Stratford News

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 113, 28 September 1912, Page 3

Stratford News

From our resident reporter. A COUBT EPISODE.

i 8 Onc»time it was necessary for plainti. in a debt case to prove" that debto ~ actually had in his pocket sufl'icieii 3 - money to pay the debt when he took hi / stand in :the* witness-box. And as ther was no legal method of making a mai turn liis pockets out for the satisfactioi *> of tiio Court, judgments were hard ti obtain and enloive. So it ciine as ; laugh-maker M-leniay when a imlgmcn debtor, appearing in the S.M. (Joiirl at Si nit ford, owned up to having in hi: pocket nearly enough'inoney to'satisfy a judgment obtained again-t him. Tin man was indebted io a doctor for nearly £7. lie entered the box to show why an order-should ihk be made against him, ]t was a Whangamomona case, and the Court habitues expected nothing more than a repetition of the old, old story of wet weather, small pays, big family, and a sick or improvident wife, always finishing up with an absolute denial of intemperance, and an admission that the debtor "might have a glass or two now and again." No, the debtor was very sorry, but he had not enough money to pay this debt. He had made only £7 last month, and just over £0 the month before. Then 'lie made a slip, lie was not half as cute as some of them. He ingenuously admitted that he had £3 in his pocket now, and another pound note at liomp. ''We're getting on swimmingj ly," issiitl Mr. Stanford, counsel for the plaintiff 1 . "Three pounds in your pocket, and a pound at home; you'll nearly be able to pay this amount." But the debtor had other ideas of how to use that money. The grocer must be paid, and so on. Another slip. He put his hand in his pocket and produced a note. "Why," he exclaimed, with a smile unforced, "it's a fiver," Tiie -Magistrate beamed. This was a different 'sort of spice to that which hart leavened the proceedings in Court on the two preceding Fridays. He said the increase was nothing short of marvellous. "You'll be a rich man before you leave this court," he said, a prediction not usually fulfilled in respect to a judgment debtor. Counsel suggested to the debtor that reallv, after all, he had brought that money with him to pay the debt, but the debtor did not like the impeachment of honesty. "Well." he paid, "tell the Court what made yon think you had only £3 in your pocket." The answer caused a hearty { laugh. "My wife told me she put £3 in ' my pocket, and I took her word for it!" "Your wife must have a private hoard," said counsel. The answer was laconic: ["She's got nothing." No. he. had not made anv mistake about the note at home. That win; not a fiver. Then Mr. Stanford pointed out that as debtor had £5 in his pocket and another £2 (the balance of the exnectod £3). and £1 at home, he could pav the debt. Not so fast, though the debtor. That might be very well for this creditor, but what about his other debts? That did not worry the solicitor. He waded in and got an order for payment of £3 forthwith, and (he balance in monthly instal--1 ments of £1 /is. Tt was quite an unexpected termination, and the incident was refreshing in its novelty and the candor of the man in the witness-box.

. STRATFORD BOWLING CLUB Mr. R. McTC. Morison. the president, presided at the annual meeting of the Stratford Bowling Club on Thursday. The annual report regretted that the past season had been anything but satisfactory, both from a financial and a players' point of view. The unseasonable weather experienced during the season, no doubt., helped to damp the enthusiasm of bowlers, both in play and pay. The season opened with a fairly strong club of elected members (48); but only 3(5 paid their subscriptions, and some of these had been let down lightly. The committee consider it a disgrace to Stratford that better support was not given by the business people, and would like suggestions from bowlers re attracting more support to the club. The annual championship for the 0. M. Curtis trophy was won by Mr. C. Smart. The usual matches for the feathers were played, and after changing hands several times they returned to the holders at the end of the previous season (Messrs. J. Sangster and Fookes). The greens had received considerable attention during the winter by a few enthusiastic members, being levelled and top-dressed with papa. The committee anticipated that (luring the coming season it would be in better playing condition than in previous years. The committee was looking forward to a favonbie season for play, and asked bowlers to do their Utmost to enrol new members. The thanks of the club were again due to Mr. G. X. Curtis for his 'liberal donations to the funds, and to the ladies for their attendance and assistance at afternoon tea arrangements. BALANCE-SHEET.

