NEWS AND NOTES

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3010, 13 March 1926, Page 4

NEWS AND NOTES

At the sitting of the Supreme Court at Napier, when a man was found guilty of a serious offence at Waipukurau, the following rider was added: “This jury hears with disgust the lax way in which parents concerned allow girls of tender years to go joy-ridiim and to dances indiscriminately at all hours of the night and morning. Wlhile this state of affairs continues, cases of a revolting nature such as we have just been forced to listen to are bound to occur.” His Honour Chief Justice Skerrctt, said he thoroughly agreed with jury. A willing lad, one of the kind of boys who make headway in the world, called up a local business man and asked for employment, (says the Eltham Argus). The lad was a schoolboy, but was desirous of getting a job sweeping a shop in the morning and tidying up again in the evening after school hours. The business man did not particularly want a boy at the time but he was pleased by tho boy’s desire to be employed, so he engaged him at five shillings a week. Things went on all right until an inspector arrived. Then the employer discovered that he had committed an offence, that lie could not keep the boy unless he paid him ten shillings a week. He could have him working all day long for the same money; but that would not suit the boy, as he was at school. The employer had to pay three months’ “arrears.” Schoolboys for sweeping shops are at a discount now.' Sir James Parr, who is about to take up the position of High Commissioner in London, will be the sixth holder of that office. The Hon. W. Pember Reeves, who was the last of the Agents-general, was the first High Commissioner, his appointment under that designation dating from June 1905. Mr Reeves held the office for over three years when he resigned and was succeeded by Sir James William Hall-Jones. Next came Sir Thomas Mackenzie, Mr. Palliscr filling a short interregnum from June to August 1912, Sii James Allen succeeded Sir Thomas MacKenzie in 1920. It is interesting to note that of the five .holders of the office two have been Prime Ministers while three have held the portfolio of Minister of Education. There were also five Agents-general. The first was Dr. Isaac Earl Featherston, the first Superintendent of Wellington. Next came Sir Julius Vogel and after Sir Francis Dillon Bell, father of the present Sir Francis. The fourth Agent-general was Sir Weston Perceval and the fifth Mr. Reeves.