly temper over the business. There were cries of “lynch them and matters might have gone badly for the young man. They were taken to the police station.