Page 3 Advertisements Column 1

Southland Times, Issue 1265, 14 June 1870, Page 3

An amusing incident (says the Herald) characteristic of the precocity of young -Tew Zealand, occurred at a recent meeting of creditors, hold at the Royal Hotel, Oamaru. The meeting was largely attended by the chief business men of the town. The two local lawyers wereat their poet, and the war of words between debtor and creditor was about to commence, when one of tha legal gentlemen discovered that there wae- aa intruder,'-, the shape of a small boy 11 or 13 years old, in the room, whom he politely requested to retire. The boy did not appreciate the gentleman's request, but with bristling hair and defiant demeanor boldly took possession of the floor, and declared that he had as much right m " any other man." He came at an opposing creditor. The bankrupt owed him 8s 6d, and he was not going to accept a compromise ; no, not he, he knew better than that. A benevolent gentleman endeavored to show the youngster that, according to English law, he had no right to be there, being under age. With ready wit, however, he stood erect, and cheekily said, "to much tbs worse for British law ; Ibe a foreigner." It is needless to say the gentlemen present were eonvi__ed with' laughter, and the voangster-^after many threats of being forcibly ejected if he did not leave peacefully— retired, hissing between hit teeth, "he would oppose, he would oppose, he would send his big brother to do it for him." The bankrupt and bis legal adviser smiled complacently when this youthful but demonstrative creditor had been ejected, and the business of the meeting proceeded. The Dunedin livening Star of the 3rd inst. * gays :— A farewell dinner was given last evening at the Club Hotel, High street, to hit Honor Mr Justice Ward, on the occasion of hit .leering Dunedin. Notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather every chair was occupied, the attendanos comprising Mr Justice Chapman, his ' Honor the Superintendent, his Worship the Mayor, nearly all the members of the bar, and a number of our leading citizens. Mr E. B. Cargill occupied the chair, and Mr W. A Tolmie acted as vice-chair-man. After doing ample justice to the dinner, the usual loyal toasts were given, and then, the chairman proposed the toast of the evening, "Hit Honor Mr Justice Ward" in appropriate term*. In doing so he read a letter from Mr Wilson Gray to Sir Macassey, expressing hit regret tfaat^ in consequence of its being hit court day al Tokomairiro, he would be unable to be present. The toast was drunk with all the honors, and Mr Ward made a suitable reply, acknowledging the uniform and courteous treatment he hat. experienced at the hands of the profession and the public generally since his arrival here; He expressed hit warmest thanks for the reception given him, that night, and his regret at leaving Dunedin, where he had received so much loudness. "Hit Honor the Superintendent," "The Mayor and Corporation," "The Bar," "The Press," " The Ladies," and sundry other tbafte were afterwards given, and responded to/ a number of tonga were sung, and the evp^ing passed off in the most agreeable manner. .'? During the last week in May, Wellington coffered a plague of darkness. The city was dot of kerosene, and, if itwerenotfortheinoonvenienoe, it would be laughable. On Saturday evening, people were suprised to find shops closing hours before the. usual time, because they had no biljbr their lamps. Along the beach, on Sunday evening, there was to be seen but one lamp dimly burning in the darkness, and making the long ttretch of street look most melancholy — because the publicans were like the foolish virgin*, sad hid failed to get oil for their amps. A