LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Age, 10 March 1927, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

James Watson, shepherd, of Annedalc, has been adjudged a bankrupt on his own petition.

A cablegram from Perth states that a meeting of shareholders of the Western Australian Bank confirmed the decision to amalgamate with the Bank of New South Wales on March 29.

Residents of Brancepeth and Westmere are notified by the Rev. W. Bullock that a service will be conducted at Brancepeth on Sunday next, at 3 o'clock.

Weather permitting, the Masterton Municipal Band will render the usual weekly programme in the Masterton Park this evening. Included in the selections to be given are “The Talesman" (Balse' and “Melodious Jems" (Rimmer).

Donations of books and magazines for distribution to the backblocks under the Book Club scheme initiated by the Women's Division of the Farmers' Union are wanted. They may be sent to Mrs. A. C. McDiarmid, Wright (Street, Mrs. T. R. Barrel, Ecu all Street, or any member of the committee.

In our report of an address delivered by Mr. A. H. Falloon at the Rotary Club on Monday, he was erroneously credited with the statement that he believed the time would come when no farmer would be allowed to hold more than 5000 acres of land. What Mr. Falloon did say was that he believed the time would come when no farmer would be allowed to hold land of a capital value in excess of £5OOO.

At an inquest on Harry O ’Neill, aged 59, of American nationality, a labourer employed on public works at Waikaremoana, who was killed in the railway yards at Napier on Tuesday night, the Coroner returned a verdict that the deceased died from, shock following injuries, no blame being attachable to anyone. Evidently the deceased had indulged too freely in liquor and went to sleep on the line.—(P.A.) At the Magistrate's Court at Hastings, yesterday, Leonard Llewellyn Grant pleaded guilty to the theft of a cash-box containing cheques and money to the value of £560 Ils. Bd., the property of Lusk Spence Dedenne. The accused gave a signed statement to the police admitting the offence. The police stated that all but 14s. had been recovered. The cash-box was found at the rear of a billiard saloon under a heap of coal. The accused was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.—(P.A.)

A story ,of a woman's attempts to recoup herself by bookmaking after she had become financially embarrassed was told in the Wellington Magistrate's Court yesterday, when Fanny Whitaker, a widow, aged 65, pleaded guilty to using premises at 11 Manners street, known as “The Hatbox," as a gaming house. William Alfred Brown, a mercer, aged 63, admitted assisting Mrs. Whitaker in bookmaking. Mr. Page S.M. said he would have to impose a substantial penalty. * 1 The police say," he added, “that Mrs. Whitaker has been in this business for about twelve months. She will be fined £lOO, and her assistant will be fined £25. Each accused was given a week in which to pay.

In congratulating members on the success attained at the recent Masterton show, the President (Mr. G. H. Perry) observed at yesterday's meeting of the Masterton A. and P. Association that the results were due to the keen interest taken by members of the committee, not for a few weeks prior to the Show, but for the whole year round. If this spirit were maintained, he felt sure that the' association would never look back. With such complete arrangements and first class appointments, both exhibitors and the public had been more than satisfied with the Show, and he desired to extend his personal thanks to the committeemen, who, he considered, were the keenest body he had seen in the association for some years. On Mr. Perry's suggestion it was decided to meet on Wednesday evening next week when marshals, stewards and all helpers are to be invited to attend and make suggestions and advance opinions and advice regarding improvements for future Shows.. j

