"LOVE, COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 209, 8 October 1909, Page 4

"LOVE, COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE."

>o» , A WAXiiAWI LECTCUER. The usual calm which hangs over the Uaiiganui lliills of .Justice was somewhat I'ufllcl on Tuesday afternoon, when, before Mr. \\\ Kerr, S.M., one aOdg.tr Knight, whs) described .himself as a ''lecturer," (though under crossexamination lie admitted that driving a baker's curt had been his occupation during the last ten months), sought to obtain £l3 Ids Oil from Matthew Hiisscll, manager of St. Paul's Church Mall for alleged breach of contract. 'The plamtiir stated that lie intended giving a lecture entitled "Love, Courtship ami Marriage," and for that purpose hired St. Paul's Hall from Russell. Posters and tickets were immediately printed at a cost of £1 2s (id and within 24 hours of their appearance nearly a dozen tickets had been disposed of. Then, he explained, Russell very unkindly withdrew from'the engagement, leaving him stranded, as lie could not obtain another hall in Wa:iganui. The "lecture" would have beo;i a great draw, he further alleged, and he estimated that the profit would have been quite .Cb> 10s. Lawyer Treadwell appeared for the defendant and drew the plaintiff out at great length, supplying light comedy for the court, as follows:

.Mr. Treadwell: You fill in your spare time, 1 sv.ppose in educating the public of W.iiigaiiui on tin. subject of love, courtship and marriage? —Yes. Are you a married man?— No.

Then y-.i don't know much about the third stage'—l only .know it fron; my own observation.

Are you an engaged man?—Xol -t present. Von don't know anything about courtship, thi'ii»-lldo. (Laughter). Perhaps you know a good deal about it?— Yes.

Are you tin- .Mr. Knight who advertised for a wife?—l am.

How often?— Once or twice, In Wanganui ? Oh. no. Have you fried in many places in the Colony r-Oli, Yes. (Laughter). Anil so far without success?— Wo'!, ves.

You have not then, had many .p----portunitie.s' to make love?— Not in fiis country.

Mr. Kerr: How long have you been in New Zealand ?—Nearly two" years.

Ofr. Treadwell: What is wrong with the girls in this Colony? Are they unresponsive? Well, 1 don't know.'

And with the experience you have had, you consider you would be a competent lecturer to' the public of Winganui on love, courtship and marriage? -T do.

■Mr. Kerr: Perhaps he has read a goon deal about it in the classics.

Mr. Treadwell: Mr. Knight, have yju >ol this lecture written down?— No, t uive not.

Have you got any notes on it?—No, I have not; that is' my speciality. Mr. Kerr: What is'*?—ln being ab''.' to get up and make a lecture or ,d----ilress on several things without so niu :ii as a note. Mr. Treadwell: It Hows naturally from you ?—lt does. Do you divide the lecture up into three parts ?—Yes, 1 give each pa>'t separately. Do you civ,, advice at the end ?■- Yes.

What is it ?-[ refuse to toll. Mr. Kerr: 'flint is his stoi'k-in-tr:iil , and you must .pay to got Hint. After defendant had given evidence judgment was reserved.