NEWS OF THE DAY.

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12768, 9 February 1910, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

At the Iviagibuuavs Court yesterday, before Mr J. S. Evans, S.M., judgment for plaintiff was given in I the following cases :— Waimea County Council (Mr Gully) v. George Smith, claim for £3 4s 3d, with costs 8s ; E. Sears (Mr Gully) v. A. Sowmaii, sem\, claim for 15s, with costs ss. The case of Brown v. Turner and Earl, a claim for rent of orchard and damages for failure to comply with a lease, came before Mr J. S. Evans, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning. Evidence was taken at a previous sitting, and the case was adjourned for legal argument. Mr Hayes, for defendant, applied for a non suit on the grounds that being a lease for more than one year it was required under section 34 of the Property Law Act, 1908, to be done by deed. In the present case there was only an agreement for a lease, and the Magistrate had no power to entertain any action or suit arising out of an agreement for a lease that was required by law to be don© by deed. Mr Maginnity, for plaintiff, contended that by virtue of section 26 of the same Act an agreement was a lease, and in compliance with the requirements of section 34. Section 26 required a deed to be signed by; the parties and attested by one witness. A deed 6O attested was sufficient for the purposes of the Act, and the present document was signed and attested as required, and was therefore a lease Numerous authorities were rererred to by both sides. The Magisistrate reserved his decision. The Christchurch office of the Labour Department is finding difficulty in getting the right class of men for railway works at Domett and for tho tunnel works at Otira. An attempt is being made, says the "Press, to obtain tunnel men from Dunedin. Definite steps are being taken by bhe Government to have better ventilation of the Lyttelton tunnel by means of a forced draught. Whooping cough is very prevalent .n and around Dunediu, and since, by j, curious oversight (says the ' 'Star) is is not one ot those infectious disoases which have to be reported to :he Health Office, it has more chances of spreading to the dimension of an epidemic than have other zymotic diseases, lv view of the re-opennig of the State schools, Dr. Ogston sent out notices to the headmasters not to j.dmit children from houses ■ which aave been infected, without a certificate that the danger is past. Ratskius are being increasingly ascd for making fancy goods, and last year the. ratskin trade in Britain amounted to £50,000. A business for securing and preparing the skins wLI probably ho started in Calcutta, where die supply of rats is said to be iriexnaustible. "You ought not to work for 4s 6d an hour," a labour agitator was heard to remark at Auckland the other day, when addressing some men who had been engaged to work at the Kaipara's cargo at the rate of pay mentioned: "You are a nice lot of working men. to graft for 4s 6d when you could get five bob." "You shut up," answered one of the others. "Four and six an hour is good enough for mOj and I could do with a month more of it even if she- does 'hum' a bit." "Gerrout," said the first speaker, "you're as bad as a blackleg to work for that money." "Well, that's my look-out," was the reply, "and I won't ask your permission either, and look here, mate, take it from me, it would pay you better to leave the street and como down with us and do a little toil, even at 4s 6d an hour. It's better than standing at the street corner 'rousing' and 'yapping.' " And then there was "silence. _ A splendid number is that of "Comhill" for January. The magazine celebrates in this issue its jubilee, and readers are taken back to the time when the late Mr. George Smith established the periodical destined to such a famous career. He gave Thackeray £1000 a year to edit it, and after the first issue incontinently doubled that salary. During four years he paid, no less than £32,280 to literary contributors, besides £4,376 to artists for illustrations A single number of the magazine one© cost its enterprising founder £1,183. All things must come to an end, and the Summer Clearance Sale at Mrs Anstico's is drawing near its close, but though this sale has been such a huge success, there are crowds more lines to clear, so we ye marked them down still lower in price, and you've still another chance to make real worth-while savings by buying now. Get in to-day and see these latest bargains.* Tlio "New Zealand Times" states: Although no official details have been made known, concerning the Kitohenor camp to be held at Johnsonville this month,those in well-informed circles say that the manoeuvres will in all probability be on similar lines to those of two years ago in the same district. The volunteers will be mobilised to repel a raid— it is considered that that would be all they would ever be called upon to doin the event of war— and a suggestion has been -thrown out that something in the nature of a real raid may take place. H.M.S. Powerful is due in. Wellington at the same time as Lord Kitchener, and it is possible that other warships will be here also. This being so the- Field-Marshal may order the bluejackets to make an attempt to land somewhere on the coast and capture Wellington. Such a scheme would be very practical, and the volunteers would be given a very fine opportunity of showing what they could do in war time. The scheme is being eagerly discussed in volunteer circles; and ifc appeals strongly to some of the leading officers, lne whole of the volunteer forces would then be able to take up the defence instead of the men being divided into a Hed and a Blue force, which means a limited number for each, side and the movement by the diminished numbers losing a great deal of its usefulness. . On Saturday next Messrs Bisley Bros and Co will. sell freehold property situated at East Takaka, on ac-. count of Mr A. Kemp. If you require the highest grade butter, made on' the latest and most approved principles, ask' for "Victory," which is sweet and palatab 1 .}, and take no other.* "A good name is better than great riches," and Lock, the Universal Provider, has a good name for giving -first class- value and for fair and square dealing. We append a portion of a poem sent to him : — Such love as his, what tongue can fitly tell! , ■.-• Save he whose heart has owned its magic spell j With heaving breast, but hope as firm as rock, ' .... He breathed that name, th' inspiring name of "Lock." ____ Straightway' to Lock's with little cash, 'tis true, They wend their way, he looking rather blue. But wonders never cease (though quality of the best), - All was so wondrous cheap, their •doubts were soothed to rest. They're married now, and prattlers round them throng, As happy in their home as summer day is long; Yet oft in loving circle they tell that little flock, How grateful still they feel to good f old William Lock, ' The Complete Furnisher.