At the Supreme Court in Gisborne yesterday, Noema Kaiwai appeared before Mr. Justice Ostler on a charge of attempting to murder Thomas Alfred Joyce by discharging at him the contents of a shotgun. Kaiwai was alternatively charged with attempting to cause grievous bodily harm and with assault with intent to cause bodily barm. Accused pleaded not guilty. The evidence showed that the case arose out of a Maori woman's lelations with two men at Ruatorora near the Waipu river. The woman had lived first with Kaiwai, then with Joyce, then returning to Kaiwai. Joyce had gained possession of a ring from the woman and Kaiwai demanded its return. Joyce refused and Kaiwai secured a gun and fired at Joyce, wh/y received the pellets in his shoulder. Accused fired again and missed, and Joyce closed with him, wresting the gun from him and later delivered the gun to the police. The jury, after a quarter of an hour's retirement, returned a verdict of guilty on the third count of assault with intent to cause bodily harm. In imposing a sentence of one year's hard labour, the Judge said to the prisoner: “I consider you are very lucky in that you were not here to answer a charge of murder, and the jury has been very lenient with you."—(P.A.)

The following primary school cricket matches will be decided on Friday: West v. St. Patrick's; Central A v. Solway and Fernridge (on Central ground), Central B v. Lansdowne. The seaside residence ar Kake Ferry of Mr. Frank. Brooks of Greytown, was totally destroyed by fire on Monday night. Mr. and Mrs. Brooks had only arrived from Greytown in the afternoon (Monday). Mr. Brooks, who was absent on the beach fishing, cannot account for the origin of the fire.

Mr. A. Rippon, who unsuccessfullly contested the Mayoral election against Mr. T. Jordan two years ago, stated yesterday that he would again be a candidate for the position next month. The Mayor (Mr. T. Jordan) has made no statement as to whether he will or will not seek re-election. In the list of awards in the Masterton Horticultural Show held yesterday the following are the correct awards in the classes mentioned: Home industries; butter, saltless, Miss C. Sayer 1, Mrs. T. Carr 2, Mrs. R. Thornton 3. Fancy work, afternoon tea cloth, in cotton, Mrs. M. Scharnwcbber 1, Miss D. Winhall 2.

A scientific sensation is probable shortly, a cablegram from Delhi reports, when Dr. Pilgrim, of the Geological Survey of India, publishes a paper telling the story of the discovery of the palate and lower jaw of a fossil ape at Bilaspur belonging to a period nearly a million years ago. • Dr. Pilgrim considers it possible that among the fossil apes of India was the actual human ancestor.

At the Gonville (Wanganui) Swimming Carnival last night Dowsett, the New Zealand record holder, covered 75 yards in 42 3-5 seconds, a local and Dominion record. Dowsett could have covered 100 yards in 58 seconds in the fresh water baths. The performance is equal to 56 seconds in salt water. Natalie Stratton covered 50 yards in 31 seconds, a seepnd faster than Ena Stockley's best.—(PA.) Most of the finals in the North Island Croquet Tournament at Auckland were decided yesterday. Miss Skeet (Auckland) won the Ladies' Open Singles Championship, defeating Mrs. Keyes (Auckland) by 26 to 14. The final of the North Island Championship resulted: Mr. Murray (Hamilton) 26, 26; beat Mrs. Healey (Woodville) 20, 19. The final of the Doubles' Championship will be played to-day.—(P.A.) Splendid weather prevailed for the cricket match Southland, v, Melbourne at Invercargill yesterday. There were two thousand spectators. Southland batted first and made 126 (Groves, 33; Dixon, 32). Rogerson took 5 wickets for 55, Hendry 1 for 22, and Onyons 2 for 24. Melbourne batted uninterestingly and made 207 for nine wickets (T. B. Ward, 52; T. Armstrong, 50; Campbell, 33). Goodsir took 4 wickets for 36 and Cook 1 for I.—(P.A.) The following resolution was carried yesterday by the Canterbury A. and P. 'Association Committee: That the Prime Minister be asked to state (1) Whether the numerous allegations by persons who have recently returned from. England as to the difficulty which exists in obtaining New Zealand produce of .good quality in English retail shops are justified; (2) if so whether he will take up the matter with the New Zealand produce control boards and enquire with a view to ascertaining how the identity of New Zealand meat, butter and cheese in retail shops can be maintained, and how consumers in England can best be informed as to the value and quality of cur products. -(P.A.)