A Sooty Sult.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 165, 16 July 1904, Page 2

A Sooty Sult.

AkURINQ PASSAGE BETWEEN HIVAL BLACK ARTISTS.

It Is not always tho W K amount at Btnko that leads to lengthy litigation. The most extended proceed'ugs in the local court vesterday morning were those j„ which the amount involved was .soviti shillings anO sixpence, alleged to lye due for sweeping a, chimney. The plaintiff <nvo evidence Unit ho liad done his work thoroughly, and left no room forcomplninl, having waited until lie had ocular demonstration of the fact that (lie flues were "drawing beautiful." The mnn who had to pay, however, was of a different opinion. He slated that owing to the size of the range, which was 11 feet in length, the sweep could not perform his task in anything under Uireo hours. Tho soot-shifter must havo been originally of the same opinion, for he arranged with the owner of tho premises to admit him at 3 o'clock in the morning, ko that tho kltclKiinuin could light the (ire as usual at 6.30. By a display of unusual energy, however, ho completed the job in tho time stipulated, and a few days later applied for payment. Tho occupant objected, alleging Unit tho chimney was worse than before the sweeping operation, despite the fart that it had not been swop* since its erection twelve months befor. He got another sweep in, and he worked for three and «-half hours nt the :ob, In ignorance of his rival's efforts aibout a wcok previously. Amongst other things which the knight of blackness extracted fram that chimney were "hand-caked soot, one brick, two half-bricks, and a piece' of mortar." Tho plaintiff waxed warm, and questioned the competence of the witness. " How long have you been a chimney sweep ?" ho asked. " About six months." '''And y<>t you think you know as much about it as me, when I've been at it for over eight years." Tho newly-fledgcd, however, retorted Hint ho had never had a complaint liko tho one now preferred against his brother sweep. In the end the S.M. gave judgment for 5b and costs.