OUR AUCKLAND LETTER.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 688, 29 November 1921, Page 5

OUR AUCKLAND LETTER.

THE LODGER’S WILL,

(From Our Own Correspondent.) Auckland, Nov. 25.

The proceedings at the Supreme Court during the hearing o,f criminal cases, if .sometimes rather depressing, are often decidedly interesting. Charles Reade, the famous novelist, and Wilkie Collins no less celebrated as a writer of fiction, were wont to go to |tlie criminal courts for much of their raw material, and, indeed, many of the cases coming before these tribunals furnish excellent “copy’* for the teller of stories. Such a case was heard at the Auckland Supreme Court just recently. The “cast,” to borrow a theatrical jterm. consisted of an elderly widow and her married daughter, an old German, and the legal adviser of the latter. The German occupied apartments in the house of the widow, and lodged with her for a number of years.' At last he was taken ill, was removed to the public hospital and there died. The widow lost no time in ringing up the 'dead man’s solicitor. She told him there was a box belonging to the deceased in her custody, and suggested that he should procure her late lbdger’s keys and open the trunk so that it might be aseertaine/cl whether he had left any wili or other papers. Here ends Act I.

ACT II

The man of law went to the hospital, procured his former client’s kevs, proceeded to the house of 'the widlow and opened the box. It proved to contain some old clhthes, and sundry private papers. But no will. The widow not at all discouraged, said “let me have a look,” and very shortly afterwards she held up a document, remarking “this looks like a will.” The lawyer took the p’hper, ppad thi'ough, and told, the lady chat apparently everything had been left to her. Whereuoofj transported 'with joy, she threw her arms around his neck ! The deed bore the names of two witnesses —both of them regarded by the prosecution as myths. The lawyer was subsequen/tly called un for mi litany service. Before he left New Zealand he handod over the will (concerning which he was suspicous) to the Public Trustee). When the latter applied for probate it was refused. End of Act 11, ACT 111. j This act opened in the Court, with the "elderly widow and her daughter 'in the dock charged with Ifqrging and' uttering the will ot the defunct German. Some damaging evidence was given against them, and the judge did not appear to favour ' them in his summing up. The jury retired to consider their verdict, ‘but soon re-appearted. They had found the accused guilty--with a recommendation to mercy on actcount; of the advanced age of the elder wo|man ahd the ill-health cf younger one. They, were remanded for sentence and liberated in the meantime. By the time this is in priht they will know their fate. I contend that this strange story in real life would make a capital novel in the hands of a skilful writer.

MORE ABOUT RATANA. If less has been heard of late about “the Maori Miracle Man,” he is still much in evidence amongst bis dwn people. Apropos of that, I understand that a great gathering of Maoris is to eventuate aboujt Xmas. What the precise object of this meeting is has not transpired, but it may be that, Ratana will take this opportunity of saying his farewelll as a healer. He has himself declared that the special powers he claims to possess may leave him at Xmas. I am disposed mvself to agree with Archdeacon Williams, of Qisborne who recently declaimed that Ratana’s cures “are quite clearly in the category of f suggestional’ cures.’’ Ratana ascribes his success in healing the sick to supernatural* or religious powers. Bust there are people practising healing In New Zealand who are effecting quite as extraordinary cures as any claimed by the Maori, and who make no pretensions whatever to re ligious inspiration.

ARTIFICIAL CIDER. I see that a shopkeeper has been fined for selling what is known as “artificial cider,” under the name of “cider.” The wonder is, as it seems to me. that somebody does nqt brew cider —the real thing—in Auckland, for sal«. Good cider is a most wholesome, delicious and refreshing drink, and if it could be produced at a reasonable price I am convinced there would be an immense dept and for it. They make kpleridid cideirl in Christchurch. It is almost equal to some brands of champagne. But it is an bottled, and not particularly cheap. What is wanted in a thirsty climate such as ours is a good draught cider. It need not be of high alcohohe strength but just a cLean, who esome, summer drink. If anyone who happens to read this is looking for a new industry to take up here is his chance. There is money in cider, tariff or no tariff.

A MENACE. A lady doctor, lecturing the other night described .the appalling results of venereal, stating that 300,000 peisons in the United States alone die of this frightful disease every year. What the mortality due to venereal may amount to in New Zealand annually I don’t know, and the doctor didn’it say but I believe It is very considerable. But it must not tosupposed, as this lecturer nomtert out, that all who contract this terrible disorder are guilty, and suffer from the effect,s of their own immorality. A fair percentage of loose attacked become affected as the result of handling things which have been touched, or used, by venereal sufferers. So highly infectious is the disease that a towel or a newspaper used by a pea-son affected by venereal may convey the disease to a perfectly innocent person. If that is so, what about .the filthy paper money now circulating in New Zealand ? Must it not be considered a public menace.