Manawatu Herald SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 1927. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3612, 12 March 1927, Page 2

Manawatu Hera ld SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 1927. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Patients admitted to the Palmerston North Hospital during February numbered 181 while 2(Mi were discharged, leaving in the institution on March Ist 111. The average number of infectious eases had been small —a few cases of scarlet fever and influenza being treated. At the Wellington Magistrate's Court on Thursday, Magistrate Riddell gave judgment for Klim Vera Maxwell for £2O against Isobel Wilson, the value of a threepearl dress ring negligently lost by her in Auckland while attending a beauty competition in which she was made maid of honour. On September 14 last Parliament was formally prorogued until Thursday, and a. notice gazetted, extended that prorogation until June 0. It is not likely that the House will assemble on this date, but it will probably meet about the middle of the month, as was the ease last year. A new method' .of handling fruit for the overseas liners has been adopted at Wellington. The fruit in the Nelson boat isi discharged on large trays, eaeli carrying about 50 eases. These trays are then taken on trailers and loaded direct on to the Home boat, thus obviating handling on the Wellington wharf. Fruit in cold stores is loaded on to trays in the same way, thus reducing handling in this direction also. Local motor vehicle owners are again requested to make application at. the Post Office for number plates for-their motors for 1927-28. All plates must- be attached on April Ist, and a severe penalty is provided for those failing to comply with the regulations in this respect. Early application for the number plates greatly facilitates the work in connection with the registration while those requiring the new numbers are not kept, waiting owing to a last few days rush.

When the Royal Marine Band from H.M.S. Renown was at Rotorua the bandmaster heard the Maori son" of farewell for the first time. He was so impressed with it that he requested the singers to give him a “private sitting,” during which he wrote the music as they sang. When the band returned to the 1 ship the bandmaster set to work to write out band parts, and at the ceremony of lowering the flag at sunset the following day the drum and fife band of H.M.S. Renown played the beautiful hymn, much to the delight of the 500 sailors and marines, who had heard it sung so sweetly at Rotorua. Before the full Royal Marine Band leaves New Zealand the people of the South Island will also hear the Maori hymn of farewell played. When asked, by counsel to suppress a name at Christchurch, Magistrate Mosley said: —“1 shall adopt the same policy as Mr. .Justice Stringer did the other day, and leave the publication of the name to the discretion of the Press. 1 don’t like these orders. My feeling is strongly against making them. Of course, counsel, in making the performance of their duty to their clients, almost always apply for the suppression of the names. The suppression of all names might as well lie ordered, with the result that crime would increase. There is no dictum for Lower Court to suppress a name and leave it lo the Higher Court to exercise its discretion in the matter. I am very sorry that the Court should be placed in this position.” Counsel: "I hope the Press will not publish the name in this ease." The Magistrate: “The Press can do ,jusl what they like.”