LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 April 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Lorain, which is bringing 15,000 cases of benzine from Now York to New Plymouth, is due to leave Auckland toddy for Wellington. From Wellington the Lorain proceeds to Wanganui and New Plymouth, sailing from here to Australia. There were two bankruptcies recorded in Wellington last month, as against none for the same period last year. For tho quarter ending March 31 there were only two bankruptcies, and one for the same period last year. The vital statistics in Unworn, for the month of March were: Births 28, marriages 8, and deaths 11. For the corresponding month of last year the figures were 10, 4, and 0 respectively. Remarkable lack of education was displayed by a defendant at the Waitara Magistrate's Court (writes our correspondent). In saying his education had been sadly neglected, he confessed he did not even know the months of tho year. He only knew it was Easter timo because he heard people talking about It. When a defendant charged in tho Wellington Magistrate's Court with using obscene language was asked if he had anything to say, he replied: "I admit I was a bit over the odds and had taken too much liquor. It is not a Iwbit of mine to use bad language—unless maybe when I am in the cowshed." The accused's record was not a good one and he was sent to prison for a month. The holiday traffic, both inwards and outwards, at New Plymouth has been heavy during the past day or two. Tho steamer for Onehunga has been fully booked on recent trips, and the south bound trains have also carried heavy loads of passengers. Likewise the intvard services have been heavily laden. The mail train on Thursday night consisted of about 15 carriages, all of which were crowded and it did not reach New Plymouth until about a quarter to nine. A large number on board were for the steamer, and many more north-bound passengers joined the train at New Plymouth station. For Influenza, take Wooda' Giwt Peppermint Cur*, 1/9, 2/0.

Win. Hannah appeared iu the Magistrate's Court on Thursday <m two charges of allowing cattle to wander on the Mnngorei road, in the nf Taranaki. He pleaded guilty and explained that the raws had got out through a hole in the fenee. The .Magistrate inflicted a tine of lfls and costs l'/s fid in each ease anil advised the offender to get the fenee repaired. The case of Lurscn Bros. v. H. L Young, both of Matau, a claim for £sl l'2s for n?e and occupation of land at Matau, and for wages, was heard at tlie Magistrate's Court at Waitara. Defendant iilmj tiled a counter-claim for wages and materials. The Magistrate granted a non-suit on the item, and, as the remaining items of the claim and counter-claim balanced each other, the non-suit disposed of the whole case. At Wellington Mr. Page. S.M., held, in the charge against Frank Montagu Pearn of a breach of the Secret Commissions Act, that the money given by him to Richard Gilkinson, civil servant, in an envelope endorsed "For Mrs. Gilkinson with my compliments," had been corruptly given. Pearn was fined £25. The charge against Arthur Rees Thomas, general manager for the firm which employed Pearn, of aiding and abetting the commission of the offence was dismissed. Staincr's passiontide service, "The Crucifixion," was sung at Whiteley last night by the choir of the church, assisted by several friends. The solo parts were well sustained l>y Mr. P. Prairie (tenor) and Mr. A. B. Maedonald (bass), and tlie choruses and cymns were sung in a reverent and devotional spirit by the choir. The Rev. .T. Napier Milne conducted brief appropriate exercises at the opening of the service- There was a large congregation, and the cll'crtory, which was for the choir fund, amounted to £8 10s. Acts of vandalism are much too common in New Plymouth, and the latest adventm'i. imthis respect is reported by the New Plymouth Tennis Club who discovered on Thursday morning that come hoodlums had entered their grounds during Wednesday night, and it'tcr -Tattering the hoops nnd pegs promiscuously over the croquet green, went the length of deliberately breaking off two of the Vnnis net posts, notwithstanding that those, are of iron piping and were sunk in a foundation of concrete. Such miscreants deserve the lash, and if they could be apprehended it would not be surprising if a substantial dose was administered.

