TRADE TOPICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VI, Issue 286, 16 January 1896, Page 13

TRADE TOPICS.

Mr Beefchain gave his -judgment, at Christchurch, last Saturday, in the eases against the licensee of the Central Hotel for alleged breaches of the Licensing Act. His Worship, in the course of his judgment, -aid there was wilful perjury on either one side; or other, and he fully recognised the grave responsibility which rested on him to decide as to which side perjury should be laid. He had not the slig test hesitation in saying he believed the witnesses for the, prosecution and disbelieved those for the defence. Defendant was fined £lO and costs on the first and third charges, the license to bear two endorsements. The costs amounted to £7. Counsel for the de'endant stated that he proposed to appeal on the question of facts. During the last session it was a standing joke in the lobby that Sir Robert Stout, the Premier, and other baderswere “bidding” against each other for the Salvation Army vote, and as

“ General” Booth -was in Wellington at the time, and the guest of Sir Robert Stout, the Knight was for a time the favourite for the “ Army Stakes.” The following ukit on the situation was struck off by an Auckland member : — The agnostic came down a surprise on the camp, The Freethinker’s tread hushed the sentinel’s tramp, An enquiry was started —what does it denote ! A lassie responded, we eae.h have a vote. The General, being present, said I know the best JZe is a philanthropist! lam his guest. If you speak of election, you’ll make a mistake. The service he renders we’ll gratefully take. The “Angel of Truth” will support me in this— A doubt on the question will discount our bliss. Ingrates we shall be, as the Israelites were, So let us be thankful, and offer up prayer! Then stood the agnostic, Democracy’s head. The man who at one time the true liberal led, The Knight who was pandering, but knew not the fact, By the army and public was caught in the act. And then stood the officers, loyal and brave. Who said, by our prayers, this agnostic we’ll save . Male privates were silent. In a period remote, The lasses responded, we’ll each use our vote. Then the Premier appeared, ami loud in his wail, The Knight said, I’m broken, like the image of Ban. On the sides of each camp the officers wrote — At the general election give Seddon your vote.