LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19034, 11 June 1924, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The wreck of the Waitangi is still an object of interest on the Patea beach. She is high and dry, and is practically a hulk, most of the gear having been salvaged.

Says the Otaki Mail: Two horses of recent date were reported missing from this district, but both have now been recovered, one as far north as Wanganui. It is presumed that the animals wore stolen and ridden away.

The Borough Council decided last evening to make provision in the next estimates for the payment of sums of £125 and £75, voted by the Gonville and Castlecliff Town Boards respectively as balances due towards the cost of the Wanganui District War Memorial.

At the Police Court yesterday morning, Frederick Halkett was charged with being disorderly while drunk, and with violently resisting Constable Annabell. On the first count the accused was convicted and fined £1, while for the second offence he was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon within twelve months.

A commission to purchase in America, at his own discretion, a selection of the very best stud Jersey bulls obtainable has been given to Mr. C. E. Robertson, stock agent for Messrs Wright, Stephenson and Co., Ltd., when he visits Argentine this year. The breeders concerned are Messrs John Hale, H. Salway and H. B. Lepper, all of North Taranaki.

Unsuspected wealth reposed beneath the table of the Clifton County Council at its last meeting, and when the engineer bent down and arose to flourish a pound note aloft, business was suspended and excitement grow keen as councillors felt their pockets in an endeavour to discover the owner of the note. The solution was supplied when one councillor remember that his expenses had not been paid. The clerk had placed the money on the table alongside scohunit a.lood odroad table alongside this councillor, but engrossed in the business of the meeting, he had forgotten the note, which, unnoticed had been brush on to the floor.

Particulars of train arrangements and of issue of holiday excursion tickets to Palmerston North Winter Show are advertised in this issue.

“His promise was like a pie crust. It was made only to be broken,” remarked a witness in a civil action at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

It was intimated by Mr. J. A. Nash, M.P., at the Manawatu-Orua Power Board meeting on Monday, that it was expected that power from Mangahao would be available in August for September of this year.

An error crept into our report of Mr. Veitch’s pre-sessional address. The paragraph in question reads: “The A.S.R.S. had an annual revenue of £13,000, but when the strike started they only had £1 per day available for every man.” This should have read: “they only had about £1 per man available.”

A defendant in the Timaru Magistrate’s Court (relates the Timaru Post) stated that when he ran into some people in the middle of a suburban road he told them that the road was for horses and bicycles, not for pedestrians. “That’s where you were wrong.” said Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M. “They had as much right on the road as you had.”

“I would like to refer to the monument,” said Councillor Pearce at a meeting of the Borough Council last evening. He explained that the monument be meant was the destructor, and he said that it was the biggest eyesore in the district. The heaps of rubbish about did not give visitors a good impression. Councillor Halligan said that there were also complaints about smoke and the smell.

The executive of the Hunterville branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union on Saturday last passed the following resolution: “This meeting of the executive of the Hunterville branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union takes strong exception to the action of a section of the farmers as represented by Mr Duxfield, and others representing the Auckland Executive, taking advantage of the union organisation to promote a separate political party, as the union has always declared itself non-political. We further consider that farmers are already well represented in Parliament, and that a separate sectional party is quite unnecessary and not likely to stand.”

The local Borough Council intend to make enquiries in the Dominion in an endeavour to dispose of the 1000 odd water meters in use in the Gonville-Castlecliff area. Councillor A. H. Rogers contended that at the conference a promise was given that the meters would be taken over by the Borough Council, and in this he was backed up by other suburban councillors. They were in turn backed up by Councillor Gohns, who said that a promise was made that the Council would take into consideration the purchase of the meters, and they were given to understand that there would be no loss to them.

At the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, before Mr J. S. Barton, S.M., an accountant named L. Peat, proceeded against the Southern Cross Biscuit Co., Ltd., for the sum of £50 10s 3d for wages alleged to be due. In his statement of claim, the plaintiff set out that he had been employed by the defendant company at a salary of £5 10s per week until December, 1923. Front December 3, 1923, the defendant company, by its agent, informed him that his position would not be a permanent one, but he was requested to remain the servant of the company until at least March 31, 1924, at an increased salary of £6 per week. Towards the end of February, the plaintiff pointed out, his health broke down entirely on account of overwork, and he was compelled to go to hospital, and remained incapacitated from work till after April, 1924. On April 2 he received notice that his services were no longer required, and he received payment of £5 10s. The plaintiff declared that he was dismissed from the service of the defendant company without adequate notice. Therefore he claimed £5O 10s 3d — £6 16s being additional salary at the rate of 10s per week from December 3, 1923, to March 8, 1924: £19 14s 3d being salary owing by the defendant company to him for the period from March 8, 1923, to March 31, 1924, at £6 per week; and £24 for salary during the month of April, in lieu of four weeks’ notice. After hearing the evidence of the plaintiff his Worship adjourned the case until Tuesday next.

