MISCELLANEOUS.

Inangahua Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1222, 19 January 1883, Page 2

MISCELLANEOUS.

Her Majesty in her Privy Council has before now had many important colonial appeals to decide, but none appears to have involved larger issues than the great New Zealand will case of Rhodes v. Rhodes, recently decided. It will be reinbered that through the Lords of the Council ruled in favor of the appellant, Miss Mary Anne Rhodes (thereby upsetting the decision of the Supreme Court at Wellington) they directed that the cost of all parties should be paid out of the estate. Three sets of solictors were engaged, and the arguments lasted six days. The importance of the appeal and the anxiety of the Government to give the petitions of colonial subjects due attention, is shown by the fact that besides the four ordinary judges, Lord Blackburn and Lord Watson attended the heiring. The costs incurred in Englaud have now been taxed, and amount to the {..ood round sum of £2810. Mr Benjanrio.

Q.C., the appellant's leading counsel, bad 250 guineas on his brief, besides refreshers and consultation fees every clay, and the Attorney-General, acting for the next of kin, a like sum. There were also two junior counsel on each side, and the trustees paid 100 guineas to counsel to watch the case on their behalf. These costs are in addition to those incurred in New Zealand, so that the lawyers seem to have had fully their fair share of the late lamented Ehodes 1 four millions. It may be interesting to mention that the fortunate litigant, Miss Mary Anne Rhodes, heard her case argued, and before she returned home had the honor of hunting with the Empress of Austria. — "Telegraph" Home Correspondent. The great increase in the so-called totalisator clubs (says the Melbourne Age) has shown how readily the public have accepted this means of speculating on races, and consequently of getting rid of their money ; and it issomewhat a matter of surprise that up to the present the proprietors have all met their engagements. The first exception to the rule has taken place over the Champion meeting. Prior to the Melbourne Cup meeting a totalisator club, under the title of the Polk Club, was started at 170 Elizabeth street, a man named Cooke being the ostensible proprietor ; and from, the first a large business was done, " sections " being got off for the various events in rapid succession. Several hundred pounds were invested on the Champion and other races at the same meeting, but when those who backed the winners went to claim their money, the place was found to be closed and the proprietor gone. Application was made to the police by several of the victims, but they were informed that no steps could be taken, as the offence did not come within the law. A story in a recent number of "All the Year Round " tells how a pair of enterprising speculators having purchased for a trifle a policy for £5000, which had been issued on the life of a person who found it convenient to disappear, contracted with a most ghastly looking chap, apparently in the last stages of quick consumption, to assuuie the assured's name, and in due course of nature to die in his stead, the speculators to provide him with maintenance and niodical attendance during, the short remnant of his days. The consumptive developed an enormous appetite in company with his miraculous sepulchral cough, and after lingering for two year 3 and costing his principles something over £700 in premiums, food, medicine, medical advice, <fee, turned out to be a professional "living skeleton." in temporary retirement from business, and was finally sold to an enterprising showman for £10, but extracted of his late proprietors £20 as the price of his silence regarding their conspiracy to defraud. This story was probably suggested by the Weather-head frauds in Adelaide, the results being worked out differently.'