TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 August 1922, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

[by TEI.EGKAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION]

SEAMAN. FINED.

, CHRISTCHURCH, Aug -i!, Jolui Henry Adams, a member of the Executive of the Seamen’s Union, wa s fined one day’s pay and costs for deserting from tile Mararoa, and £2 in default seven days’ imprisonment, for striking the second engineer.

THEFT OF FUR. CHRISTCHURCH, Aug 4. A mother of seven childen, whose

husband lias held this present position for 25 years, pleaded guilty to theft of a fur valued at 12 guineas, and was admitted to probation and liei 1 .lititlle suppressed! Medical evidence was given that she was in a state of nervous instability.

a warning. CHRISTCHURCH, Aug 4. Mr Wyvcrn Wilson gave a ruling from the bench to-day that lie would iix a minimum fine of £1 for disobeying constables on point duty, and also expressed regret that there was no power to cancel a driving certificate after repented convictions f°r speeding. He fined a motorist £5 nnd costs for a second offence.

CANDIDATES FOR NAI’JER. napier; Aug 4

Five candidates are out for Napier seat at the electors: J. Vigor Brown (sitting member), Nat Beanish, (Liberal Labour); J. Nanson, (Reform); 1.. Mellvridge (Labour) ; E. Muloanah ( Independent Labour).

SHANNON ASSAULT CASE. WELLINGTON, August 2. Thgre was an e,cho of the Shannon assaiilt case, iff which members ot the Shannon Football Club» were recently charged with assaulting the referee in a Rugby game, at the meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union last evening. The letter from the Horowlienua Rugby Union said: “In reference to the assault on the referee at Shannon the following men were dealt with for striking the referee : H. McDonald, L. Buckman, and J. Young, all of Shannon. Herewith find a copy of the minute passed by my union: ‘That H. McDonald, L. Buckman, J. Young, of the Shannon Football Club, be disqualified from playing football for life, and warned off all grounds under the jurisdiction of the Horowlienua Rugby' Union, and a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the New Zealand Rugby Union, with a request that it he made applicable to all grounds in the Dominion.’ The .Shannon ground was suspended, but. after bearing a deputation from Shannon, headed by His Worship the Mayor, it was decided ground."

tt was decided to comply with the request.

CHARGE AGAINST AUDITOR. AUCKLAND, August 4

hive charges of having made false declarations in respect of trust accounts of the late legal firm of Hammond aiul Cracknel), were preferred at the Supreme Court against James Warring Jameson, Auditor of the Crown.

Evidence was given to the effect that accused forwarded to the SolicitorGeneral for several years certificates and declarations that trust accounts were in order, whereas there had been deficiencies of £11,936 in 1917, over £19,(K)0 in 1918, over £IB,OOO in 1919, and £32,500 in 1920. The deficiency in a bankrupt estate was £45,000.

The defence was that accused’s condition of health, both bodily and mentally, had been such, that he could not bo held responsible for his actions at different periods. His Honour, summing up, said the onus was upon the accused to satisfy the jury that he was insane when the offences were committed. The Crown had not. an opportunity of calling in medical melt to examine accused to ascertain his mental state.

His Honour charged the jury to he cautious about accepting this plea. His Honour deferred sentence until the next criminal sittings in November, ami directed that, in view of the suggestions as to accused’s health, the Crown should have proper investigations made and report to him.

CHINESE IN COURT. AUCKLAND. August 4

Wong Doo, a Chinese, was lined £SO on it charge of permitting his premises to lie used as a common gaining house. Security for appeal "as' fixed at £ls, plus the fine, and costs £4 12s 6d. The cases against 21 other Chinese were adjourned, pending the appeal. Wong Sun is being charged with keeping a house, two others with assisting him. the rest being found on the premises. The defence in Wong Don’s ease was that the games weren’t those of chance anv more' than which euchre of any game of cards is; also that the game described by the police was not played on the date of the raid on July 16.

gold exjort- PROFITS. WELLINGTON, August 4. In reference to the matter of the gold purchased by the banks, which was brought before the Prime Minister by the deputation, representing the small New Zealand gold miners, and the alleged huge profits—estimated at £l.ooo.ooo— made by the banks during the period of the wartime embargo, Mr Buckleton. (General Manager of the Bank of New Zealand) describes the statement as “absolute nonsense.” He says:—“The export of gold was prohibited on the outbreak of war. 'Pho embargo was continued until November of 1919. The banks then informed their gold-producing customers that they were prepared to handle bullion for them on commission, shipping to San Francisco, realising there on behalf of the owners, and accounting for the proceeds at the rate of exchange current on the day when these proceeds were recived, less a small commission charge. Almost all gold handled By the banks since then, he says, has been dealt with on the basis of that reproducers have had the full benefit of favourable rate of exchange. Any hardship experienced by the producers was only between the period of March and November 1919, when the prohibition of the export was in force. There was at the same time a- steady depreciation in the American quotation for sterling exchange,