MALMESBURY.

COUNTY PETTY SESSION, Tuesday (before Colonel Miles, chairman, Mr W. H. Luce, and the Rev. Walter Butt).—This being the annual licensing day for the division, Mr Supt. Collett said he had had an opportunity during the past twelve months of visiting the houses, and had found the whole of them well conducted, with one exception. Mr Collett further said there had been only 17 convictions in the division for drunkenness this year, against 27 last year.—Thomas Clark, of Malmesbury, sued John Cooper, treasurer of the Three Cups Inn Friendly Society, Malmesbury, and Richard Chappell and Samuel Curtis, stewards of the club, for 36s, arrears of sick pay at 4s a week. Mr T. H. Chubb, solicitor for the prosecution, said his client joined the club 38 years ago, and had continued his payments up to last June. He had been ill from chronic rheumatism two years ago, and had received 6s per week for 26 weeks and 4s per week ever since up to nine weeks ago, but it was contended that he was not ill but incapacitated from work through old age, for which the society did not provide. Mr E. A. White, medical officer to the society, proved that complainant, who was in his 72nd year, had worked very hard all his life, and was suffering from chronic rheumatism, and the exposure to the weather brought on bronchial attacks. He did not think for a moment he would ever work again. Mr Cooper contended that their society was never meant to provide for old age, and it was evident to all who saw the complainant he was suffering from the infirmities of old age. The bench, after a long hearing, decided that he was not entitled to sick benefit, but advised the officer to get the society registered.