LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 37, 13 February 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A fine of 20s with costs 7s was imposed on John B. Murray at the

Court this morning on a charge oi leaving a horse and trap unattended

and without having one wheel of tlu vehicle locked.

A project is on foot, says the News, for holding a combined picnic for tho children of New Plymouth and suburban schools at Stratford on March 12. Final arrangements will he made at a meeting of committees and teachers to be held in the town hall on February 20.

In order to popularise the East Egmont Mountain House band concerts have been arranged, and the second of the series will take place on Sunday next, when the Eltham Band will render a programme of items at the House. With a continuance of

the present fine weather it is fairly certain that the track will he in excel lent order. There are a number of nice trips round the House, and a very pleasant day can be spent there. ■ ' -

“Is there any juror who has been sum moped who is willing to serve Y” asked Judge Edwards at the 4\anganni Supreme Court sessions when the common jury list was being called over, and the operation was being frequently punctuated by applications for excuse. The reason put forth in support of the applications included deafness, tho participation in an important bowling tour, tjie partial disorganisation of an important Borough service if the man summoned was desired to attend, and the fact that the applicant had once sat on a case that had occupied thirteen days in hearing.

A reminder is given of the meeting to Do held in the Borough Council Chambers this evening for the purpose of forming a Mountain Club. Stratford’s Mountain House is the nearest one to the railway line, and offers every advantage to the visitor; and it is desirable that the peopi of Stratford should 'get to know the charms of the mountain to a greater extent than at present. The proposed club will do a great deal towards this end. A large number of the young people of the tow.n have stated their intention of joining the Club, and a good membership is assured.

It took Mr G. AV. K. Kenriek. S.M., only twenty minutes to dispose of the business at the Court this morning. The “criminal” charges only amounted to three, and of the small number of civil cases lasted the majority were “enlarged.” The Bar, whose accommodation has been inereased and re-arranged, were in fairly full force, but the “audience” was entirely lacking—in fact, a person who bad attended for the purpose of having a rest would hardly have had time to settle down after the announcement “The Magistrate’s Court is now open” before the announcement “The .Magistrate’s Court stands adjourned till next sitting” would have wakened him up and turned him out again on the hard pavement.

“This was a particularly mean and dirty trick,” said Senior Sergeant "Bourke at the Wanganui Magistrate’s Court on Monday, when explaining a case in which a man named Robert Penson, was charged with obtaining 10s by means of a fraud. The man went to a labour registry office in town, and the manageress obtained for Idm a position as Hitchenman at a hotel in Inglewood. He said he had no money to go there and asked for his train fare, which his would-be employer at Inglewood forwarded on request. He signed a paper stating that he had received the money. In-

stead of proceeding to Inglewood, defendant remained in Wanganui. I'pnn one nr two leading questions being asked by Ids Worship it was discovered that accused had another position to go to when he went to the registry office and had no intention of going to Inglewood. His "Worship sentenced him to three days’ imprisonment in Wanganui Police gaol.

Only two judgments by defauL were given at the Court tins morning —Newton King v. Tlios. Gooch, lit ds (Jd, costs .22 i(is 6d; A. Klee v. H. A. Yeldham, i'u 10s, £1 12s (id. The population of New. Zealand at December 01, 1913, was estimated at (exclusive of Maoris) 1,084,662, an increase of 02,002, made up of 17,816 excess of birtns over deaths, and 14,2.19 excess of arrivals over departures. The usual monthly meeting of tlnyj Siratford Countv Council will be held« at the County Office, Stratford, on Wednesday next. Cr. Christ off el is to move: "That the question of placing a toll gate cm the Mountain Road in the North Riding be now considered.” The Defence Department announces that the exclusive' right to sell newspapers in the camps in the Wellington district will not ho given to the canteen contractors, but all authorised newspaper runners will be allowed to sell papers during the day when the troops are not at work.—P.A. “He was previously working in. Stratford, but is now moving about the country dodging this summons,” said Sergeant McNeely at the Court this morning regarding Jack Lee, who was charged with failing to attend a Cadet drill. A fine of 20s with costs 7s was imposed, in default seven days’ military custody. A meeting of members of the Liberal League was held last night, when the plan of organisation ior the coming : electoral campaign was fully discussed. I This evening a meeting will be held

in the Foresters’ Hall of delegates from the various branches of the League, when the choosing of a candidate to stand in the Liberal interest will bo the chief business.

A Dannevirke Press Association telegram states: A daring theft was perpetrated at Benzie’s private hotel*-

yesterday morning. The proprietor, Mr J. A. Boss, was making up the cash, and while doing so was called out of the room by one of his family. He closed and locked the cash box. On returning a few minutes later he found the box open and the cash amoumng to £54 missing, also cheques to the value of £l2. The thief has not been apprehended.

A party of four Stratfordites had a rather unpleasant experience last night when returning by car from New Plymouth. At a point on the road this side of Midhirst where there is a decided drop from tho metal down to the soft clay, the off hind wheel was punctured, and the machine skidded on to the clay and turned completely over. Two of the occupants were thrown clear and the others were got; from below the machine, nobody sustaining any injury beyond slight cuts, bruises and gravel rash.

Charles Henry Latham, by his counsel. Mr Lawrence, pleaded guilty, at the Court this morning to having on January 30th entered the premises of.the Stratford Hotel, he at the time being the subject of a prohibition order. Air Lawrence said defendant, who was milking on shares at Waipuku, was on the premises for a legitimate object—he was endeavouring to get labor for his farm. Sergeant AlcXeely said defendant had been fined for similar breaches at Eltham on March 20th and April 2nd of this year. A fine of 40s with 7s costs was inflicted.