A QUESTION OF COSTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 67, 19 March 1910, Page 4

A QUESTION OF COSTS.

A somewhat singular case came before Mr. C. C. Kettle, S.M., this morning, in the Magistrate's Court on the civil side. It was a triangular duel, in which three solicitors were fighting out the question of costs in a case of Jones v. Jones. There are some singular facts connected with this case, in which a maintenance order was made in favour of the wife. The husband, hearing that a warrant was out against him, walked all the way from Hokianga to Auckland to attend a previous sitting of the Court. Ultimately a sum of £45 was paid into court , •by the son, and against this a writ of attachment was entered for costs, Mr. Mahoney appearing. Mr. Schnauer, of Brookfield aud Schnauer, appeared this morning for Jones senior and junior. He stated that the elder man was virtually out of the case, not being expected to live long. He asked the mother to allow the son time to pay the balance of the amount due under the order. Mr. J. R. Lundon appeared for Mrs. Jonas, who consented to allow her son i the time asked for., The next question ; was the settlement of costs. Mr. Lundon, on behalf of his client, agreed to the payment of Mr. Schnauer's costs, £3 5/. Mr. Lundon also said he had offered to reduce his account from £13 to £9. Mr. Mahoney explained that of his account all but four guineas was out of pocket c.ish. At first Mr. Mahonoy asked for £S, but finally, in order that the whole matter should be settled at once, agreed to accept £5 5/. Mr. Kettle considered Mr. Mahoney's offer a very fair one, and the case was settled on the above basis, the balance of ,C 45, after payment of the costs, to be handed over to Mrs. Jones.