MISCELLANEOUS.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 October 1925, Page 4

MISCELLANEOUS.

'Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.]

A FALSI-: STATEMENT. WELLINGTON, Oct. 29

The session of tins Supreme Court was occupied with hearing a case in which Christine Audrey Helen Motinsell. a married, middle-aged woman, pleaded not guilty to a charge of having made a false statement in regard to the posting of a letter said to eonLnin £2d in money, whereas it was alleged by the proseentioa that it letter containing notes had not been posted. Mi- Mncnssey. on behalf of the prosecution. submitted that the charge was of a serious nature; in fact, that there was a great possibility of a reiledion being cast upon the Postal authorities. Mr Tustin, for the defence, submitted that the notes bad been nceidenially mislaid and that accused bad entertained not 11 if slightest intention of defrauding the Postal authorities. Accused honestly believed the money lied been placed in an envelope and actually forwarded to the person to whom it was due. Airs Aloimsell had certainly told a number of falsehoods. snlnnitteU counsel, tmt solely for thereason of saving a police prosecution. No reason could he given for such statements except that accused bad hoped to clear the matter up. “This is sad.” said the Chief Justice in summing up the oviuence. “This woman told lie alter lie. This case undoubtedly hoars out the old adage that if you toll one lie you must tel!"ten more in support of the first lie.” The jury, alter a retirement ot lliroe-qua rtet’s of an hour, returned a verdict of guilty, with, a strong rci.ommemlation to mercy. His Honour, talcing into consideration the previous good character borne by the accused, ordered her to come up for sentence when called upon.

OPI'XAK 1C R AII.WAY. H.YWERA. Old. 27. The official opening of the Opuunk) Railway took place to-day in the presence of a large influential gatherin'! of people of the Optmake district, the ceremony being performed by the Premier. Short addresses of welcome were made by local representatives. Croat enthusiasm prevailed as the first train steamed to the station with the I lender on the engine and a carriage filled with visitors. Mrs Hawkon and Mrs Trotter were standing on the cowcatcher of the engine and there were several ribbons across the lino. The Premier in the course ol his remarks said the line was commenced in 1911. after being promised for many years before. Not much work was done till 1920, when efforts wore concentrated. lie said that in three years the efficiency of the Department increased forty per cent. He paid a tribute to the work ol Mr Roll (Public Works Engineer) aim said ii would be six months still till the line was taken over by the Railway Department. Its length is twenty-two miles, and the cost is already £372,099. A!ore is required for the station, building and ballasting. The total will be £410,000 about £18.200 per mile when completed. The Premier said tlint at the very earliest improved facilities would be grunted for the goods. (PEN EH AI, Al ITCH Kl.L’ri TRIAD. WASH I.VGTOX. Oct. 29. (ienerul .Mitchell sustained two defeats during the second day ol his trial by Court-martial. His contention that the trial was a violation ol the constitutional guarantees of free speech was over-ruled by the Court, shortly after to-day’s opening. Alter that. General .Mitchell launched a technical attack, involving an all-day argument. which also failed.

The prosecution contended that unless the commanders of national defence were able to protect tliemselvs against destructive and irresponsible criticisms, they would' be powerless to enforce discipline, and tbe Army would become a mob. The prosecution urged that a soldier accepts oil enlistment a contract, which involves for him a considerable change from Ids civilian stat-

T'li'.' defence contended I hat ll'<' entire prosecution :i r'ru men t was based i,ii 11 I radit em Unit, a convict i"ii was l\,r a violation, which was I'.iitiurcl. J he i intention was over-ruled. A lanital element cute ret! this, the most important conctmaiMal in the nation's history, when the nine Generals

ami one colonel const it lit ing the Onirl insisted upon retiring to confer win: the secretary, after tlm reading ol each of the eight spocitical'ions in the charge against General Mitchell, Tin cciierels were obviously emhanassci iy the undignified tramping bach ant forth. Their embarrassment grew a: the spectators’ merriment progrosset from titters to roars of laughter. .Mr: .Mitchell sat affectionately close to hot husband, following the trial intently anil smiling and chattering to muni friends in the audience.

