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New Zealand Mail, Issue 1201, 8 March 1895, Page 17

An old man 69 years of age pleaded guilty at the Supreme Court on Tuesday to two charges of forgery. He had already served sentences of two years at Wellington and eight months at Gisborne. The Chief Justice called before 'him the two individuals who had supplied the prisoner with the blank cheques which he had filled up, forged and uttered, and questioned them how they came to give him the blank cheques. They both admitted that they knew almost nothing of the man, but relied upon his representation that he had money at the bank. His Honor took occasion to remark upon the singular readiness with which tradespeople give blank cheques to perfect strangers. Cautions from the Bench appeared to be of not the slightest avail. The only cure for it must be that either the Crown would have to cease altogether from prosecuting in. cases of this sort or else some discrimination would have to be shown in the cases taken up by the Crown. The prisoner could not have committed the crime to which he had just pleaded guilty had he not been assisted by the foolishness of others. ,

A deputation from the Napier Fire Brigade headed by Mr" J. G. Gilberd waited upon the Minister of Railways on Wednesday to ascertain why it was that their free railway passes had been stopped The Minister explained that all free passes had been recalled with a view to a definite settlement of the pass system. He recommended the deputation to send in a formal application and he would look into the matter.

We have received from tlie author, Mr J;. * pamphlet entitled The Cause of Racial Colour.” It is ptibV fished by Messrs Dinwiddie, Walker and