Stratford News

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 107, 21 September 1912, Page 3

Stratford News

From oiii' resident reporter.

LAWYERS AT CROSS PURPOSES,

THE MALOXE-SPEXCE INCIDENT.

BOTH LEAVE THE COURT,

Last week's breeze freshened vesterdav morning in the S.M. Court. 'The adjourned judgment summons ease, during which occurred the tea-cup tempest oil Friday last, was called in court'yesterday. .Mr. Malone addressed His Worship in the following' terms: ••Vour W'or.-iiip will rememher that in *■ 111-- matt, r there is something quite apart fnini the . mere examination of the debtor, for whom 1 am appearing. The matter. I regret to say, is to me of serious importance, inasmuch that I have rightly or wrongly summed up that Mr. Spenee, for the judgment creditor (having made a statement which was derogatory to me as a professional man, and as an officer of the Court) withdrew* after some delay tiiat ' reflection, and put in another statement, which, to my mind, rightly or wrongly, was the same thing that he had said before, and was a very serious reflection on me and my professional integrity. I think, quite rightly, that my proper course was not to bandy words with him, but I appealed to you as president 01 this Court. You had ruled on a previous occasion that Mr. Spenee was-, in error, and h;' withdrew- Ids state- j ment ——

His Worship: That is disposed of, Mr. Malone. You don't want to go over the matter again? Mr. Malone did not, but as there had been most serious reflection upon himself he wished to review the facts, which he did.

The Magistrate said lie would not have accepted Mr. Spence's withdrawal had he ;believed there was any rellection on Mr.' Malone in the wording of it. He was quite certain that thqre was no such reflection, and he thought those in Court at the time were of the same opinion.

Mr. Malone, whilst gratified at His Worship's expression, was not satisfied. Would ;His Worship ask Mr.'Spence to assure the Court that he meant no reflection upon his friend? Mr. Spence could readily say it.

Mr. Spence had sat quietly, so far, but now he chimed in. "You have," he said with dignity, "given your ruling, and I bow to your ruling :" The S.M. (addressing' Mr. Malone): I must decline to ask Mr. Spence anything further on this matter. If you want anything more, you must ask Mr. Spence himself. ;m;l he will give it. to you if he thinks lit."

This Mr. Malone did, turning to address Mr. .Spence, who was already leaving the Court. "Did you mean to reflect on me. Mr. Spence?" Mr. Spruce ignored the question. { Mr. Malone. addressing the Court, ex- ■ pressed his regret that he was forced to 1 take the step lie was about to take. He i thanked Mr. Kenriek. S.M., for the way he had treated the past and at present. v

His Worship: I very much regret to hear it, because Then the clerk cut in by calling another ease. The case in which the trouble' arose was continued later, Mr. Stanford appearing instead of Mr. Spence for the judgment creditor, and Mr. Duff for the judgment debtor.

PERSONAL.

Mr. Harry Burmester, manager of the "H. 8." in Stratford, returned on Thursday evening from his visit to the south. Mr. Free, of New Plymouth, is the postmaster at Whangamomona for the nonce. It fell to his lot to open the line new office. How regular '"J to 5" will suit the people who have been in the habit of getting their letters at any time up to midnight has yet to be Been. But man is an adaptable animal.

Mr. W. H. 11. Young had an accident with his motor-ear on the Gordon road on Thursday. The steering gear is understood to have become impaired, end the car dashed into a stump, sustaining considerable damage. Mr. Young was thrown out. and received several cuts on the face, which were attended to bv Dr. Paget.

STRAY PARAGRAPHS

Messrs. Alec Henderson and D. Butchart. representing the Taranaki Provincial Scottish Society, met the Taranaki Caledonian Pipe Band on Thursday night to consider the incorporation of the band with the Society. Satisfactory arrangenu nts were made, and Mr. Henderson was empowered to give effect to the decisions arrived at.

Thi' general committee of the A. & P. Association meet on the ground to-day at 1.30 to reconsider the question of the site of the new grandstand. 'Members are asked to inspect the various suggested sites before the start of the meeting. Mr. 15. Fearon. secretary of the A. & r. Association, is now preparing the approved "copy" of the 1912 schedule. There wa3 the usual cyeling-on-the-footpath ease at the S.M. Court yesterday.

The annual "at home" of the Stratford Club was held on Thursday evening, and was a brilliant success. Members' lady friends were welcomed by the president, Mr. A. "YV. Budge, after which a pleasant evening was spent in euchre, bridge, billiards, etc., a musical pro■ramme. supper and a dance. The ladies' ideas of club life should be kindly if based on 'i'l; -vs.lav's function.

Thursday ■'':_' lit was (mo of the roughest nights of the year. It blew great guns and little fishes. A business mini a-sured me that the rainfall from 3 o'clock on Thursday afternoon to 8 o'clock on Friday morning was about 2y 2 inches.

On Thursday afternoon a team of footballers from the Stratford Territorials played a football match at F.ltham against the Territorials there. A drawn came was the result, six points each. The visitors were entertained at dinner by the home team. In the S.M. Court yesterday. John Fitzgerald, licensee of the Empire Hotel, was fined £2 and costs on a charge of permitting drunkenness on licensed premises. The ovidenc" in the case was given by Sergeant MeXeely and Constable MeGowan, who had gone into the hotel one afternoon and found a drunken man sitting on some boxes in the bar. The barman was in charge of the bar. Mr. Spence, who appeared for the defendant, stated that this was Mr. Fitzgerald's first, appearance, in Court during his twenty years' botelkecping experience. This drunken man had frequently been ordered oil' the premises, and on the occasion in question was not served with liquor, nor was the barman aware that he was on the premises at the time, he having just previously been ordered off. Tlie licensee, barman and another witness were called, and their evidence was on the lines of Mr. Spence's opening. The Magistrate said t'>at the barman had failed in Ids duty, in tint he had not seen the man off the premises, .but there was nothing to show that the house was not run on proper lines, and there was no question of an endorsement of the license.

FOR CHILDREN—AND OTHERS Groat matinee performance at His Majesty's Theatre, when lime. liornard will screen the current splendid programme of scenic, comic, industrial, dramatic and topical films. The pictures are an education to old and young, and a wholesome amusement as well. Why is the picture theatre not crowded here in Stratford with delighted children? It is not the fault of the kiddies. Give them a chance, and they will seek this very centre rjf fun, every Saturday. The piclure patrons arc mostly "regulars." The more you see, the more you'want to see, for the,keener grows the perception of 'the story told by the Aim. The objections once raised to the picture show have disappeared. The films grow bettor and better, and" the censorship ensures only good healthy subjects being screened. There is always a section of the programme devoted to industries and travel, and this section alone is worth sending the children to see. People who cannot attend the evening entertainments should develop the matinee habit. Che pictures are just as good, just as well projected, and in every way equal to the night programmes. The present series is a good one, so roll up. , ■