MAGISTERIAL.

Press, Volume XLIV, Issue 6094, 9 November 1887, Page 6

MAGISTERIAL.

CHRISTCHURCH. Tuesday, Novtembek 8. [Before R. Beethara, R.M., and. H.JJ. Hall, Esqrs.,J.P.] Drunkenness.—George Reeve for thie offence was fined 10s, or in default forty* eight hours' imprisonment. Disobeying an Okdeb.—H. R. Clark, who had failed to obey an order of the Court to pay 10s per week to Eleanor Brvan on account of their illegitimate child, was sentenced to one month 8 imprisonment with hard labor. Civil Cases.—Robertson v The Pbess Company, claim £100 for alleged wrongful dismissal. This case, which had been partly heard on Saturday, was resumed. As before Mr Martin appeared for the plaintiff, Mr Fisher for the defendant Company. Mr Martin called Samuel Perkins, who stated chat he had been employed at the Press office, and had been discharged at the same time: he did hot know for what reason. There had been no complaints about his work; he had assisted plaintiff to erect the printing machine at the Press office He had worked at printers' machines in London. Plaintiff seemed to understand his business. The machine appeartd from time to time to have been tampered with. On one occasion a bevelled wheel had beefc displaced ; the person who did it had put in the locking pin the wrong way. ■Another time sand, was found in some of the bearings, and a third instance was the finding of a piece of wood •wnicn had been placed between the cylinders. Plaintiff complained to Mr Buckland,tbe manager, of these attempts, also of.tne "lack of engine power, and from »» cause there was always great <umculty in starting the machine. Witness was present at the interview between the manager and plaintiff alter plaintiff's discharge. The manager saw lie had been instructed to discharge plaintiff several days before he did discharge him. The machine on several occasions before plaintiff's discharge had printed aU right. - Cross-examined— "Witness natt been in the colony fourteen years, and was now twenty-seven yearsold. His experience in printing machines in London had been gained before he was fourteen years oio. He then fed a "tumbler" machine, ana worked at others. He had done no worK of the kind siiMJ?, until he came to tbe Press Office. He had worked there tnree months; he never before helped to erect ft machine. The effect of the displacement of the bevelled wheel waa- that it revolved without moving the gear, l ] was intended to drive. Plaintiff.«» not see it before starting Wβ machine. The sand found on the beannge if allowed to remain would have flred them, and done considerable- damage. i»e wood found between tbe cylinders was * piece of " furniture" about a foot long ana an inch thick; it might have got in.by accident. It appeared to him co. ge want of power which prevented wo. machine from working well fronv tne first, though as it w»s Worked ;h£ gradually ran easier, and at last ran prerw well. At the interview before spoken ot Mr BuckJand might have, said that if ne had listened to the advice of otherpeopie he would have discharged plaintiff some time before he did. Mr Martin here applied for an adjournment, which was nxeo for Monday next. _