" LAWFUL AND VISIBLE."

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 125, 25 November 1908, Page 2

" LAWFUL AND VISIBLE."

(Bt Tbiegeath. — Special to Thb Pesr.) DUNEDIN, This Day. Some remarks made by Mr. Justice Williams on questions of "lawful and visible" means of support are of interest. A man was charged with being a rogue and vagabond, and in summing up on the question of means, his Honour said it does not follow that a man who gets his living by betting gets his living dishonestly. Jt may not bo regarded as a proper means from the moral point of view, but if a man bets fairly and gets paid his money, he is not deriving that money in an unlawful way unless he bets in some way which the law prohibits, or unless, of course, he accompanies betting with dishonesty. fPBESS ASSOCIATION.! SUPREME COURT. DUNEDIN, 24th November. At the Supreme Court £o-day "William Luby was 1 convicted on a charge of vagrancy. Sentence was deferred till to-morrow. The case again&t George Edward Smith and Charlotte Elizabeth Smith, charged with ill-treating a girl under sixteen years in a manner likely to cause her unnecessary suffering, was continued. There are seven other counts alleging t indecent ussanlt. The case was unfinished when the rourt rose. EXTENSION OF A SEWER. AUCKLAND, 24th November. The Town Clerk of Auckland has notified the Harbour Board that Mr. J. A. Moody's tender (£14,955 10s) has been accepted for the extension of Freeman's Bay sewer. A SERIOUS CHARGE. AUCKLAND, 24th November. The hearing of the charge against the man William Thomas Gibson, accused of having had unlawful intercourse with his wife's- cousin, a girl under sixteen years of age, at Waihi last May, was continued to-day Accused in the box denied absolutely that ho had in any way whatever tampered with the girl The jury retired at 1.30, and at 7 o'clock to-night the foreman announced that they had been unable to agree. A new trial was ordered to take place next week. ORANGES CONDEMNED. AUCKLAND, 24th November. The Manuka, winch arrived hero from Sydney on Sunday, brought about 200 cases of oranges from Sydney. On examination of the fruit to-day it was found that many of the oranges were infected with the fruit fly, and 40 rases had to be condemned. AN EDUCATION BOARD'S EXPERIMENT. FEILDING, 24th November. The Wanganui Education Board's experiment of employing a staff to erect buildings in out-of-the-way districts is reported to be a pronounced success, and the cost wel) onder the lowest tender. Expedition of work is also a special feature of the new system. OTAGO METHODIST SYNOD. DUNEDIN, 24th November. The Otago District Methodist Synod opened to-day. It was decided that the Rev. A. C. Randerson be recommended ior reception into full connection subject to written examinations being satisfactory; and that the Revs. F. Rands P. R. Paris, and R. H. Wylie pass in ! their years, subject to written examinations being satisfactory. A report from the Governor of the I Training College in Auckland emphasised the necessity for a theological hall and facilities for training an increased number of men. THE MONEY MARKET. NAPIER, 24th November. Ihe proposed loan of £200,000 for harbour improvements was referred to. at to-day's meeting of the Napier Harbour Board. The chairman, Mr. J. Vigor Brown, in reply to a question, suggested that the poll should be taken in January, by which time he hoped j the increased value of wool and other products would have improved New Zealand's financial credit in the Old Country, and the money market would be easier. Another suggestion, made by a member of the board, met with api proval, namely, that the striking of tho ! annual rate should bo delayed till after the poll. JUDGE AND COUNSEL. SOME STRONG REMARKS, i AUCKLAND, 24th November. ' In the course of examining a man named William Thomas Gibson, charged with having had unlawful intercourse with his wife's cousin, a girl under sixteen years of age, Mr. Lundon this morning asked him if from his -knowledge of tho gill's manner and demeanour it was tho same when she was giving evidence yesterday as it was usually. Mr. Justice Edwards immediately interrupted counsel with the opinion that he knew no bounds at all. Continuing, the judge said : "Some means really I -ought to be found whereby the Government could pension you off. It ought to pay the Government handsomely to per,, sion you off at £500 a year for the amount of time you waste in this court." Mr. Lundon contented himself with no further questions_untii th© Crown Prosecutor had cross-examined. A COSTLY COLLISION. NAPIER, 24th November. Mr. Brabant, S.M., gave reserved judgment to-day in the case arising out of a collision between a motor-car and a butcher's cart, which occurred at night reuently on the Awatoto-road, near Napier. H. H. Pharazyn, owner and drher of the motor-cay, which was damaged, obtained judgment against John Higgins, owner of tho butcher's cart, for £55 and costs. /Forraan Mair, one of the occupants of the motor-car, obtained judgment f&v £78 6s and costs against tho same defendant, on account of personal injuries suffered in the accident. On a counter-claim by Higgins, against Pharazyn for damage done to the butcher's cart, judgment was given for Pharazyn with otfsts. The magistrate held that the accident was duo to the defondant's servant, ov »ovvnntn. driving without lightsi