A FREIGHT DISPUTE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 88, 15 April 1899, Page 2

A FREIGHT DISPUTE.

„ At the Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon J. M. Shera sued Warreu Blyjh and Co. for £28 14s 6d, the claim being for freight On bananas and hides shipped on a> vessel for which plaintiff is agent. Defendants counter-claimed for £26 Bs, the value of goods said to be short-delivered. Mr Burton appeared for plaintiff and Mr Baume for the defence. Plaintiff had been paid by cheque to the amount claimed, but before the cheque was presented for payment the defendants, who were agents for consignors from Norfolk Island, concluded that they had been charged for freight on more bunches of bananas than they had received. Consequently they gave instructions that the cheque should not be honoured beyond the sum of £19 12s 6d. Plaintiff, in his evidence, said the bananas were shipped under certain conditions. The defendant firm received the bananas in- bulk and held a sale on the wharf. Mr BaTime, for the defence, said it was the custom for receivers of bananas to pay freight upon a number of stalks, even if ,spme of the stalks had no fruit on them at all. He then called evidence with a view to showing that the ship had sold bananas belonging to the defendants in lines;of from eight to .forty bunches,, for which the supercargo received cash. The case was eventually adjourned for a week.