A GENIAL DEBTOR.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 12586, 17 October 1911, Page 7

A GENIAL DEBTOR.

"THE OLDEST RACING MAN IN

AUCKLAND."

The Auckland Magistrate's Court was pleasantly enlivened by an old gentleman possessing genial and rubicund feat\ires, who appeared to explain to the magistrate the reason why he had been unable to pay a debt. After giving a short history of liis family, the debtor was asked by a eolicitor why he did not pay something.

"Now, lo6k here, don't you be m a hurry, said the former, with a wealth of cordiality m his tone. "I'll pay as soon as I get a pound or two. Now, sir, (turning to the Bench), just you adjourn the case, for three months, and then I'll pay something off, you understand?"

His Worship having intimated that he understood, the defendant went on to say : "I suppose I have got the worst leg any man m the world has got." (Laughter.) "Do you go to the races?" queried the solicitor.

"Oh, yes. They send me a ticket,, and I get m free, because I am the oldest raxiing man m Auckland, and bless you, I've owned some of the best horses m the place, and when I've got a bit of money you don't find me pleading poverty. Now, then, what about that month or two adjournment?'' (Laughter).

The solicitor : "Do you ever put a pound on a horse?" Debtor (contemptuously): "Pooh! I've put hundreds of pounds on 'em." (Loud laughter.) Mr Kettle: "With what result?'

Debtor (cheerfully) : "Oh, I've had a good time, sir. But it's this way : Therv comes a stage when the luck turns — you understand ?"

"Yes, I understand," concluded his Worship. The case was adjourned.