Our Stratford Page

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 203, 24 February 1912, Page 3

Our Stratford Page

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

I Stratford, Friday.

In the S.M. Court to-day, before Mr. W. 6. Kenrick, S.M., the following butiness was done:— Margaret Davis was convicted without a fine for not registering a dog. Thomas Gordon was similarly convicted for driving in a borough street at night without lights., In the following cases judgment was given for plaintiffs by default:—P. W. Wake (Mr. Wright) v. K. J. Scott, cosi» i only, 13s; John Leydon v. W. Brewer, claim £3 6s 6d, costs 3s; Dwy«r and j Lennon (Mr. Thomson) v. D. K. Gooch.j claim £1 7s 7d, costs ss; E. W. Lewis (Mr. Thomson) v. G. Burnard, claim 6* ftd, costs 13s; Derby Bros. (Mr. M&lone) v. A. A. Nelson, claim £6 lis 6d, costs 24s 6d; Central Co-operative Stores Co. (Mr. Fookes) v. H. Jakes, claim 16s, costs ss; F. P. Uniacke (Mr. Spenc«) v. Elena Chard and A. J. Chard, claim £l3 19s 6d, costs £1 lis 6d; John Avery Ltd. (Mr. Wright) v. S. Fahey, claim £l3B 3s Id, costs £6 9s. , Philip James (Mr. Thomson) v. W. V. Hosking (Mr. Anderson), a claim for £2l, balance due on a contract for stumping, the matter in dispute being that the defendant claimed that plain-,' tiff had not completed the work in terms of the contract. The case, was not far advanced when the parties- agreed to accept the dictum of Mr. R. Dingle as arbitrator. "AFTER TEN."

Steve Fahey, F. Gooch, and J. Zuroher pleaded guilty to being found on licensed premises during prohibited hours. Mr. K. Spence appeared for the accused, and stated that the men were in the yard of the hotel at night after hours, and had no intention of obtaining liquor. Sergeant McNeely, however, said that one of the accused was actually knocking at the back door of the hotel when seen by the police, whilst another had, frankly admitted to him since that he< was there for a drink. When (spoken to, the excuse was advanced that they wanted a room for a while in which to settle some private matters. This was a lame excuse, for there was a room close by at the stables (belonging to Gooch) which they could have used. As this was a first offence, the penalty was light, a fine of 5s being inflicted, with cost* 7s. , TOO MUCH CREDIT. In a judgment summons case this morning the debtor made a statement that he earned £2 Rs a week, out of which he paid 14s rent, and had to keep a wife and five children. Harassed bv a solicitor as to his neglect to pay off this account, despite hie evidence that he had been ill, out of work, and for some time most irregularly paid, he at last so far ( lost control of himself as to resent the manner of the cross-examination, a thing, of course, which no one has any right to do. He retorted: 'Td rather pay the debt twice than have to come here with the likes of you!" He had previously informed counsel, as some other' candid defendant informed another learned friend" the other day, that if' he were a married man he would know better than to expect him to pav up back debts out of his slender income. Upon being warned that this was impudence, he hastily apologised. It was quite apparent that he had endeavored to keep his feelings under control, but failed The Magistrate, whilst advising the debtor to try and put bv a shilling a I week or some other small amount to i pay off tins debt, gave the average business man some advice and criticism. He deprecated the habit of giving credit in such a large measure to men of only slender means. He thought the term in which butchers and bakers and such tradesmen might sue should be reduced from eix years to six months. Under ordinary circumstances, a man who didn't pay in six months wouldn't be able to pay in six years. Tradesmen might be kind-hearted, but thev carried their kind-heartedness too far, allowed a small . wa f:f rner to g et £lO, £2O, or £BO m debt, and then commenced to press for payment. If they pressed earlier thej would lose less, and it would be better for all concerned.—The order was refused.

HORTICULTURAL SHOW. POINTS PRIZES. Thp points prizes at the Horticultural Show wore won as follows:—Pot plants, Mrs. T. Reader: cut blooms. Mrs. F. G. Arden; vegetables, Mr. T. Webb; farm produce, Mr. T. Reader; fruit, Mrs. John Kirkpatrick. Stratford won the school banner by default of competition. Mr. Elder catered for tea and supper

* From Our Resident Reporter, * ▼ * * Office: No. 3, York Chambers, Stratford. * * . * *************-************4s4s*s

on both days and evenings of the show, and the Stratford Orchestral Society's music was another much appreciated feature. GIffIEKAL TOWS Good progress is being made with the erection of the new Whangamomona Hotel. The contractor had hard luck, however, with the cellar, which caved in, and caused a good deal of extra work. The Primitive Methodist Church will I hold a garden party next Thursday in Mr. H. Sanders' lovely, grounds on th« Warwick road, the proceeds to be in aid of the trust funds. A start will be made at 1.30, and games and sports of all kinds and afternoon tea are the principal items in the menu. "Some people seem to be fond of paying costs," remarked the S.M. at the court this morning. "Here's a man sued for 6s 6d, and the costs amount to 13b." The cost* included eight shillings mileage. _ A motorcar collided with a horse ridden by a man named Kyan, and owned by Mr. F. Gooeh, near the Kahouri bridge last night. The horse had its fetlock broken, and had to be destroyed. A man replying to a Stratford trades- ' man's advertisement for man said ke would come to Stratford to see about the I job if his expenses were paid! No business was done! I All the singlemen employed at the ) Skinner Road ballast pit have received notice to move to the front. Some are being transferred to Whangamomona, and others to the King Country end-. Only about seven or eight married men remain at the pit, sufficient to load the j ballast rakes. The work of manufacturing concrete blocks has ceased for th» j present, some 1.7,000 being on hand for / the next tunnel, which will be iixty chains in length. )