IN THE DOMINION.

Waipukurau Press, Issue 281, 11 July 1908, Page 5

IN THE DOMINION.

Samuel Brooking, licensee of the Saxon Hotel, Lyttelton, was fined 40s for refusing accommodation without valid reason to Alex. Collie.

The urgent necessity for more gaol accommodation at Gisborne is exemplified by the fact that the cells are full, and the police are being put to no little inconvenience in having to make shake-downs for law-breakers.

On the Monowai’s trip down the East Coast it was found that some bags of sugar in one of the holds had been on fire. Several bags in the centre of a heap were charred, but the fire had not been one of great extent, and had evidently burnt itself out. It is supposed that the sugar was in a heated condition.

Owen Patrick Brosnahan was committed for trial at Dunedin on a charge of unlawfully pawning jewellery. It is alleged that accused, who was hard up, obtained £25 worth of jewellery from a Tapanui tradesman for the purpose of hawking it for sale, but pawned £6 worth in Dunedin, and the rest is missing.

Wm. Bell, who was serving a term of imprisonment for stealing a bicycle, who made two attempts to escape from goal was brought before the Court at Christchurch. Mr Cleary, Governor of the Gaol, said that Bell had completed his sentence, and was to be discharged that day. The Magistrate said the accused was evidently a man of weak intellect, and had been influence by criminals a good deal worse than he was. He would be convicted and discharged.

Auckland is freer of crime at the present moment than at almost any period of its history. The statement is made on the authority of the police. During the last few weeks there have been no really serious cases before thf. Magistrate, and very few cases in compel”son with the population of even a minor character. Auckland’s crime record, the police state, is a better one than that of Wellington, comparing even favourably with that of Dunedin, the nearly crimeless city of the Dominion.