The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1879.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 86, 17 February 1879, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1879.

What are we coming to with race and lottery■ swindles 1 We take from the Chronicle the following graphic description of a very decided swindle which transpired in the 11.M. Court, Wellington, last week..... Austin v. Lottkowitz, claim for £2B, Mr Ollivior for plaintiff,. Mr Stafford for the defence.

The principal poi'tion.of the claim was for services rendered in getting up an art union to dispose of nine acres of land at Featherston.

Plaintiff deposed that Lottkowitz had represented to him that the land was perfectly level and of excellent quality. When plaintiff went to see it lie found it covered with stones that a peg could not he driven down by. the surveyors. Though plaintiff, acting on the information of defendant, inserted glowing advertisements in the Post, New Zcalander, and Wairavapa Guardian, he had not been able to sell any tickets except to persons at a distance from the land. After a certain number of tickets had been disposed of,. Lottkowitz took the matter out of plaintiffs hands. Plaintiff had paid for the advertisements, and had also incurred other expenses in connection with the transaction.

_ Cross-examined by Mr Stafford: Plaintiff had not told Lottkowitz to let the art union go off with the number of tickets sold and contrive to win the land himself, That was a base insinuation.

Mr Stafford contended that the portion' of the claim arising out of the art union could not be sustained, as lotteries, being (by a statute of Queen Anne's reign) illegal, all contracts arising out of them were illegal and void. He cited from Mr Justice Johnston to. prove that the statute of Queen Anne's reign was in forco in this colony. Harry Lottkowitz deposed that.lie had agreed to pay Austin £ls for getting up the art union. The money was not to be paid before tho work was done. Austin told him that a mail named Dawson, who plaintiff assumed was his partner, had sold 100 tickets and ombczzlcd the money; Austin had said to him when 50 tickets had been sold, " Let us shove the lottery off, and have the price of the tickets and the land too, and . divide , them between us." This dishonorable proposition so disgusted defendant that he took the mat-, tor out of Austin's hands at once., He had not got a farthing' from Austin for tho 50 tickets sold. He was not a land agent; lie was .content to stick to his boots and shoes. Ho did not advertise the reason'of his'taking the matter out of Austin's hands, because if he spoke the truth ho would be sent to'gaol, His motto had always been " Honesty is. the best of policy." . By Mr Stafford: Ho had-taken the matter out of Austin's hands because tho whole tiling was a swindle. Arthur Sovcll.deposed that Austin and his partner, Dawson, had both told him that Lottkowitz would seo very littlo of tho money, even if the tickets were sold. Witness had been engaged to sell tickets. He had told Lottkowitz that tho lottery was a swindle,'after this witness' connexion with Austin & Co. had ceased. He had not been charged by, Dawson with theft of a book.

By Mr Stafford: Witness had said the mutter was a swindle because he had heard Austin charge Dawson with embezzling the money; and also because Austin and Dawson had told him Lottkowitz would get very little of the cash. Mr Austin recalled, utterly denied the assertion-in regard to' Lottkowitz getting very little of the cash. • Judgment was reserved,

A few weeks ago a somewhat similar fraud was perpetrated by a man named Anstey in this district, He got up a sweep on the Taratahi Cup,-aiid before the event came off, quietly vanished.: A ; resiclont in Masterton to whom, lie had passed a valueless cheque, took out a warrant for his apprehension, but the official mandate being allowed-'the usual' Wairarapa' delay was only put into the hands of the Constable after the culprit had. obtained a clear week's start out of the district. It is tolerably well known, too, that both at the Wellington and Wairarapa races there was a certain number of innocents slaughtered through the laxity which prevails with respect not only to the bookmaking. fraternity,butalsothelowmoralstandard which actuates .some of the principal owners of horses in the Colony. It would be better to go back .to the oldfashioned methods of the . last century, when the State legalised lotteries and they were honestly carried out, than to submit not only to illegal, but also dishonest practices. It is high'time that the press and the public denounced the frauds of all kinds with which we are surrounded, including in some instances bogus land sales. The city of Wellington is getting tolerably full of-smart professional men, who, though they may steer clear of any legal penalty, have 110 conscientious scruples, in letting the public "in" by trickery or misrepresentation,

We are weary of reminding the authorities of the necessity of the appointment of a second Constablo for Masterton. An intUiwo occurred, on Friday last which illustrates tho way in which the public are j plundered with impunity; A workman at tlie 'Masterton Club building"hung;hiu: waistcoat'bn a fence, and in it "was a valu- : able watch, After a time lie found, the watch had'disappeared. • A suspicious character l had been seen hanging about the spot, and the workman very properly went to the police station, when, as is perhaps the case three times out of four, no constable'was to bo found, On this' occasion,\we'believe, r Constable Scales was' on. duty at the. TauherenikaU','. Petty . thefts ofctimber and'other articles' 1 are reported all over the place, but it is impos: siblo for ono constable in a populous town to .efficiently check such practices. It : is time ii sort of indignation meeting was held to consider the way in which the Bhrougli is being treated in the matter of Court and police accommodation, The Borough is practically in the hands of Mr Wardell in these matters, as he is the executive officer and adviser of {he Government, : Mr Wardell apparently is Bomewhatindifferentto thenecessity of efficiently providing for tho peace of the Borqngli, and it is quite time that strong, measures were.taken to put matters •oiy.iy better footing. ;

ToikVs are invited for a teachers residence at'Carterton. This week is Court week in the townships of the Wairarapa,

It is notified is anothor column that tho Maaterton open to-morrow, The Canterbury Sqlo Yards Company prohibit private sales ; yards, Tenders are inviteu ; , Minting and papering the Masterton Ouii- 1 In school olection'swe beliove' njarried women are entitled to vote. .

