DAY BY DAY

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume XLV, Issue 3190, 3 February 1928, Page 7

DAY BY DAY

NEW ZEALAND HAPPENINGS.

VIEWS FROM EVERYWHERE,

The terrors of the witness-box and the^ customs of the Court, and more especially of cross-examining counsel, I seemed strange to a lady witness at the Waitara Court the other day. Persistent questions from many points of view annoyed her. Counsel, however, was compelled to smile, as did most present, when, in reply to a hypothetical question whether cows would be bogged in a certain place he was told "neither you nor any cow could be bogged in that drain!" This line of questioning was not pursued. * # • • Although very dry weather conditions have been experienced since the beginning of the year, there is still a wealth of feed qn the Peninsula hills that has not been seen for many years past and it will be a long time before the dry weather will affect farmers seriously, states the Akaroa Mail. Dairy herds are holding their supply of milk well and lambs are doing really well. Already there has been a heavy exodus of fat lambs and a large number of special trains have left Little River and there are mobs continuously on the road. The improved prices for lambs will be a great benefit to Peninsula farmers as they are 5/- a head better than last year.

• * • An alarming experience that was welcome in its subsequent result befell a Bell Block, Taranaki, farmer, a few days ago. He had been engaged for [several days sinking a well for water on his property, and when a depth of 65ft. was reached without any apparent satisfactory result the farmer rejluctantly decided to abandon the shaft |and try in another locality. Suddenly | the ground began to tremble and lift I beneath his feet in a most alarming manner. Hurried qalls were made for a bucket and the farmer, without waiting to collect his tools, was hauled out. [Before he reached the surface, how--1 ever, water began to pour into the well and in a few minutes it was estimated that it had reached a depth of 40ft. The following day it was within sft. or 6ft. of the top. * # * •

A lively time occurred at Lake Ferry, a popular Wairarapa resort, on a recent Sunday, states an exchange. A number of people were visiting the neighbourhood, and many cars were parked not far from the hotel. One member of a picnic party lighted afire to boil the billy, when the breeze carried sparks into the dry grass, * and flames sprang up, running in all directions, but chiefly toward the motorcars. The alarm spread rapidly, and soon numbers of people were beating out the flames with sacks and scrubProminent among the fire fighters was the Hon. A, D. McLeod, member for the district and Minister of Lands, who was staying, in the neighbourhood for the week-end with his family, and one of his sons drove out of danger several of the ears when the flames were running right under them. Fortunately, no damage resulted, and soon a perspir ing but satisfied crowd surveyed a blackened strip of burnt grass land, and speculated upon '' what might have been." « • * *

Bitumen is appreciated by the police as well as by motorists. In a case in the Magistrate's Court, Wellington, Senior-sergeant Scott referred to the advantage of bitumen roads from the police point of view. "There is no doubt about it," he said, "bitumen is the finest thing that has ever been put lon the roads for the observation of skid marks in cases of collisions and accidents. Bitumen shows the marks, and they are indisputable.'* Mr J. F. B. Stevenson, who was appearing for the defendant: "But can you always tell whether they are skid marks?" He said that he had seen motor cars pulling up at tram stops in Lambton Quay and leaving marks which were not caused as the result of the car skidding.

* « « *

"While a case was being conducted in the Magistrate's Court at Invercargill last week before Mr G. Cruiekshank, S.M., the plaintiff and the defendant

were ordered out of court during the I hearing of the evidence of a witness. Suddenly the courtroom door opened and the defendant made his . appearance and signalled to his legal representative, who made it apparent that his client's presence in the court was not permissible at that stage. Shortly afterwards, however, the plaintiff was seen beckoning to his lawyer from the doorway, and, seeing that his signals wer ignored, advanced with a look of set determination on his face and whispered in his lawyer's ear. The lawyer looked astonished and then passed the information on to his colleague, who rose and stated that there was a possibility of some settlement being reached. The case was then adjourned for a few minutes, the magistrate remarking '' It shows what you can do without lawyers." A setlement was soon arrived at and it was decided that each party should pay his own costs.