THE DISTRICT JUDGE AND HIS WIG.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VII, Issue 1067, 13 July 1880, Page 2

THE DISTRICT JUDGE AND HIS WIG.

AMUSING CASE,

An amusing action is reported by the Wanganui Chronicle a 8 having been heard before a full Bench of Justices at the local Resident Magistrate's Court a few days ago. The plaintiff Mr. Willis, stationer &c., of Wanganui. brought Mr. Hardcastle, the Wanganui District Judge, for £2 10s, balance of account for a wig. Plaintiff conducted his own case, explaining that he had been unable to obtain the services of counsel, afeeling of professional etiquette he presumed, making the various legal gentlemen indLposed to appear in oppositton to the defendant. Plaintiff then deposed that in September last the defendant asked to get a wig for him. Witness made the following memorandum, which defendant said was all right — "1 Raveuscroft patent horehair, barrister's wig, best quality, size of hat, 6§. High tin box, lettered outside, 'Mr. District Judge Hardcastle,' — a frizzy wig not wooly." After some five or Bix weeks witness received the wig from Melbourne, but Mr. Hardcastle was dissatisfied with it, and said what he wanted was a " ventilating wig." Witness spoke about changing it, but Mr. Hardcastle said he could wait no longer, and had got another wig in the meantime. The end of it was witness got a final letter from Melbourne, saying that the maker would take the wig back at 50s less than was paid for it. He waited on Mr. Hardcastle, but he declined to give any further satisfaction than paying the freight of the wig back to Melbourne. Consequently witness sent in his account for the amount in which he was out of pocket — namely £5 15s. Mr. Hardcastle replied by sending a cheque for £3 ss, leaving him still a loser by £2 10s, the amount now sued for. In cross-examination it was elicited that considerable delay took place in the return of the wig to Melbourne, and that Mr. Hardcastle's objection to the wig was that it was not a " ventilating " one. Mr. Barnicoat, a barrister, was then called by the plaintiff, and examined as to the mysteries of wigs. He professed his ignorance of a "ventilating " wig. Stating that the only wigs he knew that were obviously ventilated were Supreme Court Judge's wigs, which had a hole at the back. His own wig, he pathetically remarked, was not a ventilator — it made the head hot, and scratched very much. In cross-examination the interesting information was elicited that " some wigs are more fluffy than others," and that "the frizzy wigs are of the best quality. The defendant — Mr. District Judge Hardcastle — was examined by the plaintiff, and deposed that a ventilating wig was one constructed on a base of crossed stripes of horsehair that admit the air. The old-fashioned wigs have lining inside — the modern wigs have no mass of hair at the base. The wig he had now was not a ventilating one — it was one that he was obliged to procure, at a cost of £5, because plaintiff failed to get the wig he ordered. Witness borrowed his present wig at first, but, for shame's sake, felt obliged to purchase it, as plaintiff was so long in fulfilling his order. The wig plaintiff got was one of the old-fashioned kind, that one could not wear without suffering a headache in consequence. At the close of the plaintiff's cuse three wigs were produced, and placed upon the counsels' table — one of which, we learn, was a venerable monster, that looked as if it had seen a lot of villainy in its time, but was now in the sere and yellow leaf. Mr. S. T. Fitzherbert, barrister, deposed that No. 1 was a wig of the best quality, made for him by Ra/enscroft. No. 2 (Mr. Hardcastb's) was a much heavier wig, more cumbersome, old-fashioned, " and in fact, which no gentleman now-a-days would wear." The villainous-looking one, No. 3, wa3 26 years old, and obsolete. The Justices after ten minutes' deliberation, gave judgment for the defendant.

" Silence is golden." —Aunt : " Has any one been at these preserves ? ( Dead silence. ) " Have you touched them Jimmy ?" Jimmy : " Pa never low's me to talk at dinner." A Philadelphia maitfjusfWriied says he was first induced to seek the society of his wife by the beauty of her arm. He adds that she presented a threequarter view at the moment when the facination seized him. She was washing the front windows.