DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 August 1927, Page 4

DOMINION NEWS.

(15y Telegraph—Per Press Association.) .WASTER,TON OO CATVS FINANCES MASTERTON, Aug. 10. A decrease of over £3OOO in the collection of rates as compared with the sum collected during the corresponding period of last year was an outstanding feature of the financial position of the Mastertou County Council dealt with by the clerk (Mr J. C. D. Mack Icy) at tlio monthly meeting of the Council. He stated that this decrease at such a time placed tho Council in a serious position financially, and after the month’s accounts had been passed for payment the overdraft at the bank would be totally absorbed. The position, said the clerk, was due to the poor response made to tho demand of the Council for the rates of Cbe current year, ft was, therefore, imperative that ratepayers should ho reminded that it was in their own inter sts to assist the Council in meeting its obligations. He recommended that . if ratepayers "were not in a position to pay their rates in full the Council accept payment in instalments. , It was agreed by the Council to . adopt the recommendation of the clerk, t and to impress upon ratepayers the urgency for redressing without, delay , tho financial position of the Council. I COMMON GAMING HOUSE.

AUCKLAND, ' Aug. 13. Four men and a woman pleaded guilty this morning to various charges arising out of the raiding of bookmakers’ premises. Thomas Curran was lined £75 for keeping a common gaming house at 115, Hobson Street, while £25 fines were imposed on William McMillan and Archibald Anderson for assisting in its management. Another William McMillan and Lily LVtcrs were fined £2 each ior being found therein. Three days were allowed in which to pay the fines.

Detectives found £io in cash in the house. | A STORY FROM WANGANUI. ’ WANGANUI. Aug. 13. Accounts have been published front time to time regarding people recovering their power ol speech in some mysterious manner. The latest instance occurred during a Maori football match here on Wednesday afternoon. A Maori from upriver. aged about twenty-one. who lias been dumb all his life, Is'came so enthusiastic in the game that he suddenly gave vent to a loud yell. Subsequently lie followed this up by a How of excellent Maori.

His relatives jiihl friends were so astonished th.it lor a lime they woro inclined to sidetrack him, no doubt thinking that lie was possessed of the taipu. No one was more delimited ihan the young .Maori, who at the termination of t.he match, adjourned l > a neighbouring hotel and shouted wai piro lor all his friends. I,((.LACK ON WllKKldiAtMtoW AUCKLAND, Auk. M. Interesting personalities on the Anrangi are Mr and .Mrs Dan .T. le Hoiin, who, since the last day of have been walking round the world with a wheelbarrow. They are South Africans, and have walked through South Africa. Portuguese Kast. Africa.

Egypt. Italy. Switzerland and other parts of Europe. They then went lo Canada and have now crossed Hie Pacific. They carry a. 182 pou o! kit with their belongings in tins u heel barrow, which they push ahead of them in their walks. All the journey lias been on foot except where sea travel has Ixie.n necessary.

obtaixi.no credit by fraud. DUNEDIN, Aug. it. In the Police Court yesterday morning, Percy Edward Whittall pleaded guilty to having obtained credit by fraud to the extent of €2 from .lames | Barley. | Chiel'-Detect ive Cameron .said t hat accused became involved in Oamaru i in negotiations for the purchase of a car. and gave a valueless cheque in the process, hut the ear was not delivered. Me was, however, driven about a. lot, and was brought to Dunedin in the ear. which lie made out lie intended to purchase. It was on the question of costs incurred in connexion with this drive that the present charge was laid. Hr inigh have hern charge!* with false pretences, hut the police in the northern district decided not to proceed .

Accused said lie was intoxicated at iho lime of the offence, though he aas not. really a drinker. The Chief-Detective said that enquiries in Oaniaru had failed to bring evidence that accused was drunk at the time, or .showed nnv signs of liquor. The Magistrate (Air Bartholomew) said lie would give accused n chance on this occasion. He would he convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within twelve months. There did not seem to l>o any necessity for the accused io lie prohibited.

MONEY AND JEWELLER A” STOLEN. AUCKLAND. Aug. 14. The residence of Afrs C. A. Mansfield, ALamtrowa, was ransacked by thieves at an early hour last evening. Afrs Mansfield left the house at about 7.30 p.m. and on returning at 9.30 found the place in a state, of groat confusion. Sums of money totalling £l4 10s wore secured by the unwelcome visitors, and jewellery and other valuables worth about £lo were also taken. The thieves, who entered by the hack door, evidently were aware of the I presence of the money, as every cupboard, shelf and drawer in the house had been turned upside down in the search, the notes finally being located at the bottom of a knitting hag. Apparently there is a gang operating in the district, ns a determined, hut futile attempt- was made on AYodnesdav evening to force the front doors of Afessrs Murray and White's grocery establishment in Great Bouth road. One lock was destroyed, hut the second one proved too strong for the thieves’ crowbars.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE GAME. THREE CLERKS CHARGED. WELLINGTON. Aug. 13. A charge of having conducted a lottery by commencing a scheme whereby prizes of money were competed for by a mode of chance, was made against three clerks, Edward Coupe Garton, Reginald Aldersley and Wallace AlcAlillan. Defendants promoted a cross-word puzzle which is alleged to he a game of chance under the Gaming Act. An adjournment of the hearing was granted. The magistrate refused to suppress defendants’ names, saying it was hot a very disgraceful matter if it was straightforward.