Mr Lee, the Inspector of schools, will" examine the Opaki School to-day, and afterwards proceed to visit the Mauriceville and Tiuui schools.

On Sunday ovening about half-past seven a brilliant meteor passed.from West to East and was visible at Masterton for the space of about 20 seconds. ■ 'At a summoned meeting of the Foresters at Greytown, it .was decided to havo a fete on St Patrick's day, Tlio particulars will be published in a few days. On Saturday last two dray loads of wheat from Waikaraka, arrived at Mag-, terton, Thi3 is thofirsttime we believe that corn has been brought into Masterton from the Whareama,

A race for the "Sator" Oup, for the progeny of that well known sire, 'is advertised to come of on May 24th, at the Kaikoura Steeple Chase Meeting. . Entries will be received till April 15th, Tenders are invited by Mr Fonton, for additions to his store, atGreytown, Plans and specifications prepared by Mr J, H. Schwabe, architect,, can be seen at the office of Messrs R. & J. Brown.

There is a meeting in tho Wesleyan Church Masterton, this evening at.which tho Rev J. B. Richardson will give a report of the late Wesleyan Conference in which the Rev Gentlemen took an active part.

The Secretary of the Pastoral Association has favored us with a printed copy of. the catalogue for the Rani and Ewe fair on Thursday next. Besides 209 rams,entered there are 50 ewes and an equal number of entries of esquires. lorns and Fergusson sold tho Furniture and effects of Major Bell at tliri Upper Plain on Saturday. , .The attendance 1 at the sale was very large, anil bidding throughout unusally spirited, The catowas large ■ and varied, and satisfacr tory figures were realised for everything. The hour is approching when the cry of Register! Register! must bo raised, :We have applied for necessary forms so as to enable those not already on the roll to register themselves, but as usual the department is a little in arreanvith its preparations for the electoral season, and we have to " bide a wee."

A drawing on the art union principle was held at the Rising Sun Hotel, Greytown on Friday evening, the following being the winning numbersß3, 94, 108, 104, 149, 79, 134, Mr Hankin won the first prize—a beautiful buggy woith £7O; Mr Young the 2nd, and Mr Elkins the 3rd.

Professor Fernri had. a miserable attendance at Greytown on Friday evening,, but the programme was faithfully rendered. Madame Mollor gave very sweetly some, beautiful songs in English and Italian, and Mr. Gary gave with his usual ability " Nil Desperandum" and " Will-o-tlie-Wisp." Altogether the performance was excellent,' and deserved a better house. . .. j

We are glad to notice that the Rev J. W. Inglis will lecture at Masterton on Thursday'> next, Since the. Rev Charles Clark performed no lecturer of eminence has paid us a visit. The Rev' Charles Clark was brilliant'but with his brilliance Was mingled a considerable amount of claptrap, from which Mr Inglis we understand is altogether free, We therefore believe that the Rev-Mr Inglis will make a better impression in this district, than his predecessor. ' ■ The Frenchsystem of proccdurcliasbeen attempted to be introduced in the Christchurch City. Council, one member.having moved that no councillor should take up the time .of the Council more than ten minutes, either in the moving of or replying to any resolution, except by permission of the Mayor. A "clean and dacent" looking wiry little Irishman walked into our composing office this morning l Writes the Chronicle, and, flourishing a whip in a formidable •manner, demanded touknow. : which was the reporter. None of the 14 typesnatchers would claim the honor, though .they would all have been " chief" of the staff if the enquiring individual had presented a Htinnessy's patent pocket pistol instead of a geen hide whip. The overseer thinking things looked dangerous, referred him to the biggest man in the room',' Taking a 'Dundreary hop across the office, the " anxious enquirer" drew the whip in a ; menacing manner, whereupon the big comp.'s cheeks blanched and his fists assumed a'definite-form. "Is yer the rephorter ?" said,the " anxious enquirer," smiling benignly, and dropping hia whip.. The ovorcccr, begginning to discern the situation, brought the iudividual into the reportorial sanctum. " Oh, yees the re : phorter?" said 'the "anxious enquirer," leering as a radiant-headed individual who draws a salary as a reporter ..and general useful, " Well, yees needn't put my name in the paper." 11 Why ?" enquired the reporter, " Oh, I was chucjted in the jug last night." " What for" " Oh, nothing Igotdhrunk." "What's your name?" "Flannigan's mynamo, but you needn't " put it in; I don't wan't it; put some otheiMiame. "" Oh. ah?" said the reporter, " we'll see; I'll meet you at the' court, and hear what'it's'all about'" And, giving another hop anil a flourish of his whip, Flannigan (whoever he is) vanished