DOMINION TELEGRAMS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 16, 11 September 1912, Page 2

DOMINION TELEGRAMS.

THE .CASE OF DR. RUSSELL. (Per Press Aissociation.) Christchurch, September 10. Dr. Charles James Russell, arrested on Thursday last, charged with unlawfully using an instrument on a woman, appeared before the Court to-day and was further remanded till Monday next. Bail was allowed himself in £4OO and one security of £4OO. The bail was forthcoming. JEWELLERY THEFT. Westport, September 10. At the Magistrate’s Court to-day, Win. Borsiea pleaded guilty to the theft of watches, jewellery, rare coins and other articles, valued at £9O, the property of Mrs G. H. Martin, proprietress of the Railway Hotel, Granity, and was committed to the Supremo Court sittings at Westport for sentence. AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. Marton, September, 10. A meeting of the Marton Farmers’ Union discussed the proposed site for an agricultural college, and resolved that the attention of the Government lie drawn to the unique advantages of Marton as a site, it being in a central position, affording excellent railway facilities, and having an agricultural district with soil eminently adapted for experimental work. A deputation will wait on the Prime Minister at an early date. STEALING STATUTES. Auckland, September 10.

Prior to the departure of the steamer Atua for Suva to-day, Detectives Hammond ami Quartermain arrested a man named Charles Fish on a charge of absconding from bail at Wellington. He was brought before the Police Court later in the day, and remanded to appear at Wellington next Tuesday. The original charge upon which he appeared at Wellington, when he was remanded and allowed bail, was that of stealing from Parliament Buildings, Wellington, a number of volumes of consolidated statutes, of the total value of about £IOO. Fish was employed as library messenger for about eleven years, and it is alleged that when the statutes were consolidated in 1908 and the new volumes were in general demand, he stole them at intervals and sold them to second-hand book dealers, who in turn re-sold them to solicitors and those requiring them. A number of the missing volumes have been recovered, some of them being found in Auckland, Hamilton and other places. When arrested, Fish had a ticket for Suva in his possession, in the name of W. 0. Watkins, also a large sum of money. SIX MONTHS FOR DESERTION. Auckland, September 10. At the Police Court, Frederick William Lajton, who was traced through the publicity given his ca.se by the Salvation Army, was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment for wife desution, and six months’ for deserting his family, the sentences to bo cumulative. Mrs Layton and family arrived from Canada last December, expecting to be met in Auckland by her husband, who could not be found. With only 17s 6d in her possession, she obtained the assistance of the Salvation Army. Her husbands’ portrait, published in the Army journal, led to his identification'as a man who had been a shipmate on the steamer Rotorua, where he passed as a single man and paid marked attention to a young lady at Christchurch, and that they later went to Melbourne and started in the soft drinks business.

CIVIL SERVICE BILL

Wellington, September 10

A deputation from the Civil Service Association interviewed the Minister for Justice to-day in connection with the Public Service Bill. Mr Allport, president, said that the Civil Service was pleased with the Bill, and hoped that it would become law, but there were some points to be brought before the Minister. The deputation suggested that a member of the service who used political influence to better his position should not be immediately dismissed, but should be suspended with a view to an enquiry. Several suggestions were made as to the powers of the commissioner and assistants. The salaries of the latter should be raised from £BOO to £IOOO. In the ease- of appeals, appellant should be

allowed to be represented by counsel. The deputation also asked that the retiring age be fixed at 65. The Minister said he approved of a great many of the suggestions put forward, and would, if possible, give effect to them. The constitution of the board was the chief matter. He had adopted the Xew South Wales system as the best suited to New Zealand. He did not think there was any serious objection to appellants being allowed to employ counsel. He was prepared to move an amendment to provide for regulations being made by the Governor-in-Oouncil, not by the Governor. He would leave the compulsory retiring age alone, and lie did not want to interfere with the Superannuation Act.

THE PUBLIC SERVICE

Dunedin, September 10

At a largely attended meeting of civil servants last night, to consider the Public Service Bill, it was resolved to forward the following remits to the executive of the Civil Servic Association :—That aspirants for appointment as Supreme Court Judges, Arbitration Court Judges, Native Land Court Judges, Controller and AuditorGeneral, Defence officers, railway servants, and Legislative officers, l>e also disqualified if they obtain or attempt to obtain the assurance of a member of the General Assembly to procure an appointment (1) that M’iS.P. and M.’s L.C. he deemed to commit a breach of the Act if they assist or attempt to assist anyone to a Government appointment, and that the punishment therefor be forfeit of their seats, this remit not to apply to members of t . Ministry; (.3) that in the event ol commissioners being appointed to cm, trol appointments, etc., one of them be selected from the civil service; (■! that provision be made recognising for grading and promoting purposes, examinations already passed by officers; (5) that clericals have an opportunity of being transferred to the professional division; (6) that inquiries into allegations of misconduct bo conducted with strict regard to the law of evidence; (7) that provision ho made for giving officers timely notice of a vacancy in a higher position, and affording them an opportunity of applying therefor.