AT LOGGER-HEADS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 677, 13 June 1914, Page 5

AT LOGGER-HEADS.

TWO LEADING F\CTORS IN TE KUITI. BOTH PARTIES STAND FIRM. JUDGE ADMINISTERS JUSTICE. TEMPERED WITH MERCY.

For some considerable time the even tenor cf tiring in . "*™ «»"- ter has been disturbed. What one would do with the other, and vice vena, was said wllh n0 u " c * rtain sound. One party was in the happy "position of having wealth untold at its back-and was not h»ckward in proclaiming the fact, while the other interested parly considered it had .sufficient data, common judgment, and judgments extraordinary, to sink into 'insignificance any party, or number of parties, that had the audacity to even defend tho alleged contention that had been blazoned broadcast tor some lengthy period in. or near, or thereabouts, the "Law" abiding city, known and understood by all and sundry, present and absent, as la Kuitiinterpreted by the ancient native as "The Narrowa." Arbitration had been suggested by a peaee-atany-price-party. Liut the mere suggestion only kindled the smouldering fi-e, and funned the incipient blaa« into a conflagration. An open challenge was held out. "Money" apeaks all languages, and it didn't take a proficient linguist very long to conclude that trouble was ahead for soma one. It was a case of "Stuff un—or shut up." The Law - abidera, loath to be a party to public disorder, failed to fall in with the former part of the vulgarism, and could not see their way to adopt the latter, and a convincing day was named, the challenge was duly accepted. Seconds were arranged, timekeeper appointed, and after a desultory address.bristljng with precedent, and precept, the Lhiet Justice was sought tp ait in jiid«mont and see that justice was done without fear or favour. It was at first set forth by tho possessor of the Almighty Dollar," that the case should be heard in camera, and, as events turned out, it would probably have been in the interest* of "Law and decency bad the Chief Justice upheld the contention. However, ho ruled that, being a free cuuntry, the public should be permitted to witness the proceedings, and quite a large number of friends, of both sexes, spent a very exciting time while the trial was on. After the usual preliminaries were over, the body of the court was cleared of sympathies, the Chief Justice announced his presence, and the side lawyers took up their respective positions. Tho case began, for the space of a few minutes the silence was intense. All the prowess of the "Law" was brought to bear on the proud handlers of the "Almighty Dollar." "Howio" got in some very telling argument, but ran up against an impregnable "Bank" ot ledgers. The case turned in tho "bpeaker-of-all-Languages' " favour, and a halt waa called in the middle of the court. A general argument followed, from which "Silence in tho Court' assisted tho lawyers a little. Unfortunately ho waa thrown out. but returned, undaunted. Considerable tang ing up followed, and tho "Dreadnought of the "filthy lucre" party waa noticed to be anxious to clear up a technical point in which nearly all the lawyers were engaced. very nearlv did something—that a al . Question and rrossquestior. followed, and the Chief Justice had to interfere continually, both parties offending in a most disgraceful manner. However, the force of his reasoning was respected, and the case proceeded. Up till this point the lawyers had worthily upheld tho traditions of their profession, and it looked as if G-and-8 pence were jr'nig to score an easy verdict in their favour. The "accommodators," however, had been using all their knowlege in rebutting evidence, and then took a hand in attempting to convince His Honour that the lawyer's "charges" were empty and groundless, and not worthy of Urn profession. So completely did they "check" the clauses of "Memorandum of Agreement" that they einmly "closed" on them, and completely altered tho complexion of the "case." In an overeager attempt to got in three thrusts at a time «no of the main witnesses , for£. p. •!■ *" fl " r ast h» m9elf ' onrl covered his anatomy with everything hut glory. A raal "Teller" was handy, and hiH "slips" b?ing in order, Hia Honour granted three points in his favour. A possessor of the "golden googie," immediately afterwards pressed two more points homo from n very awkward position. As the case proceeded, it could be Been that "Lnw"and order were going to have a setback, and the arguments of the other side would still maintain full "faci value." The advantage gained was not going to be lost. The Chief Justice and seconds had a very busy and trying time, and the former was appealed to to order one of the men out of court for not adhering to straight tactica. But the remark waa "Steel" could always "mar-tin, and argument proceeded. The possessors of "Power" still "counter-claimed, and a'Minal notice" was dropped on the floor and almost trampled under foot in a moat disrespectful manner. Tho crowd in the back of the court could not restrain itself, and a Bharp rebuke from His Honour restored order. The the case proceeded. The arguments which fall from "lips come" true in some cases, and many "marks' were taken. The contested points at one time apparently seemed to be elucidated by an L.L.8., but he was cautioned for so far forgetting himself for exclaiming "Mine!" in open court, and the admonished one was floored immediately. "How ha" felt is unmentionable. For interrupting a few minutes afterward, while out of place, a "bonus earner" was "slain" unmercifully by His Honour. A "counter-claimor" was treated in a like manner shortly after, and was warned to bo more respectful how he

"boles" up in a court of VLaw." The case from tnis on dragged monotously, and then His Honour said he failed to see why the valuable time of the honourable court should be taken up with lifeless arguments and addresses from counsel, and gave judgment in favour of £. a. d. on five counts, Law being unable to gain one point. His Honour, in giving his verdict said that thß weight of evidence was entirely in favour of £. s. d.; that for the first time in his long experience as a judge ho had not had to adjudicate on a case where both parties had ro palpably neglected their "briefs," and threw out u note of warning that in all future cases which came before him justice would not receive that degre9 of mercy as in the one he had just heard. A most regrettable feature connected with the above case was the fact that £. a. d. saw fit to exceed the numnei' of witnesses allowed for their defence, tt was arranged that fifteen should suffice, but they placed seventeen in the court. This underhand scheme was not noticed till atfer they had gained their five points, and His Honour immediately ordered two out of court. It is understood that the honour of "Law" and order will not allow them to appeal. Owing to such an unconstitutional abrogation of court procedure, His Honor absolutely declined to make an order for costs.