DISTRICT NEWS

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 218, 17 October 1916, Page 1

DISTRICT NEWS

MANUREWA.

MOCK COURT AND "HARDUP " SOCIAL. Arrangements in connection with the mock court and bard-up social organised hy Mrs C. R. Bailey for the purpose of providing material to be made into comforts for the troops by the Manurewa branch of the Victoria League culminated in the Public Hall on Wednesday evening last, when a most successful gathering resulted. The "patter" produced by the judge (Mr W. Dervan), by the crown prosecutor (Mr Geo. Hunt) and hy the police (Messrs H. Whistanceand P. Dufty), all of Auckland, assisted by Mr H. V. Burton as usher and Mr T. J. Corin as clerk of the court, was exceedingly witty and was appreciated by the audience, the majority of whom were attired in fancy costumes. For the dance, which was entered into with zest, the music was supplied by Mr F. Hawthorn (piano) and Mr A. Hawthorn (violin), while Mr S. Thompson proved a very capable M.C. In addition to the proceeds, amounting to £l3 10s, Messrs Robertson and Spedding, of Auckland, donated a cheque for £», 50 yards of flannel was donated by Messrs Martin Bros., and Mrs E. Molesworth kindly defrayed the rent of the hall. -The several sources from which the proceeds accrued were as follows, viz.: Collected at the door £7 Gs 6d, fines collected £2 5s 6d. small donations £2 10s, proceeds from the sale of flowers and sweets by Mesdames Moody, Hesketh and E. Huntly 15s, and from an auction sale of cakes by Messrs Dervan and Hunt 13s.

As is customary with any function with which Mr A. G. Matee is connected the decorations in the hall were most artistic. After the proceedings had been opened with a song rendered by Mr Dufty, a jury, consisting of Mesdamea Warlish, Brinsmead, Hesketh, Moody, Bailey and Miss D. Eleman, was empanelled, and the various defendants were arrested and placed in turn in the dock, the heinousness of their offences being dilated on by the Crown Prosecutor. " THE CRIMINALS." Mr H. V. Burton was charged with having formed a secret society, known as " the singers," for the purpose of decoying people away from theii homes.—ln outlining the case the Crown claimed that it was quite clear from prisoner's build that he kept a canary farm, but His Honour remarked that a canary was not a ferocious bird of passage, so he only imposed a fine of 2s 6d. For not putting in an appearance when called to answer a charge of being connected with a railway conspiracy, Enos S. Pegler was lined Is for his absence and another " bob " for " speeding up " the trains to Manurewa. Mr F. Brinsmead was indicted for acting contrary to tke War Regulations by storing up 2000 shells of a highly explosive nature inside the Town Board area.—Mrs Brinsme ad announced from the jury that the accused was working in his bakehouse, but after making a vainle ss search the police returned and announced that he could not be found, whereupon His Honour said, " He's got plenty of ' dough '; he'll be fined 2s 6d because the girl next door thumps on a Brinsmead." (Laughter). For introducing electric light into Manurewa and keeping it burning on the verandah of his home all night, thereby causing a panic amongst the residents, who thought the "Zepps" had arrived, Mr T.J. Corin had to vacate his position as clerk of the court and appeared in the dock.—The Crown prosecutor contended that the charge was serious as fowls lived on " Corn."—

In passing sentence the Judge announced that tha jury had unanimously agreed tbat the accused should be lined 5s for " coming to light." A somewhat lengthy charge was levelled against Mr P."A. Nield but he was not to bo found, and on the Judge's instructions the police arrested "someone just like him," whose name was announced by the Crown Prosecutor as Moo-000-dee (Mr Moody). As he was a member of the Papakura Valley Road Board at a time when the Judge was bumped out of his motor car on to a road in the district and as there was no kapok thereon accused was lined 2s 6d. Arranged on a charge of having thought about having the Manurewa school removed to Takanini, Mr C. H. Lupton pleaded " not guilty." A further charge of having taken advantage of hops was made by the police.—ln an impassioned address the Crown Prosecutor related how it was the prisoner's intention to have the structure—the Manurewa College—shifted by the pupils. ProceediDg. he drew the court's attention to the fact that prisoner, although bald, parted his hair in the middle.—The Judge ordered the accused to pay 2s and rebuked him for worrying about shifting schools when he could go round to his garden and shift a few loads of soil. " With a look on your face like that I can't believe you. Side-face, you are like Ned Kelly," was the remark passed by His Honour when Mr C. Hawthorn pleaded " not guilty " to a charge of having placed his arms deliberately round the plaintiff in the court room during the recent rendering of "Trial by Jury." The accused pleaded that although he had never previously been in court he had courted many times. —His Honour reminded prisoner that the court was like an auction room, every time a person spoke therein it cost them money and fined him 5s 6d for being " cheeky " to the " gent on' the bench."

