NEWS AND NOTES

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2477, 7 September 1922, Page 4

NEWS AND NOTES

“I don't wish it to be thought that the poor can offend with impunity," said Mr Wyvern Wilson, S.M., at Christchurch, when he was asked by counsel to dismiss a by-law case as trivial. A bov was charged with having ridden a bicycle on the footpath, and counsel stated that the family was in poor circumstances. The lad earned 30s a week which went to the “family fund." and the mother also went out working. The magistrate said lie would not dismiss the ease, but he would convict defendant without penalty. All tho major planets that, are visible Lo the naked eye may be seen in the western skv at one time for a fortnight hence. Four of these heavenly bodies are within a space of 20 deg rees. Ihe brightest and highest of the four is Venus, under which is Jupiter, the next in brilliancy. Twico the distance below is Saturn, which is much fainter, Mercury, a rarely seen star, being a similar distance under Saturn. The planet Mars, which presented such a fine spectacle three months ago, is the brightest star overhead. Uranus will he in opposition this week, rising when the sun sets. An occasion of unusual interest to Freemasons was celebrated at Dunedin a few days ago, when the Dunedin Lodge Nu 931 E.C. celebrated its 60tli anniversary in conjunction with its aimua.l installation of the \Y.M. of tho lodge. An apprehension that Stewart Island might be occupied by a hostile force which would threaten Australia and New Zealand was raised by the Southern News in 1862, when tidings arrived in New Zealand of the American Civil War. The news arrived here on February 21. 1862, 87 days after the outbreak of war. This was one of the many interesting parts of early history in Otago which Mr C. S. Owen included in his presidential address at the annual meeting of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce. Who the party was that it was feared would occupy Stewart Island was not made clear. Early in the session some large petitions asking for the licensing of bookmakers were presented to the House of Representatives. These petitions were referred to the M to Z Public Petitions Committee, which will consider them to-morrow. Tho commit 100 w ill probably tabo the evidence of some of the interested parties. The petitions involve a question of policy that is bound to bo referred to the Government for decision. In the seamen’s dispute, heard before the Arbitration Court at \\ ellingtoii, Mr W. T. Young, representing the Seamen s Federation, said ho understood from the judgment of tho Court, ill Auckland on the waterside foremen’s case against the L mo l } Steamship Company, that preference would not be granted a union that had a rule empowering it to impose a levy on its members The executive, anticipating such action being taken, had passed a resolution deleting the levy charge from the rules ot the organisation on t;no Court intimating that preference would be granted.