CHRISTCHURCH.

Press, Volume XLVII, Issue 7540, 2 May 1890, Page 3

CHRISTCHURCH.

Thttrsday, May 1. [Before Messrs R Westenra, James Gapes* and James Campbell, J.P.'s.]

Drunkenness,—Two first offenders were fined 5s each, and Mary Mitchell 40s, or, in default, seven days' imprison meat. Alleged Horse Stealing.— George White, alias Clifford, was charged with stealing a horse, value £10, the property of Thomas Lamont, Summerton, Rakaia, on the 18th of April, 1889. Mr Western appeared for the acccused. Prom the evidence it appeared that the horse was missed oat of the prosecutor's- paddock and was sold privately by the accused in Fyne and Oo.'s auction yards, to Thos. McCullum. After hearing the evidence the accused was commuted for trial. (Before B. Beetham, Esq., R.M.) Civil Cases.—Buxton v Mercantile Finance Company, claim £100. Mr Deacon for the plaintiff, Mr Russell for the defendant Company. In this, a claim for value of beasts alleged to have been rescued after distrainc and for damages, the evidence had been taken on Tuesday. Argument was now heard, and his Worship ruled on the contention of Mr Russell that the distraint was void on the grounds that it had been made before sunrise, that Buxton in order to distrain had driven or caused to be driven th 3 cattle from the Company's premises, and that they were distrained on while straying. Plaintiff accepted a nonsuit, costs £10 3s 10d being allowed against him. Patterson v Jackson, claim £3 for rent. Mr Cresswell for the defendant. Plaintiff's agent, who appeared, failed to prove that the house had been let to the defendant, for whom judgment was given with costs. In Atwood's Trustees v Hang Shu, claim £16 10s, Mr Slater (plaintiff) admitted having served the wrong man, and the case was struck out with costs to defendant. Dampsey v Benson, claim £10. Mr Martin for the plaintiff, Mr Cresswell for the defendant. The evidence was that, on April 6th, the parties, between whom an old feud •existed* .met, and the defendant, an old man, struck the plaintiff, a young man, a not severe blow with a stick, on which plaintiff .wrested -the stick away and savagely beat and kicked the defendant. The Magistrate said the plaiutiff had no right to make the trifling assault committed by the defendant the pretext for inflicting such a severe reprisal, much less to come-T into Court seeking damages after taking the law into his ownhands. Judgment was for the defendant, plaintiff being ordered to pay all costs (about £2. 10s.) McGregor v Palmer and others, claim £07. Mr Russell for plaintiff, Mr Fisher for the defendants. The plaintiff, who had been employed on the Cheviot estate, sought to recover the amount named as wages.' He came into Court intoxicated, and oy order of the Magistrate was locked up. His counsel then accepted for him judgment for £28 Ids sd, a sum previously offered to him by the defendants. Costs £8 10s 8d were allowed against him. In Jackman v O'Malley, a claim on judgment summons; for £9 Is, an order was made for payment forthwith or, in default, four weeks' imprisonment, on the ground that the debtor had not given satisfactory answers to questions put to him in reference to a large sum of money he had received. Judgments went for plaintiffs by default, with costs, in McCorinack v Hanrahan £34 11s, Banks v Hoadley 7s, and Simmons v Parchase £2 2s 6d.