"UNTIL 2 A.M."

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 77, 31 March 1928, Page 12

"UNTIL 2 A.M."

APPEAL COURT ADJOURNED. BARRISTERS STARTLED. <Bj Telegraph—Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, this day.

Although there is no do<ubt that Supreme Court judges are at times overworked, they do not rise at such an early hour and take their seats upon the Bench at such time as was intimated in the Court of Appeal yesterday, when the Court crier was adjourning the Court. His Honor the Chief Justice (Sir Charles Skerrett) had just instructed the Registrar in low tones to have the

Court adjourned until Monday, and word was immediately passed on to> the crier, who rose, ito his feet and shouted with considerable dignity, "This honourable Cotirt now stands adjourned until 2.15 a.m. on Monday morning."

At this startling announcement several well-known members of the legal profession lauched aloud, while even the r hief Justice's smile gave way to a and. Sir William Sim and Mr. Justice MarOretror also had to smile. Quickly realising hfs awful mistake, the Court crier's voice echoed loudlv

through the room again, making it quite clear that the Court would meet in th<> afternoon, and not two and a-quarter hours after midnieht had chimed. As thr> r ourt usually meets in the morning, and f he crier's voice is ever ready to say "a.m.," the mistake was quite easy to make.