WAIPAWA.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 5123, 20 January 1888, Page 2

WAIPAWA.

[OWN OOEnKSI'ONIiENT.J

Mrs Rathbone's picnic for the children of Waipawa and neighborhood took piano yesterday, and was a greit success. Mr Rathbone superintended in-person und was assisted by a number of fair Sadies who vied with each other to make the affair as successful as possible. Four hundred and sixty sat down lo tea, and the capacity of the children f->r tea, plum cake, sandwiches, tarts, and lollios was taxed to the utmost. A dozen swings were suspended from the trees, and games of all kinds wore led off by the young ladies present. Tlie proceedings terminated at du*k by a set of quadrille*-, the music for which was supplied by Mr Witherow of Patangata. After tea a number of additional visitors put in an appearance and wero one aud all welcomed by the hostess. Without doubt tho affair was the very best thing of the sort that has been held in Waipawa, and the ground was very suitable.

Somo of the cases at the R.M. Court on Wednesday possessed elements of interest. In one a strapping young fellow about six feet high having got- into debt for clothes, etc., had filed a plea of infancy. AVhen ho put in an appearance tho R.M. enquired if that was the infant, and gave an opinion than tho plea was an immoral one. The infant's solicitor ultimately withdrew the plea, saying all his client wanted was time, and judgment was given against him and an order mado for payment in two months So unnecessary was this that soon afterwards tlie juvenile defendant handed in th money before the Court.

Tho Maoris are evidently getting more shrewd and cunning, and it would seem some of them deny their responsibilities and go to Court in the hope that in sifting the long complex accounts the Court will strike off enough to constitute a profit. In one case a Maori said ho had paid for every item in a long bill. The Court took a different view and gave judgment for tho Ml amount, after striking out 32s for drinks charged in the bill, and then the defendant laughed and retired quite contented since ho had bested tho landlord some. Another named Takotaroa admitted having tho goods and having been ordered by the Court to pay, but alleged he had nothing to pay with. When his story came to be sifted it transpired that until recently he had rents aud other moneys coming in for a very respectable sum. but feeling unwell one day lie mado a will in favor of his daughter, and now asked the Court to believe that, he divested himself of all his property and future takings in this easy fashion, and so was unable to pay ! He also seemed quite content with the Court's order to pay up speedily. One Eru to Hapu admitted that he "had been a boss shearer during last season, engaging a gang whoso wages and private debt-he paid, but without deriving any profit by the various transactions: also that he had received rents and other large sums of money enough to have paid the judgment debt many times over, but he lost £120 out of bis pocket at the Takapau Hotel, which inconvenienced him so little that he neglected to report his loss to tho polico or do anything beyond writing out " n proclamation" and posting it up at the hotel. The R.M. gave him a piece of his mind about it.

Tho first event in the match between Baines and Lyons for £20 a side is to commence nt 2 p.m. sharp on Saturday in Mr Scrimageour's paddock, Waipawa.