QUIRK, GAMMON AND SNAP.

NZ Truth, Issue 62, 25 August 1906, Page 4

QUIRK, GAMMON AND SNAP.

How; is it that whenever a "gentleman by Act of Parliament" kicks up a shindy about costs that he rarely comes out of it with credit to himself or his profession ? Is it because the legal shark usually hasn't the savee to proceed diplomatically when such -questions arise, but has to show the whole universe how vital a matter it is to him. Two lawyers, m a certain West Coast (South Island) town got very heated over a question of costs at a recent sitting of the Magistrate's Court- An affiliation case was before His Worshfip, "A" and "B" appearing respectively for complainant and defendant. Matters hadn't gone far before "C" chipped m with an allegation that "A" had jumped his claim and taken the case out of his hands without consulting him, or even saying "By your leave." He waxed virtuously indignant over his learned brother's lapse from professional practice and etiquette and to the uninitiated it looked as if his only object was to preserve the .honor and dignity of his profession— only that and nothing more. He appealed to learned brother "B" for confirmation of his statement of his own case, and brother "B" remarked that so far as 'he knew brother "C" had stated the matter correctly. Then brother "A" thought it was time he got m . a word, and he remarked that his client had informed him that "C" had had her case m hand. "A" told her that he could not touch it m those circumstances, whereupon his client informed him that she had since withdrawn her case from "C's" hands. "A" thereupon took it iip. "I can't stop her changing her solicitor," remarked his Worship, pouring oil on the troubled le^al waters, and at this point the matter ended, so far as the court proceedings were concerned. Later, however, "A 's" client undertook to find the amount due to "C" for what he had done m the case, and safe .m the possession of his costs, "C" pocketed the alleged affront to his noble profession, and peace and harmony resumed their sway m lefeal circles m that town.