‘‘Here's a man,''continued the magistrate, ‘‘who has got into the hands of money-lenders, and he'll probably never get out of them as long as he lives. And, in addition to this, he goes borrowing more money to pay a money-lender. It's like a Chinese puzzle, and it seems to me that the net result is that the man pays interest twice over.''
Counsel for defendant pointed out that he had already made an offer for the liquidation of the debt, but it had been refused, the judgment creditor asking the court to make an order for a larger weekly amount than was offered.
The magistrate remarked that it was a very unfortunate case, as the man, who was a Government servant, would probably lose his position.
‘‘It doesn't matter what your client thinks,'' he remarked to counsel for the judgment creditor, ‘‘I've no time for money-lenders.''
According to law, said Mr Bishop, he would have to make an order, which necessitated the payment of the debt forthwith, in default one month's imprisonment.
■ Settlers in the Morven Hills country are again faced with the periodical trouble from the ever-increasing deer herd in that locality (states the Cromwell Argus).
Annually, in the early autumn, the deer make their way down to cropped areas, and for something like six months are responsible for considerable damage in turnip fields and cropped paddocks.
In various parts of the country referred to deer are now very numerous, and within a short journey of some homesteads herds of from 100 to 200 can be counted.
The settlers intend to place the matter under the notice of the Minister with a view to gaining some relief.
It is admitted on all sides that not one decent head is to be found in the thousands on the country referred to, and the herd there is nothing short of a menace to the standard of the main herd.
Free licenses for this area were issued last year, but those who applied did not take advantage of the privilege, in view of the innumerable conditions attached.
What is reasonably contended is that the country should be thrown open unconditionally.
■ At Sealey Creek, near the old Moonlight Diggings, on the West Coast, there is at present a plague of opossums.
Introduced from Australia, the marsupial has thriven, and is now in such numbers that it has become a pest, raiding the farmers' gardens and orchards.
The colder climate of the dominion has improved the value of its fur, and the New Zealand opossum skin is said to be much more valuable in the market than the Australian.
But it is protected, and the farmers in the district invaded by them recently sent a petition to the Minister of Internal Affairs asking for the removal of the protection.
The department concerned sent an inspector over to the Coast to report, and his account of the matter is under consideration.
■ Several Ashburton County farmers who were in Ashburton on Tuesday inquiring for men at local bureaux, stated that they would refuse to employ men of military age who were fit to go into camp.
One farmer was very emphatic on this point.
He stated that he had sent some of his own sons away, and he was not going to fill their places on the farm with men who should go to the front. - ODT, 29.3.1916.
