News From All Quarters.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 17 November 1917, Page 1

News From All Quarters.

A writ has been issued on behalf of Taiawhio Te Tau and his children against W. G. Beard, solicitor, of Masterton, and l'ani Te Tau, claiming a declaration of trust in respect of certain property at Lansdowne, with an alternative claim against W. G. Beard for £2500 damages for alleged negligence. The case will be heard at the next sitting of the Supreme Court at Masterton in March.

Fred. C. .Eraser, found guilty of conspiring to defraud and of attempting to obtain money under false pretences, was sentenced at "Wellington yesterday to two years' reformative detention, and to be sent to Kaingaroa. Tho Ohief Justice said he would bring the case before the Prisons' Board at an early date. Tho Board might grant probation after a time.

The appearance of a magistrate in the witness-box is an unusual event, but this occurrcd at a sitting of the Military Service Board at Auckland, when Mr E. C. Oattcn, S.M., appeared in support of the appeal of J. T. Bishop, clerk of the Magistrate's Court. Mr Cutten said he was appearing on behalf of the Justice Department. The Court staff had been, already severely handicapped owing to the number of men who had left it for the front, and great difficult}- was experienced in getting the work of the Court through. It had been found impossible to overtake it by night work. The Department had been frequently applied to for assistance, but it could not be supplied. The appellant, who has three brothers on service, was granted exemption sine die.

At a memorial service to the late John CoulthaTii, the victim of the Kunanaga murder, Archdeacon York, of Grey-aouth, made soma most indiscreet remarks. Amongst other things he said that the thought had occurred to him that here was evicence of military training and experience. Again, the man who could handle two revolvers at the

same time, and na<s the daring and nerve to do such a desperate deed, becsasc ho must have assumed that one at leant of the three in the car would be carrying a revolver, was no ordinary civilian. He thought that it was highly probable that the murderer was either a returned soldier or an enemy alien. Returned soldiers who had been through our modern battlefields admitted that war had a brutalising effect upon some men. Blood and carnage that would horrify an ordinary individual had no effect- upon them. "These remarks have created intense indignation and the local papers arc full of adverse criticism. On Saturday week Denny Murphy's title to th- li'iddleweight professional idianip'onship v. as disputed at Greyby Frank Griffin, a Eunanga lad. The ended in favour of Murphy, v/}!" kn-'cked his opponent out in the * ! .'-".tli round. Describing the fight, fh" "Or. / wiilli . A rgua" says: Denny Murphy wu>- keenly observed as he "IV the most ardent supporters M ! '!i:ri:i W"d {hat the local 'an li-.-.l •' ]>:•_' u:idrvi:;kir-g 1 >>--e him to I-.-ei such sisi e\p:'!''ei>c\Nl fighter, who -ii;iTV-il ;>i t!:f very pink of condition. a liv no moans overawed ; : r v ;; p.'doebtnble adversary 's rec-rd, n»t'l confidently frt>m the start. ll'- on Ilu* aggressive during the great :t part- c-f the thirteen rounds that the furht lasted, and it speaks well for his condi; inn that lie was able to persist is: his hurricane method of fighting for so long. Murphy had evidently made a careful study of Griffin's methods, and had prepared his mode of defence. He adopted a very effective smother, and against this Griffin found himself at a loss. lie simply exhausted himself hammering a way at the well protected body and head of his opponent. As soon as Griffin slackened his efr'orts. Murphy would let loose one or two, and goad his adversary into fresh activity. This continued antil the eighth round, when Griffin began to tire. Murphy then became more aggressive, and the end came in the thirteenth round. Griffin, however, was full of fight to the last, and on several occasions lie cut loose with a tempest of blows that forced Murphy to cover up until the danger was past. It was a rattling contest, and worth going' a long way to see. Griffin was heartily applauded for his plucky fight, and his admirers have incieased in numbers since Saturday night.