CLAIM FOR SERVICES AND EXPENSES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 72, 24 March 1906, Page 7

CLAIM FOR SERVICES AND EXPENSES.

The claim of Albert Robins against the Galbraith Iron and Steel Company, Ltd., for £184 3/4 for services and expenses, was continued after we went to press yesterday afternoon. Mr McVeagh represented the plaintiff, and Mr Cotter the defendant company.

The plaintiff, Albert Robins, was examined at length by Mr McVeagh on the facts as previously published. In cross-examination witness said that Mr Galbraith. Mr Stewart and himself all held fully paid up shares, but denied having personally estimated the income per share per annum at £2, though Mr Galbraith had estimated the income at £20 per share. Witness did not know that there were not enough funds in the company to pay the three attorneys the amounts they claimed. They returned the money they did not use.

Mr Cotter: Is it not a fact that Mr Galbraith did not come back with you because he could not pay his passage? —Yes.

Did the visit of these attorneys benefit the company by one penny?—No, it was the directors' own fault.

In answer to Mr Cotter's question as to alleged neglect on the part of the attorneys, Mr Robins said that after the failure of the demonstration he consulted with his co-attorneys, who wanted time to think before news was sent to Auckland, with the result that the cable was sent at half-past eleven. In this matter, as in the demonstration, witness said he was purely the business man, and could not have announced the result without the confirmation of the two experts. He had no authentic knowledge of cables sent earlier in the day.

This was the only witness called by Mr McVeagh. Mr Cotter deferred the opening of his case until Wednesday morning next. *.