TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12407, 27 August 1918, Page 6

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

A gentleman left a box in Messrs Mhitcombo and Tombs’s shop in Cashel istreot on Friday. As he apparently had forgotten it, the lid was opened yesterday, and two tuatarn reptiles were found inside*. Later in the day ho returned and claimed his pets.

A very successful concert and dance was held in the-goods shed, Rolleston, on I riday night. The programme was given by tho newly-formed Rolleston troupe, and the. items wore greatly appreciated, . Tho Red Cross benefited by about £l7 as a result of the froupcT initial effort.

Tho evidence in the Donna n-Tobeck case, an action for specific performance of an agreement to purchase a rann, mas concluded at tho Supreme Oourt yesterday, but the hearing of argument, mas postponed, owing to the indisposition of Mr F. Wilding, K.C., counsel for Tobeck. The case mill prob***bly proceed, on Friday. A dciendant in a maintenance case to-day, mho did not appear, having paid up the arrears owing, mas the subject .of a. complaint by.the solicitor appearing for the wife. He stated that the defendant never paid until ho was sued, and then he paid up. This statement was born out by the Clerk of tho Court, **' There is a good prescription iov that sort of complaint." said tho. Magistrate (Mr S. E. M’Carthy). «Ho is ordered to pay professional fees, two guineas. Ibo smile that radiated along the solicitors’ benches showed how popular was the decision.

“ Early in the war, when the Government asked borough councils and road boards to form tiiemsclves into recruiting our councillors soon got busy enough,"' said a. Iticcarton resident n.t Monday night's meeting conue,’n, the Lady Liverpool effort. they went round and sent the chaps' oft to the front, and that’s all they seem to care. They haven’t done anything since—officially, I moan; They wore asked to give this .Lady,-Liverpool Copper Trad a start-.vUßut, .'no, fear; iliey woulcm t even)’ call a meeting. And there isn't ouetboroUgh .councillor here to-mgtol/’ •' ,U ' The complainant in this ease is an nntrufcmui worn An,'’ said Mr S. E. M’Carthy, S.M., giving judgment in a.u affiliation ease to-day. After an appreciable pause, during which the face of the.deffeuding solicitor brightened visibly,;the Magistrate added, sombrely, ‘‘ and so is the defendant an untruthful man.” Honours being now oven, the Magistrate proceeded ’ to weigh the respective untruthfuluess. remarking that the man had deceived the woman by leading her to believe that he was single, whereas ho was married with six children. On the, whole he believed the woman’s story and gave judgment accordingly. A. pointed rebuke was administered to-day to sundry Magistrate’s Court officials and solicitors who seemed to have caught the whispering infection of maintenance day. The clerk had called a case, and a couple of solicitors started to make some more or less confidential remarks to the Bench concerning an adjournment, when a man in the Court .lumped up with the remark, " 1 am the defendant, and I appear.” lie was immediately informed that Ids case had not been called, whereupon lie sab down with the remark, delivered in dear tones. “ I wish you gentlemen would speak up a bit louder.” X'nfortunatcly the defendant’s wish was not realised, for the whispering continued as usual. ’

“The conscientious objectors are really very interesting." said Sir James AHon at the Orphans' Club gathering m Wellington on Saturday night. Ho asked one If ho hud read tho Bible, lie stud, .No,’ I risked, * Have tou any religious opinions?’ He sail. ; X O J I asked. l On what do you base your conscientious objections?’ Ho replied ‘On my own opinions.’ ” (Laughter f Some time ago, Sir James added, fourteen of those conscientious objectors went to the front, and they were now lighting with their respective units The most interesting hail been tii o .Maori conscientious objector, and i n this connection he said he bad seen a letter from such n Maori, which rail something like this Narrow >; 00 ) t Camp.—Dear Father and Mother,—l am getting on very well here.. They treat mo very well! Major Peacock is like the father and the mother. I am well, and I am well clothed, and 'they have recently made me a lance-corporal. ■I hare got to live up to the lance-cor-poral, and tho other Maoris who come into camp are very pleased. ] am writtell you that I made a mistake, and that you made a mistake, so that the othsr ’Maoris there may see what it is to be converted.” (Laughter) “They are very interesting,” said Sir James Allen, in conclusion. “Their history ought to be written.”