The balance sheet showed receipts £7O Is, including subscriptions £Ol 14s, and expenditure £315 10s 3d, leaving the bank overdraft at £23!) 3s 3d. The president, in referring to the good work of Mr. G. Smart, acting-secretary, said that members were immensely indebted to Mr. Smart for the amount of good work he had done for the club. He thought that there was one matter in the report which might be omitted, and that was the remark re "disgrace to Stratford," for, after all, it was the bowlers that they must look to to keep the bowling green in order. Mr. J. Masters, in seconding the report, said there was a disgrace, and that was to members who had not paid their ■ übscriptions. Mr. Masters said that ihe oilier remark in the report re ''few enth:i<!:; ;{ic" members, was slightly objection'Me. for there wen; oilier members "who would have given their time, had they know when the work was being started. The report and 'balance-sheet were adopted. 'Die following ollieers were, elected: President, Mr. X. J. King; vice-president. Mr. T. C. Fookes; secretary, Mr. 11. J. Black; treasurer, Mr. McDonald; auditor, Mr. T. Venn; committee. Messrs. .T. Masters, S. M. VorriU, T. 11. Venn, J. , Reeves and 11. Edgecombe; selection committee. Messrs. K'jbert Masters, G. | Smart and V. MeK. Movison; warden. Mr. G. Smart. The opening day was fixed for the first Thursday in November. About a dozen new members were proposed. The retiring president's offer of a trophy for the young players, in the shape of a pair of bowls, was accepted amidst applause. A committee was set up to revise the rules, with the view especially of dealing with unfinaneial members.

STRAY PARAGRAPHS The dress circle! is booked right up to the last seat for ''Sinbad the Sailor" to-night, and the stalls are going like '•hot cakes." "With the glowing accounts from New ]'!;. immlh. I here will probably be a packed house. At the S.M. Court, yesterday, Mr. W. 0. Kcnriek, S.M., gave judgment by default in the following ease.,: State Guaranteed Advances to Settlers Office v. W. K. Wat-on, claim [or £7O 14s Sd and costs £2; E. J). Lewers (Mr. Fookes) v. F. Calgher. claim £0 14s lid and costs £1 3s Gd; A. J. Davy (Mr.

Duff) r. C. IT. Lovcll. claim fl 12s fid and costs ss. In tin.' judgment suuinirms ("iiso, McCluggagc Bi-f.s. (Mr. \\". I). Anderson) v. M. O'Kecfe. cliiim £,"> Ms, -.lks debtor was ordered to pay the Minimi in monthly instalments of five shilling*.' In Dr. ilenzi :.s (Mr. Stanford) v. A.' Cruden, claim .£6 10s. an order was made for.payment of jL.'l forthwith, and the rest at £1 5s per month; in default seven days' imprisonment.

PERSONAL Mr. C. E. Seabright, stationraaster at Midhirst, is expected to rosuine duty to-day. after a fortnight's sick leave. .Mr. Seabright contracted the mumps, and the complaint a.-i-u.ncd a .serious form. BERNARD'S PICTURES

Matinee to-day at 2.30 p.m.; usual Saturday night programme at 8. Fine orchestral iruisk- at every performance. A change of pictures is announced for Monday night. For this series,. Mme. liernard has secured some stars that excel in radiance, most of the previous big films. The Kalem picture. ''You Remember Ellen," is undoubtedly a '■moving" picture. It is an adaptation of Thomas Moore's beautiful Irish poem concerning Ellen. "Pride of the Village." The picture is specially attractive on account of it having been photographed in Ireland. The second great film in this capital programme is "The Assigned. Servant." It depicts the trials and. pathetic struggles n { a ynim<r man. transported to Australia as the penalty for a youthful folly. He is set to work on ticket of leave for a settler, and falls in love with the daughter of the house, who icciproeates his affection. His protection of her from the insults of an overseer earns the hitter's haired, and the overseer is instrumental in having l him sent back to the prison gang. Aided by a faithful black, he escapes to marrv his sweetheart, but is soon re-arrested. Ten rears later, having finally escaped, he learns, in Ifew Zealand, the whereabouts of his l only (laughter, mid the film ends with a happy reunion at her wedding.