HOIST WITH HIS OWN PETARD.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2972, 9 August 1888, Page 2

HOIST WITH HIS OWN PETARD.

That truth is stranger' than fiction the following facts relate] (elated to us by one of the principals concerned in ic will demonstrate Some twelve months since, a settler in this district determined to try fresh fields and • pastures now, aiid for this purpose • socyred a section of land in the bush some miles ,to the north of Masterton,. He contracted with a bhilder for the i erection of a dwelling on his newly acquired land upon certain terms and conditions, amongst other clauses including one that the building should be completed by a given time, nnd on its completion, in accordance' with the specifications, the owner was to pay cash. Tbo contractor was three months over his time, and the work when finished was found lo Jib scamped J henco troublo arose, which . was ultimately settled by the agreeing to leave over the final pUjP uient, some £4O, for twelve months. Shortly after, Mr Contractor met Mr Settler, and on the plea that ho was going to open lip in business for self he obtained from the latter a promissory noto for the amount, an agreement being given for its renewal each time it fell tlue until the time for payment finally expired. The first bill became due and was renewed, likewise the second. Before the third fell due,' however, tho unfortuiiata settler was burned out of house and home, he and his family barely escaping with their lives. The settler took immediate steps to have a now house built with the insurance money. To obtain his insurance money necessitateda visit to Wellington, and .en foutc ho was w,iylaid by Mr Contractor, who, on learning the settler was going to town, suddenly discovered that ho had business there also, and accompanied him, putting up at tho sumo hotel. " Oh, by the bye," said tiia contractor," "as your bill will become due in a couple of days; and it is possible your business may detain you here, perhaps you would not mind giving renewal now, and when I return I/® withdraw the current one and defjfcy it." "Oli;. certainly," replied We settler, " I. shall be happy to (lo so." The hill form wa's procured ■ and the stittler proceeded" to, fill it in, - Ho : had not got further than; the amount when Mr Contractor bethought him that possibly as it was a four ' months bill lie might have some diffi. culty in negotiating it, and threw out a •: suggestion to that effect, hinting that if \ he left tho date and the 'flfihber of. months' blnnk ho .could fill; them in ■ himself either for three or four months ! after he had interviewed his banker, : : The settler nothing doubting complied • at once with the request, and. having duly signed, the document handed it to v the contractor who then left. ' Shortly.! afterwards the contractor returned with' k a friend and told the settler thai he' wasjust oft on his return journey," and'* - shaking hands with him;wished him-fv good-bye. The friend turned out to be P a bailiff, who, to the astonishmenfjjk the settler, tapped hira on the shouldiP at the same time handing a piece of - ' blue paper, which, on perusal, he found " to be an immediate summons to attend the Court at 2 p.m. to show cause why ! he should not pay the sum of iio, the amount of a - dishonored;: promissory note. i v" What's the' m'eafiing'of thiß enquired the settler." "At yourfriends instigation," replied the: bailiff < pointings yrith bis : thumb Vover his ' shoulder in the elirection in which V

' bMtractor had retired. This lia|>|«n«l in the lobby of the hotel, and when ho looked tip the nonplussed settler caught sight of a gentleman at tho window of : liia office on the opposite sidt, of the street beckoning *to him. . He crossed soon over 4he road, nnd was pleased to 1 discover in tlin individiiF.l, a former acquaintance of hi*, n well-known solicitor who enquired what was fhf> ni:itioi\ TLe dqmndin;: icttler pound out his grief to the sviii- . patbutic friend who quickly grasped 'li.i fiituntioii." Clieer up," said lie, 11 we will iioon turn the tables," nnd ho accompanied him to the Court. When tincase was called on he found the case J .for the plaintiff was in the hands of n , lawyer of repute, who briefly stated llio tlio fiat'ticulai'H of his client's claim, 1 ' and handed in a crumpled promissory note, Allow me Enid defendant 1 !) counsel, to examine tlmt document, nnd, having done so, ho held it bcl'oru , tlio plaintiff saying, " Do yon mean lu Jurair Mr—— that this promissory IBte that I hold in my hand, lias be.i'ii : through the Bank ?" "Yes," wns.llm prompt reply. " Will you kindly lake down that answer," defendant said to the Clerk of the Court, and ho repeated ■ the question, " Yes I" again replied tlio plaintiff. A third timo he enquired, t and at this the plaintiff hesitated, "I went to the bunk," ho said, " anil enquired if defendant had an account • thero, and was told by the manager that ho had not." "Will you swear that tlio Manager told you so," peisisted tlio Counsel. "Yes," reiterated the plaintiff. "Then, Your Worship, 1 ' 1 said tlio solicitor, "I must ask for n remand to enablo mo to produce tlm bank manager, us I know it is contrary to rules of ban! ing to givo such information." A i'i,mind was granted for four days and the Council for plaint ill'

at once threw up the case in disgust,

Then Mr Contractor went in search of lift.''another lawyer to conduct his case. He called at the office of a celebrated j individual noted for his forensic powers, vJftd did not succeed in find him in. Clerk, who happened to bo the Court at the hearing of the case directed him a round about way to where tho solictor might he found, and taking a shortcut interviewed his principal before tho other party could arrive, and posted him up in all particulars. On the arrival of the contractor, the astute lawyer first secured his feo and then listened to his story. At its conclusion ho said, "My advice tovou young man, if you don't want seven years. is '.o go and settle this matter at. once, and see the solicitor for the other side. He took thcad vice he had so dearly bought, and after endless trouble he managed to square matters at a cost of some £3O, an apology, and several (lays waste of time. The settler got his bouse rebuilt, but it is needless to say not by tho same contractor.