When the question of the adjournment of a ease was mentioned in tin' Xew Plymouth Magistrate's Court on Thursday, for the purpose of allov/ins time for some additional information to be obtained, the Magistrate asked if a fortnight would be long enough, and counsel in ilie case remarked that he thought at least three weeks would lie nceessary to got some particular* from the Defence Department. Tlu< Magistrate gave an adjournment for four weeks. At the recent sittings of the Supreme Court at Hamilton the ease of Phillips v. Melville was hoard before Mr. Justice Cooper. The plaint iff claimed that he and the defendant had been working bee-farming in partnership, and he claimed a statement of accounts of the partnership. Alternatively he claimed that if there were no partnership that the hives in dispute belonged to the plaintiff, and lie claimed .•C.'Ci). The parties, who were beefarming near TCapmiga, shifted to "Waitoa,. in the Waikato district. There, according to defendant, although they shared living expenses and had their hives 011 the same locations, each party's hiver, were separate and were painted a different color to distinguish them- Neither profits 'nor losses were shared, nor did the one party attend to the other's hives. After a hearing three and a half days, hifl Honor reserved his decision. At the hearing Mr. Hampson appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Powell (instructed by Messrs 0' Dea. Haselden and Baylcy, Hawera) for the defendant. A mAn named John George Harry Blane, who appeared in the Xew Plymouth Magistrate's Court on Thursday on a charge of a breach of a prohibition order, by entering licensed premises during the currency of the order, told the Magistrate that he was obliged to go into the hotel in question "to see a man." "But you can't go into hotels" replied Mr. Bailey, "you must get the man to come out to see you" The man pointed out that he was a coiilriietor, and his work took him into hotels. To this the Magistrate replied that there was plenty of work to be got and the defendant would have to take contracts which did not, take him to hotels. The police put in a record of two previous breaches of prohibition orders, and SubInspector Hutton said from reports received and general observations it was evident the man was not in any way attempting to keep the spirit, of the order, as he was frequently to be seen about in a state of intoxication. The Magistrate warned accused that if he came before the Court again he would be sent to Rotoroa. He was convicted and fined 40s. A farm of 185 acres, which shows a gross return of 20 per cent, for the current season on the price asked, is advertised by Mr. 11. Ewitt, Hamilton and Dannevirke. The farm is particularly well situated, and is now supplying Glaxo at Matangi. Present owner milking 78 cows besides carrying a. lot of young stock. There, arc few farms that will show such returns as this one, and intending buyers should make immediate arrangements about inspection. Country visitors should oil Monday .next wend their way to Xew Plymouth and participate in the full day's enjoyment offered at Ivawaroa Park. This year the attractions are greater than hitherto and the voluntary committee that has charge of the grounds have made provision for a record attendance. The Highland music and dancing should delight all descendants of Scotland, and the Boy Scout display of bridge building, signalling, ambulance work, and other useful knowledge imparted should find favor with everyone. The park ia perhaps the best vantage spot to view the explosion by which Moturoa Island will again add a quota to the harbor scheme. The time of the explosion is Bet for 3.45 p.m., and all amusements will be held up at that time. Mr. Arthur J. Smith ran his splendid new passengoi- white 'bus to the Uruti Beach races on Thursday, and it formed the subject of general admiration by a large section of the crowd present, while Mr. Smith himself was complimented by jnany of the settlers of the district, who will be catered for by the 'bus, on his enterprise in putting on such a splendidly equipped vehicle. The passengers who made the trip to the mine and back are also loud in their praise of the smooth running and comfortable liding qualities of the new 'bus. The next municipal recital by the Oitieens' Band is fixed for to-morrow (Sunday) afternoon at the East End Reserve, commencing- at 3 o'clock.

A smart piece of seamanship was jifrformed in berthing tho liner Miunari at New Plymoiitu mi Thursday. Captain V\ aller hoarded tlio vessel at il am. anil twenty-five minutes later the Mumari was lying alongside the wharf. This is the second w»il of the vessel to Now Plymouth, the iirst occasion being in November, 11)17, When entering the harbor the ilamari was drawing -21 ft. (iin. aft and IKft. "ins. forward. 1 lor tonnage k 8114 tons and Captain Summers is in command. The working of the vessel will commence to-day and will ho continued throughout the Kaster holidays- 'ihe vessel attracted the attention of the large number of visitors to Moturoa yesterday, and many visited the Mttiuari. To many country children it was their first visit to an overseas liner. It is the intention of the New Plymouth Harbor Board engineers to fire another phot on the Island of Moturoa on Monday afternoon. This explosion ,V 'U the b ingest yet made in- oonnection with the Board's works, and it in estmated will brine down about 4,000 tons of rock from the Bummit of the island on to the line of the wall which is to connect the island with the seaward end of the present breakwater. The charge, which had l>een sealed in a tunnel on the eastern face of tho island, near the top, contains about twice the quantity of explosives used in any previous dislodgement. The tunnel will be lired at .'i.45 p.m., previous to which a warning signal will be given by the locomotive at the end of the breakwater. The engine will whistle once five minutes before the charge is set. off, and a second time right on the hour appointed for the explosion. Replying to the Citizens' Committee's pamphlet on "Samoa's Problems," Sir James Allen, in referring to the Samoan Constabulary, challenged the statement that it would cost. £30,000 a year. In any event New Zealand would foot the bill and that fact was known in Samoa, and had been distinctly stated in the "Samoan Times." As to the complaint that Samoa had not been officially informed of the decision to bring police from New Zealand, Sir .lames Allen explained that to announce the dispatch of the force would have meant the disclosure of the. intention to evacuate the' military force, and that was not advisable. The Government anticipated that the change would be welocme as making the first definite act in the reversion to civil life. J-le added: "Though you may not see good reason for sending the Constabulary to Samoa, the New Zealand Government does see a reason, which I am at present unable to disclose."