Only the first two on the list appeared. A third Chinaman - the "boss'' of the others, who accompanied them - treated the whole affair rather as a decidedly good joke.
With many smiles he explained to the court that two of them were busy picking vegetables.
"Sellum to-morrow,'' he said.
"To-morrow velly busy day.''
One of the defendants plaintively pleaded: "I only cleaning stable, I not work in garden,'' and this was accepted as a plea of not guilty.
Constable Drury narrated what he, in company with Constable Harvey, had seen.
One of the defendants was planting potatoes, and the other was carrying about manure in a basket.
"Some of your mates have been here before for the same thing,'' said the magistrate impressively.
"Tell them not to do it again.''
Each defendant was fined 5s, and court costs (7s).
The smile died away on the bright face of the "boss'' when this was made clear to him.
He is probably still attempting to appreciate the religious scruples of a community which, while out on its usual Sunday motor rides and pleasure jaunts, is suddenly affronted by the sight of Chinamen busy in their garden.
• It may not be generally known that the widowed mother of a married soldier does not receive any separation allowance, such as is given to the mother of a single man.
The allowance in the case of a married man is given to the wife only.
A case has been brought under the notice of the Ashburton County War Relief Fund Committee, where a young married man, who supported his widowed mother, enlisted, and finds that his wife gets an allowance but his mother gets nothing (says the Guardian).
The secretary of the local committee has written to the Advisory Board in Wellington urging that something be done in the matter.
• Indications of one of the mildest winters ever experienced in the Queenstown district are quite apparent in many ways (says the Wakatip Mail).
Skating, which is usually at its height at this time, is right off.
Instead of there being inches of ice on the lagoons, there is nothing but clear water.
The snowfall has been exceedingly light.
Sheep-owners depend upon the snow to keep their flocks down on the low country, but practically no such barrier is afforded this year.
Another sure indication of the mildness of the winter is the early blossoming of the kowhai trees in the local park.
Spring growth is everywhere wonderfully forward. Some kinds of vegetables which were not removed from the ground late in the autumn are now showing blossoms for the second time.
• Mr Bartholomew, S. M., conducted a sitting of the Juvenile Court yesterday morning, when a boy, 12 years of age, pleaded guilty to stealing a bicycle valued at £8.
Chief-detective Bishop said that the boy had called at his house and that of a neighbour, and told a false story about his father being dead and his mother in Australia.
The boy was taken in and given a night's lodging, and later taken to Mr Axelsen, when it was ascertained that he had been under control previously, but had proved very troublesome.
The parents had done their best for the boy, but the father stated there was something erratic about him.
He would go away and sleep out all night, without any apparent reason.
The magistrate committed the boy to the Weraroa Training Farm, the father to pay 6s per week towards his support. - ODT, 29.7.1916.
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