LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 95, 18 November 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A witness in the “shouting” cases at the Stratford Magistrate’s Court! yesterday asked if he could be allowed a fee for attending, and Mr Haselden, I S.M., replied that as the police got; the fine of £5, they could afford to pay, their witnesses.

An excellent load has been given by a resident of the Toko district, whoso only identity is “Sheepo,” who donated the sum of £2O quite ( unsolicited to the Toko Patriotic, Committee on behalf of the Red, Cross Fund. Mr M. Gernhoefer, 1 chairman of the committee, publicly acknowledges receipt of the money, j

At the Stratford Magistrate’s Court yesterday afternoon before Mr W. R. Haselden, S.M., judgment was given in the following civil cases:—Lyttelton Times Co., Ltd., v. G. H. Thomas £6 3s fid, costs 14s; W. Elder v. A. 1 A. Outhbertson £3 Is 9d, costs os; E. Mason v. Barton Bros. £3, costs ss; G. W. Mills v. Loveridge £■! los, 1 costs Bs. ;

At a quarter past ten on Thursday night the machinery in connection with the Waverley electric light work was started and the light switched on to the town for the first time (re-; ports the Patea. Press). The lamps (200 c.p.) are hung from the centre' of the street, in the main street,' about 35 yards apart and it will be; readily understood how brilliantly the' street is now lighted. ,

During the hearing of a case of “shouting” at the local Magistrate’s Court yeserday, Mr W. R. Haselden, S.M., said: “There is no doubt the accused was on the spree. TV hen three men go on the spree they generally i “shout for one another.” Mr Haselden mentioned that after reading the anti-shouting regulations ho could not but admire the skill of the draftsman.

She had that light springing stop,' perfect poise, and an alertness of hearing which suggested the athletic sportswoman, and withal there was that showiness which tells so much in a crowd of onlookers making them curious enough to enquire “What s on?” At this time of the year, as the Sun disperses the rain clouds, there is a noticeable “coming out” on the part of the fair sex. There is the smart patent leather hoots, and the khaki costume even to the broadrimmed hat, the most conspicuous items of the smart set among the fair sex as they appear in the Broadway. These are the human swallows heralding the approach of the annual show of the, Stratford A. and P. Association. It is the way of the fair sex to announce that they intend to appear at the ringside at our Show On the 29th and 30th inst.

An incident which occurred in Wellington on Wednesday during the drawing of the first ballot under the ■Military Service Act, showed how well every point in regard to it had been thought out beforehand, (states the Times) and how careful the Government Statistician (Mr Malcolm Fraser) has been to ensure that every rogistraton card sent in can be ac counted for. When one of tnc “drums” was made, a young lady in charge of one of the sets of the boxes called the attention of the supervis-ing magistrate (Mr S. E. McCarthy, S.M.) to the fact that there were two registration cards, one inside the othei. The Government Statistician pointed out that tbe cards were duplicates, adding that the reservist in question had sent in two registration cards, ami that simple but very effective plan bad been adopted to secure that both should be preserved and duly accounted for.

A prize cake was the subject of legal proceedings in the Palmerston North Magistrate’s Court, in which an application was made to have the healing of defendant’s evidence taken at Palmerston, the venue of the* cake being Murchison, West Coast. The cake in ' question was made for a patriotic raffle, to be awarded the parson who guessed tho correct weight. The plaintiff guessed the correct weight, and found the cake made of sawdust. He then proceeded against the defendant for the value of the cake. The affair aroused considerable interest in Murchison. The plaintiff alleged that on August 3rd the defendant falsely and maliciously wrote and caused to be printed, a letter in the Murchison “Standard,” for which he claimed £lO damages, “on account of words calculated to expose him to contempt and ridicule.” The defence was a denial by defendant that she wrote the letter. The Magistrate said the plaintiff had. very little sense of humour. Also that he could not have very much ground for action against tho defendant in respect of the cake,

for, after all, he had only got what he had guessed for. The evidence of the defendant is to he forwarded to Murchison.

Despite the cold and cloudy weather to-day, Broadway at noon was crowded with people and vehicles. The reason for this influx of people was simply that it was “cheque day.” At yesterday’s sitting of the local Magistrate’s Court before Mr W. R. Haselden, S.M., C. Arden was charged on the information of Inspector Wakeliu with failing to exhibit an employees’ time table as required by law, and a fine of £1 was imposed.

Weather Forecast.—The indications are for northerly winds moderate to strong freshening, and backing by west to south after about 24 hours. The weather appears likely to be cloudy and unsettled. Rain probable. The barometer has a falling tendency. Bates, Wellington.

When one of the defendants was in the box at the Stratford Magistrate’s Court yesterday on the “shouting” oases, and some argument arose as ‘to the evidence given at the Treves inquest, Mr Haselden, S.M., said that although the defendant could be held responsible for what he swore at the inquest, on one else should he held responsible for his sworn statements.

There is a good deal of optimism abroad that the “Ocean Transport Co.” will he something more than a name. At Waverley yesterday Messrs J. B. Richards and E. Marfell met a representative gathering of producers by invitation, and so enthusiastic were they that a committee was set up to further the project. Mr Dickie presided over the somewhat private gathering, and the scheme being outlined (as previously referred to in our columns) some discussion followed, when the project was unanimously approved. Now that committees have been set up in Hawera, Waverley and Stratford their united influence, wisely directed, should be sufficient to produce that potent poWer which should go far to create more than a mere impression on the magnates who can direct our ships across the sea. So far, there has been no adverse note struck, though that does not imply that the scheme is faultless,’hut the wisdom of running our own ships with our own produce will appeal to everyone, except the heavy dividend pockets of those whose interests are in the shipping companies. Now that Stratford has prompted the idea, it us right that everyone should “take it up.”