AN EQUESTRIENNE’S DIFFICULTIES.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 1038, 23 May 1883, Page 3

AN EQUESTRIENNE’S DIFFICULTIES.

A peculiar case was beard at the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Auckland. A young lady named Blake wished to get lessons “in the whole course of equitation” from the riding master,.Mr Hazel),; whose riding school is in the New North road. She pays £5 5s in advance. So long as the lady might be taught separately everything went welj. But in the “ whole Course of equitation” it was necessary that the lady should join a class wher.e she would be'associated with “ respectable married ladies.” The riding master had heard something and he would neither admit her to the class nor any part of the money. Hence the action for breach of contract. What aroused Mr Hazel I’s suspicions was the fact that the lady in the first place called herself “ Mrs Blake,” and he found out from her own admission that “ there was no Mr Blake.” He “ jumped” to the conclusion that something was wrong, and he would not allow her to the “Chevy Chase” of the riding class. The'explanation of the lady was extremely simple and natural. She said she kept a boardinghouse, and it was butter for her business that she should 'bo known as “ Mrs ” than as “ Miss ” Blake. It was convenient that she should be so regarded for'many other reasons. But Mr Hazell thought there was a “ bar sinister ” on the lady’s ’scutcheon, and he would not haye her with the “other married ladies,” What might have happened had the fair spinster taken Hie lead of the dowagers of the riding academy it was impossible to say. There was no data for arrival at any opinion. 'l’he defendant (says the Auckland Herald) had (o pay back to the lady the five guineas, and thus she is the gainer by five lessons in equitation, while Mr Hazell has received one in law that will cleave to his memory.