OCCASIONAL NOTE

The announcement issued by the Bengal Government in regard to the importation of Burma rice will be noted with a feeling of relief and satisfaction. The brief report published from Dacca relative to the deputation which waited on the Divisional Commissioner on the 25th inst. illustrates the distress arising from the prices to which rice has risen, and shows the urgent necessity of the most energetic measures by Government and by local authorities alike to increase the supplies and facilitate their distribution. It may be observed that the weekly report issued by the Vice-Chairman of the Calcutta Corporation on food prices in the New Market states that the price of common rice has risen in consequence of an increase in the wholesale price. In Assam, according to the summary of the weather and crop reports issued by the Director-General of Commercial Intelligence, for the week ended on the 22nd inst., the price of common rice has risen in almost all plains districts, probably, it is stated, on account of unfavourable prospects – although the report indicates that the out-turn of autumn rice is fair. It is evident that the call upon the energies of the authorities is more clamant than ever, and the action which the Bengal Government have taken to increase imports and restrict exports encourages the hope that the measures taken will be equal to the need. The condition of the aus crop in Bengal, which is being reaped, is stated to be, on the whole, satisfactory, and we may hope that this will bring some relief.

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ALLEGED EMBEZZLEMENT

OORGAUM, AUG 29

Dennis Patton, accountant and assistant cashier of the Oorgaum Gold Mining Company and secretary of the Oorgaum Mine Co-operative Society was arrested yesterday afternoon by Divisional Inspector Miller at his residence on a complaint preferred against him by the committee of the co-operative society alleging that he had embezzled some Rs 12,000 of the Society’s money. Accused was made over this morning to Divisional Inspector Anderson of Champion Reef, who produced him before Mr. R. Bocquie, Justice of the Peace, and obtained a remand pending investigation of the case.

ALLEGED CRUELTY TO A DOG

ALLAHABAD, AUG 29

At the Allahabad High Court Mr. Justice Ryves has admitted the application of Major G.C. Drinan of Rue Cottage, Naini Tal, to set aside the conviction and fine of five rupees inflicted by Mr. Harper, First Class Magistrate, for cruelty to his dog, and another fine of ten rupees for committing a public nuisance. It was alleged that Major Drinan tied his dog in such a way as to cause it unnecessary pain. Major Drinan in his defence stated that the dog had been bought from a sweeper and was tied up as he wanted to shoot a leopard which was prowling about his compound. The Magistrate, in convicting Major Drinan, observed that there was no mark to show that any serious act of cruelty was committed. It was cleared from the evidence that the whole neighbourhood was disturbed for a period of something like an hour by the cries of the dog.

FORGED RAILWAY WARRANT

Mr. H.M. Veitch, I.C.S., Additional Sessions Judge of Howrah, yesterday disposed of the case in which Abdul Sukkur, alias Abdul Mazid, was prosecuted for cheating and forgery. The case for the prosecution was that the accused posed as a military subassistant surgeon and secured a warrant book of the Divisional Headquarters, Lucknow, forged the signature of the office commanding, and travelled with the warrant from Umballa to Howrah, and thereby cheated the Government and the Railway Company. Accused was arrested at Howrah Station which he was seated in a second class compartment of the Punjab mail. The jury returned a verdict of guilty under Secs. 420 (cheating) and 471 (forgery). The Judge, accepting the verdict, convicted and sentenced the accused to undergo five years’ rigorous imprisonment for cheating and two years’ for forgery, the sentences to run concurrently

BOMBAY ARCHITECT S RETIREMENT

BOMBAY, AUG 29

Mr. G. Wittet, Consulting Architect to the Government of Bombay, retires shortly after serving the Government for a period of over twelve years. Mr. Wittet joins the firm of Messrs. Tata Sons and Co. Ltd., in their engineering department. During the period of his office, Mr. Wittet has been the designer of several beautiful Government buildings. Speaking at a farewell party given in his honour, Mr. Wittet complimented Indian building contractors on the good work they were capable of doing, but he thought they would do well to employ a sufficiently trained supervising staff which they at present lacked.