Date of first hearing?
Date on which court applies its mind to the contentions.
Date of first hearing
Never earlier than the date fixed for preliminary examination/settlement of issues.
Court EXAMINES ORALLY party present
rule 2
Companion/pleader can also be examined
r3 - reduce substance of examination into writing, forms part of the record
Court pronounces j’ment against party
If party fails to appear after the court has postponed the hearing for 7 days from the first hearing because pleader was unable to answer a material question.