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Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 151, 26 June 1907, Page 2

Tho Auckland 1 Parliamentary Assembly meet in the Leys Institute tomorrow evening at eight o'clock. Without casting any reflection upon the members of an honoured profession, it is none the less a fact that the litigant in New rarely knows where Ma law costs will land him. Possibly, in some cases, that very uncertainty may deter him from having recourse to the -law. The French litigant has one advantage over his other suitors; he does know what an action in .which money is involved will cost him. It is regulated by law. A .barrister and solicitor ntost be employed, and there may be portentous possibilities in that the client is responsible for all disbursements which h±3 solicitor may think necessary. For the rest, the matetr U fixed by scale. There is a "fee of advice" oi 8/ if or sums up to £60, and of 16/ for sums over that amount. A "fee for formalities", amounts to 12/ for sums' up to £60, and to 24/ for sums of more than £60. Thereafter the trial costs for a sum up to £60, a fee equal to 2)o.per cent; over £60 and up to £200, 1.5 'ger cent.; over £200 and up to £400, 3 per cent.; £400 and up to £4000, .25 per cent.; over £4000 and up to £40,000, .16 per cent,; above £40,000,. .05 per cent. A large rimu tree on Mr. A. Grace's property, near Kaponga, a short distance from Eltham, was recently shattered by • lightning from top to bottom. The tree is about 80ft. in height, and measures about 25£t. in circumference at the .base. .It is apparently cracked vertically into three pieces, besides numerous pieces being shattered off the solid tree. One of these pieces, measuring about 27ft. long and a foot wide, was splintered off and throwjj a considerable distance as if it were a piece of matchwood. The wire fence which waa.'abottt 20ft. away, w>as fused for a distance of about 30ft. ... The half-yearly meeting of the Audiland Bricklayers' Industrial Union was held at Cycling Club rooms, on Friday last, 21st inst., there being a large' attendance. - The auditors' report and bal-ance-sheet was readout, to the meeting, showing a substantial balance in the treasury. The election of officers resulted as J. Alderson; vice-president, F. M'Cust; secretary, W. P. Knight; treasurer, J. M'Guire; -auditors, D. Bell, C. Bavenhall, A. F. Cork; management committee, W. Gravitt,. D.. Ward, G. Wade. . On a suggestion of the members, was decided that a photograph of the officers of the union be preeente3. to the retiring president, F. M'Cust,-for the very' able, way he carried put the business of thfa. union. ■'■•