LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 May 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A witness in the cattle-stealing case in the Supremo Court yesterday was being cross-examined as to the number of cattle he had lost, and an endeavor was being made to determine the number of lieifers and steers amongst them. Finally counsel asked: "It was then either 11 heifers and 0 steers, or 6 steers and 11 heifers?" to which witness answered, "Yes."

The fire brigade had a call late on Sunday evening, the occasion being the discovery of a fire in rooms occupied by Maoris over Mr. A. Veale's premises in Brougham Street. Owing to the fire being discovered in its early stage, and the promptness of the brigade's arrival, it was soon extinguished. Comparatively little damage was done to the building, but it is understood that MrVeale's stock suffered somewhat from water.

Chaplain Hanby wishes gratefully to acknowledge, on behalf of the Church of England Institute for Soldiers in Rotocua, a generous gift (the third) of about 20 currant cakes, sugar, tinned milk, and a tin of biscuits from the New Plymouth Women's Patriotic Committee, per Mrs. Burgess. These are distributed to the boys in conjunction with the free refreshments given by the Institute, and the home-made cakes especially prove a very popular addition to the daily fare.

A young man named lan Potts, a returned soldier, who arrived in New Plymouth on Saturday evening, met with rather serious injuries yesterday afternoon. He was riding a bicycle in Devon Street, iand when near Mr. Roberts, jeweller, fell heavily to the ground, being rendered unconscious. He was attended by Dr. Wade, who renderd first aid and then ordered Potts' removal to the hospital. It is understood the injuries were sustained through the cycle skidding on the tramline. On making inquiry at the hospital laßt night, it was reported that the young soldier was showing signs of recovery from the concussion.

The Peace Treaty, including substitutions, ran into 13,098 words. Excellent dispatch was given by the telegraph authorities in the Dominion, but there was some hitch in arrangements outside, as transmission stopped altogether for hours at a time, and delivery was stretched over some thirty-six hours. In addition, the sections did not arrive in sequence, and gaps were left which seriously interfered with prompt handing in to tlie telegraph office. We are indebted to the telegraphists of the New Plymouth Post Office for the prompt and efficient manner in which they handled the work.

A particular bull was the subject of some amusement during the course of the hearing of the cattle-stealing case in the Supreme Court yesterday. A witness with an unmistakably foreign accent was being questioned as to the means of identifying the animal, which had been referred to as a blue bull, when counsel for the accused tested his reliability as to the matter of color. It transpired, according to witness, that the "blue" bull was mostly white, with a spot or two of red. The judge remarked that cream and roan had been suggested as some of the colors, and in reply to another question by counsel, the witness stated there was also some cream in the animal's color. The foreman of the jury asked if witness could tell them the breed of the bull, to which he replied, "No breed at all." A further attempt was made to elucidate the matter by his Honor, who asked if witness kept, or knew the size of, a multi-colored bull, to which witness replied that they had it, but had sold it. The matter was then allowed to drop. Later, in reply to the Crown solicitor, witness said he came to New Zealand from Switzerland about five years ago, and did not understand English very well. Farmers whose capital is limited, and who desire to start dairying on a farm of their own, should read W. H. and A. McGarry's fresh advertisement on page one.

If you want lorry tyres that will* stand any amount "of hard wear—fit NORTH BRITISH SOLID BAND TYRES. Used on the heavy army lorries in France, and moat of the lorries in the Dominion. District agent. W, For Chronio Chest Complaint* I

Wellington's water supply is causing some anxiety, and the Mayor stated a few days ago that citizens should not' endanger the supply by waste. On the motion of Mi - . Quillianr, probate of the will of the late Mr. James Baxter Gannett has been granted by the Supreme Court to Mr John Snell Connett, the executor therein named.

Mr. M. Maher, caretaker of the borough stables, fractured his hip yesterday, necessitating his removal to the hospital. Mr. Maher was sitting down conversing with the borough foreman, Mr. King, when he was seized with cramp in one of his legs, and in attempting to rise foil on to the asphalt footpath, with the above result.

A coal merchant who applied for exemption on the common jury at the Supreme Court yesterday morning, pleaded that New Plymouth had been v/ithout coal for a week, and as a shipment had just arrived he wished to get to work in connection with his supply of it. Exemption was granted. The next provincial conference of the Farmers' Union takes place at New Plymouth on the 23rd and 24th instant. Farmers in other parts of Taranaki are taking a much keener interest in the doings of the Union than for some time past. It is hoped that with the approaching conference being held in North Taranaki there will be a similar rousing of interest in this part of the district.

A publican who applied for exemption from jury service at the Supreme Court yesterday, stated that he had no bar tender, and as his wife was not well enough to carry on the work, it might be that he would have to close the bar unless he got exemption. "That would be a misfortune," remarked the judge, and the application was granted.

An unusual point arose> at the Supreme Court sittings yesterday. The Grand Jury wished to examine a little girl witness but felt she should be accompanied by her mother, also a witness. The foreman asked His Honor if the two witnesses could be examined in each other's presence. "Is it because of the little girl's nervousness?" asked His Honor. The foreman said this might be, but the jurors felt it would be more fit-tins' that the parent should be with her child in a situation that was admittedly delicate and diffksujt. His Honor said there could be no objection to this, and mentioned that as the child was under twelve years of age the oath could not be administered, a simple form of promising to tell the truth being all that was necessary.

A meeting, presided over by Mr Cutten, S.M., established a Young Citizens' League in Auckland last week. Mr Cutten said the object was to promote the general welfare of young people over school age. Many young people did not get u. fair chance in life and great wastage resulted. The community lost not only the benefit of good citizenship, but its welfare was endangered. Members of the league would be young psople, but it was suggested that adult honorary membership should also be provided. As for the religious policy of the league, the league would be non-sectarian on the basis of true religious feeling and reverence for God. Mr Cutten was elected first president. Messrs G. Fox; and A. Veale, who had been summoned for the Grand Jury at the Supreme Court yesterday morning, failed to answer when their names were called. His Honor gave them until the whole jury had been empanelled, and as there was still no appearance he ordered a fine of £5 in each case. Later, Mr Veale attended and pleaded that having been called to a fire on )ub premises early that morning, and having been engaged in connection therewith lie had overlooked his Bummons to attend at the hour of the court's sitting. His Honor accepted the explanation, and remitted the fine.