The sequel to an accident in the Gonville School grounds, in which a girl named Margaret McAdie sustained a broken leg, was heard at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, when Messrs Cunningham and Izard argued whether the Education Board or the school committee should be held liable for the occurrence. It was explained that the case, which came on in due course, arose out of the child falling from an alleged dangerous structure in the playground. Mr. Cunningham, who represented the parents of the child, pointed out that Section 32 of the Education Act 1914 sets out that the duties of the board are to establish, control, and maintain public schools within its district. After quoting numerous cases, that would have bearing on the contemplated action, he contended that the Education Board in this case was liable and he was entitled to issue the summons against it. without liability to the committee. Mr. Izard explained that the conducting of the school devolved upon the school committee. The child fell from horizontal bars that were usually to be found in playgrounds, and the question left for His Worship to decide was whether there was, or was not, any negligence in this case. If he found that the committee was liable then the summons drawn up by Mr. Cunningham would have to be amended. His Worship said that the board actually controlled the school and if it considered a certain thing should be done, and a committee refused to do it, the matter could be brought before the Court and its wishes would no doubt be enforced. However he would go fully into the matter.

The Egyptian Budget Estimates provide for an increase in the Egyptian forces and the creation of a navy and air force.

At the monthly meeting of the Patea Hospital Board yesterday, it was decided to increase adults’ and children’s fees by one shilling per day, so as to bring them into line with other institutions.

The Italian Government has granted permission to the ex-Crown Prince of Germany and his family to make their home in Italy. The application was made by his brother Frederick, who is living at Meran.

A message from San Francisco states that a huge wave capsized a motor launch at Balboa Beach, half a mile out. Of fourteen occupants, eight were drowned. The remainder gained the shore with difficulty.

Yesterday was the 18th anniversary of the death of Richard John Seddon, and a gathering took place at the statue of Mr. Seddon in the Parliamentary grounds. Sir Joseph Ward, the Hon. Roderick McKenzie, Sir Jas. Carroll, members of the West Coasters’ Association, personal friends, and relatives were amongst the gathering. Before laying a wreath at the foot of the statue, Sir Joseph Ward paid a high tribute to the memory of the deceased statesman.

The Mayor, Mr. Hope Gibbons, stated at the Borough Council last evening that the estimates would be presented as early as possible, and that everything possible was being done. The Mayor explained that there were several matters that had caused unavoidable delay — matters in connection with the disposal of the steam plant, the tag on the bal-ance-sheet which necessitated £13,000 being arranged for, and the pooling of special rates. The valuations at Gonville were pretty well fixed and were proceeding at Castlecliff.

At the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, before Mr J. S. Barton, S.M., Henry Robinson, farmer, of Kai Iwi, proceeded against J. J. Quinn, settler, of Kai Iwi, for the sum of £12 18s 2d, for fencing material and goods supplied in 1921, to the value of £5 18s 2d, and for five weeks’ rent of property from July to August, 1920, at 28s per week. The defendant declared that he had not promised to pay the plaintiff for the posts, and the latter had informed him he did not want anything for the grazing. Cross-examined, witness said he thought the plaintiff had given him the posts, as he knew he was not in a position to pay for them. After his Worship had heard corroboration of the defendant’s story, he said he believed the plaintiff’s evidence, and judgment would be given him for the full amount. It was stated by Councillor A. H. Rogers at a meeting of the Borough Council last evening that dissatisfaction was being expressed by Castlecliff residents in regard to the change in the tramways timetable, and alteration in fares. One matter was the alteration of the terminus, previously at Cross Street, to Mosstown road. The residents at the far end of Castlecliff had the advantage of concession tickets. He urged that concession tickets should be available at all times, and on any tram. If more tickets were used, more would be purchased. If there was good reason whereby concession tickets should not be used after 10 p.m. they should arrange for the municipal pictures to start at 8.15 p.m and go on without an interval, so that people could get out in time to use their tickets. If that example were set probably the other picture companies would follow the example set. He also pointed out that passengers by a Koromiko Road car could not connect at the junction with the car for Castlecliff. The chairman of the tramways committee (Councillor Green) said that Cross Street terminus was to be reinstated. The Mayor also replied to various points raised. He admitted that it was desirable to make the tram service popular, but the first thing to do was to bring it much nearer a payable point than it had been in the past.