LOCAL AND GENERAL

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 208, 27 April 1932, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Publicans and Sinners ^ "My experience is that there are very few lieensees in the country ' who do observe the law as to closing hours. They say that times are hard and that they must value a few bob," said Senior Sergeant Carroll in the Magistrate's Court yesterday when outlining a licensing case. "I quite eoncede, your Worship, that in some eases a puhlican is often a sinner,'' quickly rejoined Mr. M. H. Hampson, who appeared in the case. "That Was Firiish" "Had thpy paid for the drinks?" encpaired Senior Sergeant Carroll, when cross-examining a barman in- a licensing case in the Magist-rate's Court yesterday. "I don't think so, and when yon came in that was finish," replied the witness, amid laughter. Loss to Mount Maunganui Jt is reported by a Rotorua resident who. returned yesterday from Mount Maunganui that the workshops at the Mount will be closed in about a week's thne. As many of the permanent residents at the resort were employed in the workshops, the decision to close down will probably mean a substantial reduction in the population, which will be seriously felt by the business people, who have relied largely upon their patronage, especially during the winter season. New High School Master The Rotorua High School Board at its meeting last evening confirmed the appointment of Mr. N. P. Pitcaithly of the staff of the Auckland Grammar School to fill the vacant position on the staff of the Rotorua High School created by the reeent resignation of Mr. C. A. Noble. Mr. Pitcaithly who is 25 years of age, holds a Master of Arts degree and is an Associate of the N.Z. Institute of Chemistry. He is a son of Mr. N. Pithcaithly late senior inspector of schools, and has special qualifications as a teacher of chemistry and agriculture. For the past four years Mr. Pitcaithly has been in charge of the gymnasium training at the Grammar School and has also assisted in the coaching of cricket and football teams.

Schpol Entrance Age "The Econpmy Commission is recommend:ng an increase in the primary school entrance age. If that is carried out, it will mean that about 10 per cent. of the teachers will have to go and they will not need any students for years to come," remarked Mr E. C. Banks at last evening's meeting of the Rotorua High School Board. Five Hunclred Tournament The usual fortnightly 500 tournament will be held in the Druids' Hall at 8 p.m. this evening. Good prizes are offered and supper is provided. Cyclist Struck by Car A ten-year-old boy, William John Hooper, of Te Ngae, was knoclced off his bicycle shortly before 9 o'clock yesterday morning, by a motor-car driven by Mr. James Prentice, of Pirongia. It is understood that the car was turning from Arawa Street East to the right into Tutanekai Street when the cycle was struck. The boy escaped uninjured, though the cycle was extensively damaged.

Poetic Justice A recent incident in a suburban garden rather points a moral to youngsters who enjoy the excitement of raiding orchards, perhaps under the impression that stolen fruit tastes sweetest, although the eulprits in this case were three youths aged about 20 years. The owners had retired early and the house was in darkness when they were disturbed by noises outside. The man of the house silently arose from his bed and going out into the grounds caught the intruders helping themselves to his apples. Two made successful escapes, but the third was unfortunate enough to fall into a heap of tangled barbed wire which had been placed in a eorner of the garden in the course of tidying up. This one was caught, but such a sorry plight, with torn clothes and scarred body, that the owner, who admitted that he had also been an orehard raider in his time, toolc pity on him and let him go, considering that he had been sufficiently punished; a kind of poetic justice. The other two, however, had escaped scot free. Opening of Chess Season The Rotorua Chess Club held a very successful opening function on Friday evening when a president's team v. Captain's team tournament was played. Eight tables were entered and the president's team won by the narrow margin of four and a-half games to three and a-half games. The finest exhibition of play given during the evening was between the leaders of the two teams, Mr. L. Andrews (president) , and Mr W. J. Kurney (captain). Mr. Andrews, hy earefully considered attack from a queen's pawn opening, forced his opponent to resign after the seventeenth move.