DISTRICT NEWS

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 113, 26 November 1915, Page 2

DISTRICT NEWS

PAPAKURA. THANKS.

Mr and Mrs Gillespie desire to thank their friends in Papakura and surrounding district for the sympathy, kindness and assistance rendered during their recent severe trials. E. M. GILLESPIE. Papakura, 25/11/'ls,

MOCK COURT. The Papakura Mock Court was held on Wednesday evening, the Public Hall being well filled on the occasion.

The proceedings were presided over by Mr Mock Justice Singer.. Mr F. Rayner was defending coun sel, Kev. Wood prosecuting counsel, Mr K. M. Gillespie clerk ot tfae cuurt, and Mr J. Mackenzie court crier. Messrs D. Lovelock, P. Johnson, G. Wihon A. Bullen and (J. Waterman, acted as "John Hop?." Additional interest was added to tie proceedings by the lightning drawings of thj prosecution counsel the cost! of which was gene)all; added ti the fine. Several also were auctioned and brought fair sums.

The judge, in addressing the jury End "other alleged consorts of criminals," said the purpose they had to have at heart that evening was to extract thi uttermost farthing from those who otherwise would perhaps pay a halfpenny short of what they could afford. A jiry of twelve fair young ladies was empsnnelled, but " were seldom appealed to, the ladies decisions being generally -severe. The following are a few of the cases dealt with:— The funniest ot mock criminals was considered to be John Mackenzie and he was thus the firtt prisoner. Defended, counsel said he did not know bis client from a bar of soap. When it was made known that he was a stattonmsster his solicitor refused to defend him. He was charged with failing to stop the express trains at Papakura. The judge: Shame! Oh, I beg pardon; I should not cry shame, somebody else had better. During the hearing cf the case counsel for the defence having nothing else to do drew a lifelike likeness of the accused, the cost of which was added to the fine, making in all 265. Henry Willis was questioned aa to whether be was a married man, but the counsel for the defence objected to th? question as being irrevalent.—Counsel for the prosecution said the defendaot was a good-looking man and pussesred an excellent site for a residence.— Counsel for th: defence: He proposed to this lad> last night (producing a drawing of a lady), and he kissed her twice on the verandah and once on tha necK.—Defendant pleaded not guilty, but the jury, with one exception, were unanimous in convicting. Accused was fined £5 and charged 6i for the pktore of the lady. Master Melvill i Brookbeld, a

child of two and a-balf years, was charged with cutting teeth.—Bis Worship said the defendant should be more careful in the future.— Defendant came to Court .prepared to pay his fine of £1 into Court.

William Kichardaon, charged with being too progressive, pleaded guilty.—His counsel raid be was already penniless, as be had opened the flood-gates of his purse and had given the limit of his means, which were small.—The Magistrate pleaded to the jury not to rind the prisoner not guilty, and he waa fined £2O and his portrait waa thrown in.

Robert Willis was charged tbat being a General Provider be bad falsified the title by not having provided any munitions of war.— The judge: What ia ycur age?— Counsel: I object The prisoner's age and mine are above suspicion.—Tha judge: Now, what is your age?— Defendant: Twentyeight.—l he judge: I said your age, not your telephone number.— Counsel for defence: He means that as the age of the first lady he proposed to.— A fine of £3O, with tbe picture of tbe lady thrown in, was imposed.

Mr lierard, charged with being an absentee landowner, was fined £lO.

E, D. McLennan did not appear to answer a charge of courting tbe Jersey Lily. Tbe Lily also was not present.—lt cost the enthusiast £lO in a fine.

Rev. Wood was "persecuted" by tbe defending counsel.—Defendant ■ said he was—he did not know wbat. He pleaded guilty to being . shy when he was in company. Defendant said it was his misfortune, or a tailing but the judge said that , it was the things tbat be bad done that the Court did not know of that he was to be fined for.—Counsel: Are all the girls in Papakura called "misfortune."—A fine of £lO and a present of a pcture was the result of tbe charge.

H. L. Nolan, for subscribing to the New Zealand loan, was fined £5 ss.

Duncan McLennan, for being a genial sport, was relieved of £5.

H. Cobbald defended himself. He said he was not guilty of any offence, and did not know why' he bad not comrnitte'! one. He was "drained" of a iit e of his resources to the extt-t of £2 2s, with picl ire. J. Slack tor aiding and abetting in a joke was tined five guineas.— Justice Singer eaid it would be particularly humorjus for defendant when he read of bis fina in the "Pukekohe Times."

