DISTRICT COURT.—THIS DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1661, 15 June 1875, Page 2

DISTRICT COURT.—THIS DAY.

(Before His Hoitor Judge Beekham.)

CHRISTIAN BODILSON V. THOS. E. FITZGERALD.

Claim, £21 15d.; wages. This suit was Tieard before his Honor this morning. It was an action for the rjecov«y|: of seven weeks' wages by the plaintiff,:»' farm, servant, against the defendant, who is proprietor of Mercury Island. £12 had been paid into Court, and the defence set up was that the plaintiff, hadwilfully misconducted himself, and.negligently managed the defendant's property, and that the defendant was compelled and did discharge him from Mb service on accoiint of such misconduct and neglect. Mr W. R. Robinson appeared for the;; plaintiff, and Mr James Russell for the defendant. ■

The plaintiff having proved his engagement j service and non-payment. The defendant was called and v« examined by Mr Russell. His evidence con- i sisted mainly of instances of plaintiffs misconduct while in his service. H The witness was cross-examined by Mr Robinson, ana admitted that plaintiff had written him several letters from the island expressing dissatisfaction at his position and,;, stating that he wiehed to leave. Edward Nicholson, a servant of defendant corroborated his employers testimony as_ to' the misconduct of plaintiff. On one occasion he went down to the Island in the Rowena. Plaintiff killed a sheep and said he wasn't going to starve when there was no one there£6 see his carryings on/ Plaintiff told him h» had■ " planted " the skin. He at first said the pigs had killed the sheep, but witness found some suet under plaintiffs _ house, , and then he made a clean breast of ifc ™c, told witness not to say anything about it. While on the island at another time he "»W the remains of two sheep. Plaintiff said the pigs had killed them. ' Other witnesses were palled, andeventually his Honor delivered judgment for plaintiff - for the full amount claimed. MTN CHIS V. SGATXPABE. , '"""" * Claim'for'wage's, £30. This case, which was parb heard yesterdayy was resumed this afternoon. _ ~■ j Nearly the whole native population of Raglan had come up to give evidence, and the Court was occupied with dusky witnesses^ all the afternoon. # • [Left sitting, our reporter giving in.] 8