Sergeant Rock stated that, in consequence of something he had heard, he visited a two-roomed shanty in Cross Street, Newton.
The house itself he considered scarcely fit for human habitation, and inside the place he found a woman, very poorly attired, and four children, of ages ranging from nine years down to three years.
The sole larder of the house consisted of three or four old crusts of bread, that were lying on a box, which did duty for a table, and which represented the entire furniture of the place.
Four or five small plates, saucers, and cups, a jug, kettle, frying-pan, and teapot compired the rest of the household effects, with the exception of an old mattress and a rug, in the other room, which made up the total of the bedroom equipment.
One trip with a small wheel-barrow would have shifted the lot.
The woman told him that she and her husband were separated, and that the husband, a labourer, gave her from 10s to 25s a week to keep herself and the children on.
He called again at 5 o'clock in the evening, and found the woman in the house, drunk, while the children were running about the street.
He collected the children, and when the woman came to the street he arrested her, and took them all to the police station.
His Worship decided to adjourn the case, in order that the father of the children might be brought to give his explanation of the circumstances, the children in the meantime being committed to the care of Sister Esther.
Later the mother, a rather good-looking woman of 28 years, was convicted of drunkenness, prohibited, and remanded in custody.
• Information regarding the progress of the Otira tunnel has been supplied to the Christchurch Chamber of Commerce by the Minister of Public Works.
The Minister has advised the chamber that the tunnel had been fully excavated from the Otira end for two miles and 16 chains, and from the Bealey end 52 chains, at the end of last year.
The bottom heading had been advanced 43 chains during the previous 12 months.
The tunnel was bored from the Otira end two miles 38 chains, and from the Bealey end 64 chains.
The probable progress during the present year is estimated at 40 chains.
• Mr John D. Rockefeller, who is reputed to be the richest man in the world, has given during the last 12 years 73,000,000 dollars for the promotion of education throughout the United States.
This fact is brought out in a report of its work issued by the General Education Board, which Mr Rockefeller founded.
Of this sum Chicago University has received 13,554,343 dollars, and the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research 10,267,022 dollars.
• Red cod have made their appearance in large numbers during the past few days, and with each incoming tide they literally swarm in the upper harbour.
Some good hauls were made yesterday by scores of anglers along the wharves, and at a late hour last evening quite a number of young men could be seen hauling up medium-sized cod almost as fast as they could re-bait their hooks. - ODT, 25.3.1915.
• COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ
