Back Blocks Justice.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 342, 13 December 1907, Page 2

Back Blocks Justice.

Like tbe King Country, writes a ’ Wairarapa correspondent, the Ponga- • roa district carries no liquor I‘eeuse. But this fact ia no preventative flu-re i to the pnreha-e of something strongi r i than lemonade. Enterprise of thia description may be said to be toktly responsible for the appearance of the gnardiau*cf the tew in Pongaron, and he undertakes his duties iu a befittiaif manner. However, every now and then there is a crop of inebriates. Two of these summoned the other diy to appear before ths local J. P., a kindly uatared mao, who had grown with tbo place and knew everybody, from the oldest inhabitant to the la«t baby. There was no doubt that both the tneu were guilty, and one decided to plead so ; ths other more combative, said *hat he would fight tbe cast. “Weil Mick” said the Bench to the first one, ‘'How do you plead ? Were you druuk or euber “1 was very drhek, your Honor,” said Mick “Got aoy moucy” ? J “No.” “‘Oh well you re dieebargvd with a caution.” Mick departed with a smile of content, and and his place «aa taken by his mate, whe, iu response to the enquiry, swore that be was aa sober a< a judge at the tiafe of his arrest. This plea was salicfactory to the police, who wisbod, if possible, to trace whsre the drink was procured A remand was granted to Pahiatua, and Mick's mate left tbe Court. Outside be compared notes with Mick and a number' of weiL wuhers, who showed bim cooclaaiveiy that he had committed au error iu fightiag the case. It bs got to Pabiatna, he would possibly be convicted aud fined £o. and sent to Wcllmgton for a few mouths- It «*S6 be had msdea mistake, <ud, after thinking a moment, he ruabed back tc die Cour; slid said:- 4 ‘l -vas ihi-jk;--.? . t an?t” e - j- ; - w*-. I. w»< h-frnhk' -MfS.’ •-»- t k .i I . change my ‘bla-iiugs ur twenty -.‘uur Luui'©,’’ s&id the Beech.