STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 June 1916, Page 3

STRATFORD.

MAGISTRATE'S COURT. (From Our Dwn Correspondent). otratford, June 10. t A sitting of the Court was held before Mr. W. 11. llaselde:i, S.M., afternoon. 'BREACH OF POSTAL ACT The adourned case against Henry Mowbray for a breach of the Stamp Act b) using defaced stamps on a letter was further proceeded with. Mary .Mowbray pleaded not guilty to a similar charge. Kvidcnee of a forman nature was given by S. G. Stanton, postmaster. Defendant' said he could not account tor the defaced stamps being on the letter. His Worship convicted and fined Mowbray £6 and costs 15s. The charge against Mrs. Mowbray was dismissed. TROUBLE AT DOWLAS. Thomas Gillard and William Hen were charged with stone throwing on May 20 and causing mischief at Douglas. Mr. A. H Johnstone, who appeared for the defendants, pleaded not guilty. Kvidence was given for the prosecution by (.'ertrude Bredow and C. Bredow. After defendants had given evidence the charge was withdrawn. William R. Watson. Frederick Needham, William Rea and Thomas Gillard were then charged with throwing stones to the danger of property. Mr. Johnstone, in pleading guilty, said on the date mentioned (May 20) a motor-ear passed, and defendants for some mason picked up stones and threw them at tlic ear. The defendants were sorry for their conduct. His Worship: 1 yon want to throw stones why don't you enlist and throw stones at the Germans? | Mr. Johnstone said he would not have mentioned the matter only for his Worship's remarks. This was the trouble in this case: there was a racial feeling in the district, and the present charges were the outcome. Sergeant Dale naid that larrikinism has been so bad at Douglas that the police ha ye to make frequent visits there. Mr. Bredaw's sheep-dip and gate posts had been blown up, and he was instructed to apply for a heavy penalty i His Worship fined each defendant 20s, 20s for damage to motor-car and witnesses' expenses 325. MAINTENANCE CASH. William Green was charged with disobeying a maintenance order m regard to the support of his wifo and children. His Worship convicted defendant and sentenced him to three months' imprisonment. the warrant not to be issued if defendant pays £2 5s on June 30 to the clerk of the Court at Patea and £2 5s every 14 days thereafter. CEHMNEf ON FIRS, A resident was fined 5s and costs "s for allowing the chimney of her residence to catch on fire. JUVENILE COURT, In the Juvenile Court two young lads were charged with having air-guns in their possession, [lis Worship admonished the lads and ordered the guns to be confiscated. BURGLARIEB. This morning, when Mr R. il White, of Messrs R. H. White and Co., opened his business premises he found that a back, window had been broken and an entrance made by pulling back the lock. The burglars, once inside, made straight to the clothing department, and apparently helped themselves to sundry clothing and 3s 3d in cash. After a survey otf the shop the intruders evidently made their exit by the front door, as this was found unbolted ivhen Mr. White opened up. The premises were noticed by several people to be lighted up about II o'clock last evening, and that was the time the burglars were evidently at work.

From Messrs White and Co.s the burglars next made an entrance into No. 1 sample room at the County Hotel, which was oc-rtipied by Mr. Doig Smith, representative of Messrs McEldovncy Bros. The articles taken were nil of men's attire, and so well had the intruders done their work that tliev actually sorted out the size.-: of shirts and lifted sundry towels, braces, scarves, etc., and an overcoat, and to make sure sorted the coat out and walked oil' with the most expensive. The sample-room next door was visired, hut the commercial traveller there had packed up everything ill hampers, except a small parcel of blouses, and after breaking open the parcel the culprits. left the article alone. GENERAL, Tt is stated that the Borough Council has been notified by the Auditor-Gen-eral that tlie building of shops in the new municipal buildings is illegal, and he is calling upon the Council to pav .ennon. the cost of such building. li will only bo a small matter of .COOO lor each councillor! The letter has been referred to Mr. T. F. Martin, of Wel- . lington, for his opinion. Although not publicly announced., it is understood that the valuers in connection with the valuation of the Stratford Electrical Supply Co.'s plant have their work, and that the amount awarded by the two assessors is such that the Council should have no difficulty in carrying a loan to purchase the undertaking. ' BCJ'IOUGH AFFAIRS. The Mayor of Stratford (Mr. -T, W. Boon) write:—Sir, —Yoiir correspondent, ! in your issue of June 10, says that the borough staff are to be seen cleaning un the streets and footpaths, and that residents have never seen so much valuable work done for many years and infers that this work is flic outcome of his letters. As a matter of fact the men were doing this work when the letters appeared. Tie says my statement that '•'pipes were put in next day" is not correct, and I think he misunderstood me. The position is this: There has been a nuisance on St. Mary's School property, caused by the Council many years ago stopping the natural watercourse in forming the foot-path. To carry the water, a drain was dug on private property 150 feet long, which has been a recurring expense for cleaning out twice a year. and. as it was a menace to public health, the engineer and I met the St. Mary's School hoard on the ground on two occasions and recommended the Council to dr. 110 work, on private property. biit to allow the board to fill in ! the drain, and when the source of the I water was located the Council would put in the drain ncro.-s the footpath, a distance of 13 feet instead of pining the | 150 feet on private property. This She | Council adopted, and the engineer, imI mediatelv he was aware the flood had j run over the footpath, fixed the pipes. | While not objecting to fair criticism, I I think this will make the matter clear.