THOUGHTS OF THE TIMES.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 May 1931, Page 4

THOUGHTS OF THE TIMES.

the crux oe the position. Rt. Hon. G. Coates, and his political associates have rejected the offer which would have given a reasonauie opportunity of rehabilitation. it would appear that party goes before country in the minds of the Reform leaders, and that the possibility of Ministerial rank appeals more to the immediate followers of .its leader tnan does the stabilisation of the Dominion finance. If Mr Coates wishes to deny this, he can best do so by making the direct and simple statement that, while he will not consent to the fusion of his party with any other, he will, while, the present crisis continues, act in complete co-operation with a leader who has proved his courage and determination, iand, '.sinking all personal ambitions, will assist in the formation of a non-party Government, which will render possible the passage of whatever measures may he regadcd as necessary for the salvation of the country. —Auckland Star.

I A notice in the estate of the late Dr A. Hopkins, appears in this issue. All claims are to oe rendered and all debts owing paid or arranged for before the 2!) tii inst. to Air A. REicock. solicitor.

“How long would froth remain in a beer-glass?” Air H. A. Young, S.M., asked Air F. D‘. Sargent at the Lyttelton Court on Wednesday. “My experience, your Worship, is that it would not remain very Jong, Mr Sargent replied amid laughter, “but it may remain for some hours.” Aiffer ('making enquiries from an hotelkeeper whom lie was defending, Air Sargent informed the Bench that froth from bottled beer would remain in a glass until the next day.

Air 0. W. Sampson, Assistant Public Works Engineer, who has bean o» a tour of inspection of South W<?,»+and, reports that -I 1 roads are im good order. The approaches to Doherty’s Creek bridge, wlimb were washed away during the Easter floods, are now almost repaired, and the bridge will bo open for traffic again next we. k. There is still a pood deal of. work to be done on Toads and bridges and there are about sixty men employed by the Public Works Department in tne district.

The 18-month-old daughter of Mr and Mrs A. Aloore, of Kokukohu, Hold, aitgd; Wftft recently severely bitten on 1 the hand by ft native black l'at. Tf** child was asleep it! her bed when the parents were arousdll by her screams. They wore shocked to find blood ori the bedclothes and the child’s right hsurt badly lacerated, as though bitten by » rat." The parents telephoned for » launch and took the child to the Hokianga Hospital. Dr. Smith at once operated. Although this portion of the band lias not shown any serious symptoms, it will be another week before the danger lias passed. Mr Alooro caught the rat in the vicinity of the child’s bed the following night. He stated this was the only black native rat lie had seen for many years fa the vicinity.

At the Groymouth Court yesterday morning before Afessrs A. Naylor and J. D. Lynch, J’.s.P., Cecil Henry Winter Be Lauteur and Charles Henry Atki"s were charged, that, on April 2, at Otira, they did unlawfully and without colour of right, but not so as to be guilty of theft, within, the meaning of the Crimes Act, 1908, convert to their own use a motor-car valued at £'2oo, the property of Frederick Cecil Rushton, and De Lauteur was also charged with driving without a license*. The accused were remanded ur+d next Monday on Senior-Sergeant Poach an plying for the remand, stating that the car had been left on the road at Otira between 'two slips, and had been entrusted to a man to tr ~r- k to Springfield. While- left- on the road, however, a quantity of gear was taken from the c»r. The two men drove the ear a considerable distance, and when it was returned it was found to he damaged. He asked far a remand in order that further enquiries might be made. Bail wag allowed each accused in self £25, with one surety of £25.