Lake County.

Southland Times, Issue 10142, 19 April 1889, Page 3

Lake County.

(from our ovrs correspondent). Quite a legal mania seemed to have broken out-in this district last week. The trouble began at Queenstown on this day week, by the hearing of a number of cases resulting from an affray of the Donny Brook Fair kind, which eventuated at the last Franktoh races," and which led to some high jinks. Pokers, shillelahs, and fire sticks were brandished by fire brands, and the rule was that whereever there was a head or a nose showing to hit it was in some sort of promiscuous way quite irrespective of whose it was. What the row was about or how it origin- ■ ated.nobody seems to know to this day, but it would seem the " divarsion" was greatly enjoyed by all- who took part in it, and regarded as excellent fun. But the guardians of the peace took a different view of the thing, and held that the .majesty of the law had to be vindicated, in consequence of which some of the "bhoys" were mulcted in fines of different amounts. At j the . Arrow Court by way of novelty an affiliation case created no small sensation. A welPto-do and retired miner j at Macetown, got into the good graces of a young girl about 16 years of age, the daughter of a respectable family, and herself rather a cut above the average of the colonial miss. After striving hard to support herself and her child, and failing, the girl was compelled to appeal to the law. The result was the father was ordered to pay 10s a week for the maintenance of the child until it is 14 years of age. A philosophic Chinese friend of mine, who had listened with much interest to the case, approached me at its conclusion with a piece of paper in one hand and a pencil in the other, saying in the grave manner that becomes a sage : "Folteen timee twenty-six makee L 36 4!" and evidently astounded at the powers of multiplication, added : "What for he not dlownee him? Henotwanteehim." "Oh," I answered, "he would be hanged for that." After a pause for deep thought, my Chinese friend, in a fit of contempt, ejaculated — " Eulopean big fool, me buy one dozen wiffee in China for L 364, and do wid the babee what I likee."

Another case at the same Court created no small interest. A farmer sued his storekeeper for produce and cattle sold, his claim being met by a contra account for goods supplied, and by receipts alleged to be signed by the vendor. The case had been adjourned for several "months for the production of the storekeeper's books, which at last were produced, and the case proceeded. The hearing disclosed in a striking manner what may not all be done by bookkeeping when an enterprising mind tries its hand at it. There were erasures ad libitum to be seen by all in Court as the pages were held up to the light ; entries to the same person were scattered broadcast over three ledgers, without any regard to chronology 5 the keeper of the -books could not say when certain entries were made, though some of them were dated in the ledgers ; the storekeeper admitting that he never kept a cash book. Here was a case for a Solomon, for any ordinaiy mortal in the shape of an R.M. could not be otherwise but perplexed ; to say nothing of the unhealthy and tedious nature of the proceedings. After the above disclosures it is perhaps no wonder that this particular storekeeper is always found in the possession of receipted accounts, the signatures of which are constantly disputed. Perhaps if his books were impounded by the Court it would teach him a lesson on book-keeping., loth April.