LATE LOCALS

Hokitika Guardian, 6 September 1922, Page 3

LATE LOCALS

It is reported from Ongarue that Tahutopnni Wi.e.tn, an old chieftaincss of the highest rank of the Maniapoto tribe, aged 103 has died. Maoris are assembling in large numbers to attend the tangi. Deceased is a descendant oil her mother’s side from the well-known Ngnti Rangatohi Taumarunui.

Counterfeit half-crowns are at present in evidence in Dunedin. An “Otago Daily Times” reporter was shown an excellent, imitation of a true half-crown. It was dated 1912. was milk'd, and a faithful representation in every detail- ft also “lang” when thrown on the desk. The only faults were its lightness- not perceptible, mavhe to the ordinary individual—and a slight smudging where the lea<l hud failed to set clean. The counterfeit coin could also be nicked on tbo edge with a pocket- kuifo.

Air A. S. Malcolm told the House about some farmers in the south who had set out to clear their places of rabbits. They took 2400 rabbits off

the farm in six months, but then found that a bit of bush on an adjoining railway reserve wiis a breeding ground for the pest. They wrote to the Railway Department on the matter and the department had tho insolence t‘> reply that they could cut the bush down themselves if they liked. The Hon AY. Xosworthy. who is Minister for Agriculture, said lie would consult his colleague, the .Minister for Railways, on the point'. At a private hospital near Ashburton a patient ha<l just had his appendix removed and had come out of the chloroform. He was surprised (relates the “Guardian”) to find the room in darkness and asked the reason from the nurse. ‘‘Well, it was done on your recount really,” she told him. “A oil see there was a fire on the other side of the road so we pulled down the blinds.” “Rut why?” “AA'o thought it you came out of the operation and saw fire* through the windows you might think you bad-died during tile operation.” Tile patient is still wondering bow much of his dreadful past he revealed while under chloroform. •Tames A\ atson Beatty and Florence Mary Beatty, his wife, appeared for sentence at the Magistrate’* Court Christchurch on Saturday, on thirteen charges of having stolen clothes atNew Brighton. Beatty was also charged on thirteen counts with having received the stolen property. The Ala gist ra lo said lie bad decided to grant Mrs Beatty probation. She would be placed on strict probation for twelve months. a.nd as slici had no property of her own she would not bo ordered to repay the value of the stolen articles. Only a portion of tho large quantity of stolen clothing had' been recovered, and the obvious conelusion was that some of it bad been disposed of. “Air Beatty.” said the -Magistrate, addressing the male accused, “I think you arc primarily to blame for all this.” His borne, continued tlid Magistrate, was full of stolen clothes, pegs bad been found in bis pocket, and stolen property bad been discovered in bis possession. 11 is Worship believed that be bad taken an active part in the thefts and had placed tho pegs ill bis pocket when he took the clothes down from the lines. The thefts had been going on for a long time, and a term of imprisonment must be imposed, but as an employer bad spoken well of him, it would only be a short one. Accused would lit* sen fenced to one month's imprisonment with hard labour on the charge involving the largest amount, and oil the others lie would be admitted to probation for twelve months. A special condition would be that lie paid back the value* of the missing property at the rate of £1 per week. The value of the missing articles is £37 12s sd, and Realty was ordered to begin bis weekly payments in two months’ time.