CUTTING TELEPHONE WIRES.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 96, 24 April 1926, Page 15

CUTTING TELEPHONE WIRES.

A COUNTRY DISPUTE. (From Our Own Correspondent.) MORRINSVILLE, Friday. Mr. J. H. Salmon, S.M., gave his decision at the Morrinsville Court in a civil action concerning the cutting of telephone wires at Tahuna. The case was opened at a previous sitting, when Charles Murphy, farmer, of Tatuanui (Mr. Carroll), proceeded against Francis Harold Barnett, farmer, of Tahuna (Mr. McGregor), for £25 damages, as the result of defendant cutting the private line leading to Murphy's farmhouse at Tahuna. From the evidence it was shown that a disagreement occurred as to what the share of the cost Murphy should bear in the erection of the line, Murphy refusing to pay Barnett's demands, with the consequence that Barnett cut the wire to Murphy's housp. The case was adjourned by the Magistrate to give the litigants an opportunity of reaching an agreement. This, however, was not done. In delivering judgment," his Worship said it was a foolish action on the part of defendant to deprive plaintiff of telephonic communication. Judgment was given for plaintiff for £10 and costs.