Two fines, of Is and 6d, were imposed on Mr G. F. Druce, first for singing without a license, the Crown Prosecutor remarking that Mr Druce considered he was either a goldfinch, a canary or a lark, and, secondly, for not appearing. On " trying " Mr A. E. Bodle on a charge of exceeding the speed limit with his chaff-cutter, His Honour imposed a fine of 6d, because with a name " boodle " he should be well prepared to pay. A very glaring case was that in which Mr A Muir was called on to answer, viz, on charges of being in possession of 500 acres of land and deliberately grazing cattle thereon for the purpose of making money, and of riding on a footpath contrary to the County Council by-laws.—The Crown Prosecutor announced that prisoner followed the occupation of a jockey, as the judge could readily see by his size (over 6 feet and weighing about 17 or 18 stone). In reference to the second charge the Crown Prosecutor instanced how prisoner rode about in a wheelbarrow. -The Judge : He's a good open-hearted lad and has the world before him. The next time you want to graze cattle, graze them on the property next door, and in future ride on the telegraph wires.— Prisoner was fined ss, 2s of which was for winking at the jury. Said to be a deserter, Miss D. Willoughby, who was dressed' in a soldier's uniform, blushed under the smarting rebukes administered to, her by the Crown Prosecutor, who insisted on a heavy fine being imposed as prisoner's pants were turned up, and, further, as the barber had not been visited for five or six weeks. —The Judge, however, dismissed the charge. " Woods, Woods, Kauri Woods," shouted the Crown Prosecuter as Mr F. Woods stepped into the dock on a charge of having beateD the Rail-

way Depaitment in a law suit.— Fined 2s 6d. Without being given an opportunity to plead, Mrs E. Huntly was lined Is for taking curtains off the window. After a lengthy address in which the Crown Prosecutor had f >iled to prove his case against Mr A. G. Mabee that he had been connected with a pork butcher's shop, His Honour asked prisoner if he knew anything about "a trotter," and fined him 2s because he " may be " or " may not be." Disguised as a Russian Princess, Mrs C. R. Bailey was arrested for such and for driving a horse instead of a nail, and, further, for taking an active interest in patriotic matters.— When found guilty by the jury, His Honour imposed a line of Is, and advised prisoner never to call a lady a cat.

Fines were also recorded against the following, viz :—Miss D. Harrison, 6d ; the Judge, 2s 6d; Mr Bull, 28; Messrs Grieves and A. Hawthorn, Is 6d each ; Messrs Hunt, Phillips, Kails, Wily, Smith and the constables, Is each; Rangi, 6d. SUBSEQUENT PSOCEEDINGS. At the conclusion of the sitting Mr Dervan thanked Mr Elliott Davis, of Auckland, for placing a motor car at the disposal of his party, and' the chaffeur for driving them out, while on the suggestion of Mr Burton the party was accorded the thanks of those present by acclamation. Mrs C. R. Bailey also thanked the musicians for their honorary services, the court party, Mr A. G. Mabee and all those who had so kindly assisted her. The following were present in fancy attire:—Mrs Bailey, "Odds and Ends"; Mrs Warlish, "Patches "; Mrs Hesketh, " Buy a Broom " ; Mrs J. Phillips, " Vote for Prohibition"; Mrs Dickens, " Gipsy " ; Mrs Brinsmead, " Pierrot "; Mrs Huntly, " Flower Girl"; Mrs W. Phillips, " Eed Cross Nurse"; Mrs A. Bodle, "Tomboy"; Miss D. Phillips, "Eed Cross Nurse"; Miss N. Pye, ''Spanish Gipsy"; Miss Vera Warlish, "Flower Girl"; Miss Daisy Harrison, " Ruination " ; Miss Aunie Coxhead. " Gerstina " ; Miss Dora Lovell, " Simplicity " ; Miss Daisy Willoughby, " Soldier "; Miss S. M. Wedding, "Swiss Peasant"; Miss Mclnnes, " Bridge"; Miss Dorice Eleman, " Hard-up "; Miss Dorothy Druce, " Dutch Girl "; Miss Mollie Juckes, " Tango Folly "; Miss Leilia Thompson, "Cumberland Lass " ; Miss Ada Thompson, " Lancashire Lass" ; Miss Ruth Thompson, " Early Victorian Lady "; Messrs F. M. Dickens, " Lady " ; J. Ansell, " Rags and Bones " ; M. Newcombe, " Flower Girl " ; E. Ralls, " Schoolboy " ; and L. Goodwill, "Baker."