A BUSH FARM.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 244, 12 October 1907, Page 5

A BUSH FARM.

Martin Saunders, a broad-featured aboriginally from Australia, was before the magistrate again this morning, his crime on the police sheet being vagrancy. "He has been knocking about the streets for the last twelve months, begging and cadging beer, and doing no work," said the arresting constable.

"I've been working this week digging gum. You don't expect a man to walk twelve miles into town and then start right back again without a day or two's rest, do you?" asked the captured one. "His wife is starving, your Worship. I found them both sleeping in the street the other night, and she had only just come out of the hospital then." And then Sergeant Ramsay went in the box and put another nail in the coffin of hope by dee—iring that Saunders was nothing but a loafer and a seeker after free beer. He left his wife and a 50-acre bush farm up Waitakerei way to flourish or wilt together as often as" the fit possessed him, coming to town and hanging about such Hotel portal? Ps seemed most promising. 'When we lo k him up he is always on the point of going to catch a train for home, and has been missing trains this time for the last week or more. He is a perfect nuisance," clinched the sergeant.

"What are yer givin' us?" politely queried Martin, and as argument unanswerable wanted to know how he could have insufficient means of support if he had paid his last Court fines. "Where did he get them?"—" Probably cadged them," commented the police officer. Saunders was then invited to choose between giving evidence for himself on oath, and making a statement, and after a little head scratching and cogitation he elected the less weighty responsibility. "I came into town yesterday with somo gum, your Worship," urged the owner of the 50-acre bush lot, "and my wife says to me—she's out Caere, you know — ir Now, you rest a day or two in town, and then come back. But I know what it is. _ This is just the work of a neighbour of ours who owes us a grudge. Anyway, I wa3 going to take the last train back last night if they had let mc alone."' "I don't doubt it. But your wife is starving?" N "Well, I don't ses how she could be starring. I only left her yesterday morning. 1 have an order up there with a man in Symonds-street for some household things now." Notwithstanding his protestations and promises, his Worship decided to divorce Saundere from his bush farm and wife for one month, during which time his less important half will be looked after Jay other guardians.