,\ T>KSPEItADO. N'KIV YOU K. Oct. MO. Hint, s<|iui(ls in Chicago searched the city until dawn over another amazing shooting episode, in width Martin Durkin, a steel-vested murderer and tn.ief. was the central figure. Two months ago, Durkin wounded two policemen .at Sacramento, and then came to Chicago, where lie killed Edward Sbanuahan. Faced with the blazing shotguns and revolvers of the pursuing detectives, Durkin has escaped without a scratch, itis sweetheart admitted that ho was wearing a steel garment. The police traced to it house where Durkin fatally wounded his betrayer. I.lnyd Austin, and then injured a detective. Durkin then leaped from a second storey window. and escaped. Several bullets were fired at him, at close range, hut they proved to be without effect.

ariKiKOXS’ CONI'I-MiKXCE. NEW YORK, Oct. 30. A message from Philadelphia states all tbe important cities in Australia and New Zealand will lie visited bv Doctor Malcolm M. McEacheni. ol Vancouver and Chicago. who is sailing from Vancouver. on Novomher 17th. for the purposes of studying hospitals. Dr McKachern, when attending the Surgeons Convention, said the problem confront iiigg (he people ol Australia and New Zealand, part of whose taxes ones into the upkeep of their splendid charity hospitals, is an expansion of - the same advantages and facilities to cover the case of the private paving patient. The New Zealand doctors attending the Convention, include Sir Donald McOavin (Wellington), and Dr X. W. Wilson (Hastings). At a grand convocation to-morrow night, a Fellowship in the American College of Surgeons will he awarded in absentia to the following New Zealanders:—Dr James Renfrew White (Dunedin). Dr David Storer Wylie (Palmerston Nnrih). Dr 'William Vnung (Wellington), and Dr Thomas Francis Ryan (an A usi ralian). A BRITISH REPORT. (Received this day at 9.30 a.m.) T.ON DON, Oct, 30. The ‘•Morning Post's” Jerusalem correspondent supplies the Billowing reliable account ol the Damascus insurrection from a British source. Troops mi the 12th. October entered a street called "Straight." with fourteen camels. each bearing a Syrian corpse. These were dumped in Mcdji Square for public exhibition, all the dead being Damnscincs. This enraged the populace, and a strong Druse attack on 18th. was assisted by an insurrection of city people. the Dense Bands erecting barricades in Moslem quarter and burning shops and houses. French artillery replied with a bombardment day and nicellt for several days, while aeroplanes assisted. The British Embassy v. a damaged by shell fire. The populace were terror stricken by showers of bombs and shells. The city is smouldering. Christian and .Tewis ; - , quarters were entirely at the mercy of I the Moslem population. Houses were

damaged and many ] conic killed. French soldiers shot some Syrians in cold blood. In one ease six Moslems were placed against a wall and shot before a crowd of women and children. The casualties were greatest among the Syrians and included several hundreds of French.

A GERMAN MANIFESTO. (Received this day at 9.30 a.m.l BERLIN, October 30. The Executive of the German National Party has issued a manifesto regarding the attitude towards the Locarno Treaties. It says the Pact has greatly disappointed the party, because of their principles regarding war guilt, the state of the army and Article 111 of the Longue Covenant not being upheld and no reduction of occupation periods in the Rhineland and Saar are stipulated.

FRENCH AT FEZ. PARIS, October 30. “R c Temps” correspondent says the French troops are distributed for winter as follows;—One and n-half divisions in the western sector, two in the centre, two in the Eastern, one in reserve. It is expected a majority of fifteen battalions of European troops and numerous battalions oi artillery will be placed at the disposal of the Home authorities. CAR FATALITY. (Received this day at 9.30 a.m.) SYDNEY. October 31. McDonald and Getts, two victims of the Emu Plains motor tragedy were returning from a holiday and had intended to take the train for Sydney, but accepted the offer of a ride in the. ear.