RINGING THE CHANGES.

NZ Truth, Issue 74, 17 November 1906, Page 8

RINGING THE CHANGES.

MURRAY MAKES A MISTAKE.

Holmes Can't be Had!

"Ringing the changes" is a game as old as the hills ; yet when an expert gets to business the most wary are liable to fall m. Just how easy it ia Ito be had that way even where there is no deceit or bad intent was illustratrated at the Magistrate's Court last Monday morning. Clerk of Court Holmes was nearly the victim, but he grasped the situation quick and, got indignant and showed, anyhow, that the game could not be worked on him. ■It happened quite simply, too. A Lower Hutt dairyman, named John Murray, for a breach of the Stock Act, was fined £2, which, with costs, amounted to £5 10s. Mr Wilford appeared for Murray, who pleaded fuilty. After Murray had paid his ne over to Mr Holme's he (Murray) discovered that he, had made a mistake. This consisted, as Mr Wilford e'xplamedjvin:. Murray ..'• handing . over two five pounds notes, instead of ■;' a fiver and a one pound note. Mr Holmes gave Murray ten shillings change and Mr Wilford, m endeavoring to fix the thing up, a la George Willoughby m "The Man from Mexico," suggested that if Murray gave Holmes ten shillings back and Mr Holmes refunded a five pound note everything weuld be right. Now this was ringire; the changes with a vengeance and the Clerk of the Court nearly fell m. He snorted when he tumbled and everybody, including the Magistrate (Dr. McArthur) on the Bench, joined m the laugh. It dawned on Mr Wilford what the joke was, so he explained that m addition to the ten shillings given him by the Cledc, Murray should fork out another halfsovereign. This was done and so the joke ended.