LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 July 1941, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Blackball Mine. “Further consideration has been given to the future of the Blackball mine, the present owners of which are ceasing production,” said the Minister of Mines, Mr Webb, last night. “The question of whether the Government will be interested in the mine will be determined when a report which I have prepared is considered.” Neiling’s Appeal Refused. Sentenced to life imprisonment for manslaughter of Mrs M. L. Horton, Leonard Neiling, labourer, 29, applied to the Court of Appeal for leave to appeal against his sentence. He did so on the ground “that, in view of the qualification of the verdict by the jury’s finding of absence of motive, and further upon general grounds the sentence is excessive.” The application was refused. Death as Result of Fall. Falling from a height of 20 feet on to a concrete floor, Noel William Perrin, married, aged 41, Hawera, re-, ceived injuries from which he died in a Hawera hospital last night. Mr Perrin was engaged in laying a new roof, for which a substitute for corrugated iron was being used and, though no one saw the accident, it was apparent he had fallen through the roof. He suffered a fractured base of the skull, indicating he had fallen on his head. Airman’s Death. A verdict of death by drowning was returned by the coroner, Mr McKean, S.M., at an inquest held at Auckland yesterday concerning the death of Pilot Officer Bertrand William Butler, aged 25, single, son of Mr and Mrs J. P. Butler, Invercargill, whose death occurred when a Tiger Moth crashed into Rangitoto Channel at Castor Bay on the afternoon of April 18. The evidence showed that Pilot Officer Butler .was piloting the machine, in which was a second occupant, who survived.

Gaol Sentence for Theft. “This man held the King’s commission and disgraced it. He was previously given an opportunity to go straight but did not take it. His offences are very disgraceful and a bad example to others,” said the magistrate, Mr Hunt, at Auckland yesterday, after defending counsel had pleaded for leniency on behalf of Robert John Dawes, aged 47, engineer and second lieutenant on the staff of Northern Military Headquarters, who was charged with stealing two lots of 60 dozen eggs each, also a quantity of petrol, kerosene, methylated spirits, sugar, rice and assorted groceries, also converting a Government car to his own use. Accused was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment on the first charge and convicted and discharged on the remaining charges.

Drilling for Oil. The New Zealand Petroleum Co., Ltd., reports that at the Morere well drill pipe recovery operations are proceeding, and better progress is being made. At the Midhirst well 6 5-Bin. casing has been run and cemented at 7242 feet. Drilling was resumed on Tuesday.

Price of Eggs. Maximum retail prices at which eggs may be ■sold at any place in New Zealand have been fixed by the Price Tribunal as follows: —Where the retailer’s net cost into store is less than Is 6’>d a dozen —net cost plus 2d a dozen. Where the retailer’s net cost into store is not less than Is and not more than Is Hid a dozen —net cost plus 21d a dozen. Where the retailer’s net cost into store is not less than 2s, and not more than 2s 4d a dozen —net cost plus 3d a dozen. Where the retailer’s net cost into store is 2s 4jd a dozen oi' more —net cost plus 34d a dozen. Soldiers Sent to Gaol. The result of the proceedings of a district court martial held at Trentham on June 30 was announced yesterday. The accused, Privates John Dooley and Leslie Hugh Steven, were found guilty of, when on active service, striking their superior officer, and sentenced to imprisonment with hard labour for 90 days. The proceedings arose out of the conduct of the soldiers in a Wellington hotel. A district court-martial was assembled at Fort Dorset for the trial of Gunner Clyde Wilfred Heal, N.Z. Artillery, on a charge of desertion. Accused was found guilty and sentenced to undergo detention for 30 days. Dance at Tinui. A very successful dance was held last night in the Tinui Hall under the auspices of the Tinui branch of the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union. The object of the dance was to raise funds for the purchase of knitting wool. The financial result of the dance proved most gratifying to the energetic committee who organised it. The Division wish to thank specially Mr Speedy, chairman of the local Farmers’ Union branch, who acted as M.C., and Mr Bert Smith, who attended to the fires. The music was supplied by Barnes’s Orchestra and a very enjoyable time was had by all. Home Guard Criticism. Resolutions criticising the administration of the Home Guard were unreasonable and unfair in view of what the Government was trying to do, said the Minister of National Service, Mr R. Semple, yesterday. “I.want to say candidly that I feel confident they are based on political prejudice and hate rather than on logical reasoning, tolerance, and patience,” he said. “No one can do more at the present moment than we are and have been doing for months. I cannot tell all I know without revealing information that would be dangerous to this country, and I am not going to do that just to comply with any stupid resolution passed anywhere.”