Mr James, for failing to provide a "Ijquui" inr tbe new halfpenny stamp, was fined £5. H. Walters, for making too much money in his capacity as instructor to the National Kesreve, was relieved ot £l.

J. 13. Woodhousc, for failing tq \. lay anything but bricks for a long period, was ordered to lay a guinea . _ on the table so that he- would be :<jl in practice. & Evans agreed to pay £2 4a for . tbe assistance of tbe defending counsel. Charged with working seven days a week, Counsel for the .... prosecution said defendant worked even harder in tbe public seal on Sunday than he does oil the other six -A fine of 10s 6d in dettttlt seven days—or a week in Pipakura—was imposed. A fine of 10s was ground out of "Flannelette" Lionel Mills, who was said to be a Mill with | j

double-barrelled action, he beirg a strawberry grower and a land agent 4 Godwyn D. Smith, retired, paid into Court £1 Is, but was fined an additional sum. Dr Ureek-in-the-paddock alias Brork- \ field was charged with making *> more out of a rhower of rain than any other man in Fspakura.-Cour-

se! isked tor a fine of £l5O, but the judge was lenient and reduced the amount by £145, in default 72 hours in his surgery. W.iJWaltrrs, for having had an entire "Soult" mine on his preperty, was fined five guineas. James Walker, pleaded cot guilty to being one of the substantial men ot the district, he only weighirg thirteen atone. He elected to be tried by jury and was lined ten guinea", the amount of the • tine beirg fixed by the ladies of the jury. Kev. Madill did \rsot arawer a charge against him that he failed to attend the garden fete.—Counsel Solomon Wood'isked that the fine be made not excessive.—Fined 5s and cost 4 , 25 cents." K. Wethernll did not employ cjuns.l.—He raid the Istter was not wet tli employing. Pleaded iiuiltv lo taking money at the dour which was rot his own. Fined ss, n picture also being inflicted on him.

W. L. Msnning, said to be a wealthy mar, was fined £2O, the p- lice having difficulty in quelling the applause which followed the announcement of the fine. G. Aardy said he was a weatberl board artist, and did not paiut the picture of "the horse with his tail * where his head should be."

Percy Builen appeared to be a i well-known character. . His counsel said it was one of the. happiest moments of his lite to defend a buy

who had risked bis lift fo his conn-

try. He asked tor "sixpence in" ' to help pay his fine, and the sum of over £3 waa added to the fund by tbia means. Walter Kelly, nu relation to tha late Ned Kelly, waa fined 5s for awearing when the globe broke. Clarence Waterman charged • with aodi water, anticd up £2 2s, apparently being pleased to be fined such a large amount. E. C. Cole believed that .(here is nothing like leather, and the judge aaid it was a "saddler" case than the previous one. He was fined ss, and 5a 6d cost cf the picture of "his eldeat daughter" was added. Hot being the prettiest boy in Papakura Archie Smith was ordered to- pay £2 2s. Before the rising of the Court the Rev. Wood thanked Mr Singer and Mr Rayner for their valued servicea, bis words being endorsed by the audience. Both Mr Singer and Mr Kayner responded at the one time.

A REST AFTERNOON At the invitation of Mr P. Holt the Papakura Carnival Committee and their founds paid a visit tn his Te Purirl property on the Hunua Gorge road for the purpose ot spending a restful afternoon. There were about forty guests, who received every attenthn from their host The beauty of the homestead, with ita walks through the buib and artificial lakes formed in the Hunua stream, was greatly admired, and a most cnjoyabl.' afternoon was spent. Mr Holt's poultry, which are an exceptionally fine lot, were also the subject of inspection. The Papakura Band, under Bandmaster Hunter, dispensed aweet mt'S'e throughout the afternoon. Two collection boxes were situated in two of the mam walks. atid when opened it was found that £3 14n 3d will be added to the Wounded Soldiers' Fund. Towards the close of the afternoon, Mr A. Willis thanked Mr Holt sincerely for the manner m which he had entertained his guests, who greatly appreciated his attention. TOWN BOARD VACANCY

Contrary to an intention pre viouely expressed Mr £ C Cole definitely decided cot to stand tor tbe vacancy on tbe Town Board. Nominations closed . yeserday and the following will go to the poll: Mr Harry Smith and Mr Arthur Wall is. Polling takes place on Wednesday, December Ist.