“WHEN DOES COURT BEGIN?”

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXI, Issue 2440, 4 May 1925, Page 3

“WHEN DOES COURT BEGIN?”

THREE PROMINENT HAWKE’S BAY LAWYERS HOAXED. MISTAKE (THE DAY OF COURT, Three well known Hawke’s Bay lawyers were well hoaxed in Waipahu* rau last Friday. A local pol.ee officer was accosted in the street by a well known Danner irkc counsel who questioned him: “What ’time does court open?” “At ten o’clock this day week,” wan the bland reply of ,fne man in blue, ‘ * Goodness gracious,” exclaimed the visiting lawyer, “I was told the Court was on to-day. I have conic from Danncrirke to watch a case.”

Tho smiting police official continued his walk along the street, but he- had not gone a chain when he was stopped by a well known Napier lawyer who also enquired “What time docs the court commence?” The enquiring lawyer was told that the Court would commence in due form In a week A time. This piece, of innocent information drew a long t.rade of forcible language, punctuated by an exp]anaton that the gentleman of the wig had “travelled all the way from Napier to carry out a case to-day.” Very much enjoying the diseomforture of the hoaxed lawyers the policeman again assayed to finish his beat. Judge to his surprise, however, when he was again stopped, this time by n Hastings counsel, and asked the same question “What time does the Court begin?” The police official again explained. The explanation drew a volume, of forceful, but in the c.rcumstances, useless protest and a similar explanation that the lawyer had come to Waipukurau from Hastings to take, part in a legal - battle at th-e local court.

When last seen the three sadder but wiser visiting lawyers were walking the main street wrapt in enraptured admiration of the beauties of Waipukurau and meditatrig ungenerously on the mistakes that even lawyers sometimes make