Acquitted!

Pleads Guilty, But Is

From Our Own Correspondent WAU, July 8.

A MAN in Wau, having long suspected his native house-servant of theft, caught him stealing sugar. The boy then confessed to having stolen money, also, and offered some silver in repay ment.

Before the magistrate, the boy pleaded guilty to stealing sugar, but not guilty to stealing money. The magistrate asked if he would accept sentence by him, or go to the Supreme Court in Rabaul.

Being a “shrewd-head”, with previous convictions, the boy jumped at the chance of a trip to Rabaul.

The magistrate hesitated. Should he incur the expense of sending a case, in volving the theft of a pound of sugar, all the way to Rabaul? He asked the boy again if he would accept sentence in Wau, but the boy insisted on Rabaul.

The embarrassed Magistrate then took the extraordinary course of “acquitting” the thief; and yet another cheeky native left the local court “acquitted”, with a smile on his face.

The case has caused bitter comment in Wau. Is it any wonder that discip line among our native labourers is fall ing to pieces?

Captain C. Ashley, until recently an employee of Burns, Philp and Co. Ltd., Port Moresby, Papua, has been appointed to the position of Head Gaoler at the Badili Gaol. He has taken over his duties from Captain Dolan, who resigned from the position to enter the Defence Force stationed at Port Moresby.

Mr. A. W. Dickes, First Clerk and Boarding Officer of the British Solomon Islands Protectorate left Newcastle, N.S.W., in the S.S. “Triona” on June 26 on transfer to the Gilbert and Ellice Is lands service. He will replace Mr. H. A. B.

Bentley, retired, as accountant.