WHAT IS MEADOW HAY?

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 253, 24 October 1919, Page 5

WHAT IS MEADOW HAY?

A RIETECTED SUPPLY. A question as to what constitutes meadow hay occupied Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon. William Thomas Stewart (Mr. _. L. Patterson) sued John Braid and Co. (Mr. •T. W. Dickson) to recover tlie sum of £14 6A for hay sold and delivered. Tlie hay was subsequently rejected as not being according to description. As £17 10/ had been lent on the hay defendant sought repayment of that sum. Evidence was given by plaintiff that he sold the hay at £7 10/ per >ton. It was meadow hay in prime condition. Witness received £17 "0/ on account. Later defendant refused to pay the balance, 'alleging the hay was not the article he purchased. Mr. fDicJcson: Were there not rushes, blackberries, fern and goree mixed with the hay? Plaintiff said the hay might have had a little of each of these articles in it. In answer to Mr. Patterson, witness said he sold hay to other persons and ■had not received any complaints regarding its quality. Bernard ©ainbridge, farmer oi Manurewa, .stated ithat he cut and helped to stack the hay in question. Tt waa mostly angustissimus -with mixed grasses in it but no rye and clover. He would describe it as meadow hay, but not as prime meadow hay. Mr. Dickson _aid they were willing to pay a fair price for the hay. but not rates ruling for meadow hay. Evidence for the defence was given by John Braid, A. A, Donald, H. Gladding, that the hay ,w>as not -what could be classed as prime meadow hay. Mr. Gladding said that bullocks that had come on a train and been starved for two or three days Would be the only animals that would eat such stuff. Mr. Poynton said there w_ no doubt it was not prime meadow hay. The witness Bainbridge admitted it was angustissimus and that was certainly not prime meadow. Mr. Bra-M had said it was not worth more than £-t per ton. His Worship said that was a fair value, and gave judgment for defendant with costs, stating that plaintiff had ulreadv received -Cl 7 10/ on account, therefore judgment imust -be for defendant.