NEWS AND NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 June 1923, Page 2

NEWS AND NOTES.

A murder trial nt Glasgow had twice to he adjourned owing to a jurywoman’s fainting fits caused by medical evidence. The ease was one in which David Lambic and John Taylor, ot Greenock, were charged with the murder of Hugh Mailer at Greenock. Both pleaded guilty to culpable homicide, and were sentenced to penal servitude for live years. It was during the evidence of Dr. Milne, who spoke of Mailev’ wounds and the transfusion of blood in order to save his life, that the jurywoman fainted and had to be carried from the court.

No fewer than 61 foreign bodies were taken from the stomach of Caroline Wilmolt, a single woman inmate of the Hampton Institution, during the course of one operation. This amazing fact was disclosed ‘by Dr. Wiliam Thomas at the inquest on -Miss“tluiau, l»r. Thomas said that after the opeiatiuu. Miss V iknot t was again operated on at the Royal Hospital, Sheffield, in December, 1921. when two darning needles, one small neeillc, and a safety-) in were remov'd. Later an open safety-pin came out at the hack of her right thigh. Dr. Cecil Hubert Gostwvck said he made a post-mortem examination, and found two handles of table forks in the dead woman.

As many members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force are not aware of the correct method of wearing war medals (states “Quick March”), it is advisable to observe that when these are worn on the breast the riband is to be Sin. in length, unless the position of war clasps necessitates it being longer. If two or more medals and decorations are worn they will be so arranged that the lower edges (or lowest point iff the star) are in line. Tho length of all ribands "ill bo regulated bv that of decorations or medals which, including any clasps, are the longest. The order of medals and decorations issued on account of the recent war is 1911-15 Star. British War Medal, Victor v Modal.

A touching little drama in real life was played in the Magistrate’s Court at Hawora (says the “Taranaki Herald"), "hen a mother of a bright little girl of 10 years was seeking a separation from the father, on various sordid grounds, "ilh guardianship of tlu* child. After promising to tell tho miih to the court, the little girl was asked " luv she would rather live with her mother or her lather. ”1 would rather live with mother,” replied the girl. Asked if she would rather live with either the mother and the father apart- or "ilh them together thl’ x chi!d said: “I would like to live with them together.” The magistrate said lie hoped the parents would take a note of ibis statement, hut counsel pointed out that: all attempts at a reconciliation Had failed.

Under the Anns Act it scents, even the obsolete weapons included in it museum collection have to be registered with the police (remarks the Auckland “Herald”). Flint-lock pistols, Brown Bess muskets, the ancient tupa ra, with which the war-like Maori laid in wait for his enemy, none are exempt. If the Museums arc to ho treated by one registration office, why not by another ? The dog-tax collector ought to call on the curator, and insist, in collars being purchased for anv -.luffed- specimens of the. dog tribo here; seeing that fragments of forearms all go in the register, perhaps the dog-skin mats of the ancient Maori ,

might also he solemnly encircled each with a collar. To return to firetHKis: Am* tin* Crimean ('*llllllll in Albert park registered under the Act? If nut, whv not?

A Northern AVairoa family has been greatly moved by a photograph published in the New Zealand “Herald”. The picture, which portrays Admiral Sir Roger Keys laying the foundation stone for the Zeebritgge monument on April 23rd, includes in the forefront a file© which is said to he the living image of a son who was reported during the war to have died of wounds. Tho possibility that the young New Zealander may he still alive perhaps suffering from complete loss of memory, is keenly exorcising the minds of his relatives, and stops have been taken to trace his identity.

Airs Philipson’s success at the English polls has shown up the interesting fact that all the three women mem hers now in Parliament have taken seats formerly occupied by their husbands. They have been put in more from compliment than from conviction, says one writer. Still there lias been a reiteration of the compliment, which is rather an excess of politeness, surely. Another jtfriter speaks as if somehow the men's rather than the women’s vote is responsible for tho returns. “The woman AI.P. has not got her own sex behind her,” is the mournful comment. Still, if sho lias the men behind her, that will do very well. A voter is a voter, and as yet the man voter in number preponderates in England. Airs AVintringhanl is reported as lining engaged in the useful and feminine work of pleading in the House for a remission on thoi duty of food rather than on beer. Tea is .specially mentioned as a commodity to lie latgely taxed. The Labour Party asked that the duty he reduced from 8d to Id. the National Liberals ask for the figure to he Id, ivliilo the Independent Liberals affirm that they will submit to od, the last idea being considered the most sensible. The Labour party's extreme proposal would have in fact no chance «T acceptance. Mrs Philipson’s election to Parliament has been extremely popular, and both she and the other two women members seem to enjoy Parliamentary life. As a matter of fact, tho English-woman is a horn prolitician. The same cannot quite Ik- said of the American woman. For instance. Miss Edith AYillmnn, first and only woman legislator in Texas declares the job is a thankless one. Long hours, hard work, poor pay, and carping criticism have been her lot. and meanwhile her law praetiee is vanishing. This statement is directed to Australian women, who are alleged to be eager to attain seats in Parliament. (Constance Clyde, in “The Star. ’)