THE JUDGE AND THE GASMAN

Otago Witness, Issue 1158, 7 February 1874, Page 9

THE JUDGE AND THE GASMAN

An English paper states that an amusing incident happened in the Court of Queen's Bench the other day. Mr Justice Blackburn uniformly objects to the atmosphere of the Court being heated with gas, even in the coldest weather, the only circumstance under which he will tolerate it being when the prevalence of a dense fog renders it difficult for him to distinguish the gentlemen of the bar who appear before him. Tuesday was not a particularly foggy day, and big lordship, finding on entering the Court that the gas was alight, ordered it to be immediately extinguished. But the gasman waa not to be found, and his keys could not be got at. Hislordship, in this state of things, directed the delinquent to be brought before him as soon as he should be discovered. After several minutes the offender, trembling and unconscious of the charge which was to be preferred against him, appeared under the escort of three zealous ushers. Being asked to account for his conduct, he said he had been performing his duty in anofchor court. But this explanation was not deemed by any means satisfactory, and the guilty man was told that if he repeated the offence he would be ordered to find sureties for contempt of court 1 He was then removed.

The Emperor of Germany is to give on© great bell to Cologne Cathudral, which is to be called after him, " The Emperor," of 25$ tons weight, and which it will require forty men to swing. The walls of the tower in which it will be suspended are being built twelve feet thick. In order to ensure tbe regular wear of the portion struck by the hammer, there will be a special mechanical contrivance to make the bell, as it is rung, turn round inch by iuch in its carriage. Possibly some steam power will be eventually added to supersede the work of the forty men.