ASHBURTON.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7780, 6 February 1891, Page 3

ASHBURTON.

Thursday, February 5. (Before Mr C. A. Wray, R.M.) Stray Cattle.—J. Jeff, for allowing cattle to wauder along the Railway re serve at Tlnwald, was fined 17s, including costs. Mr Crisp appeared for the defence. F. Law was charged, on two informations, with allowing three cows to wander oa the Railway reserve at Tinwald. Mr CuthberCson appeared for the defence. A fine of 10 s was imposod. Peter Grace admitted allowing two horses to be at large at Wiuslow, and was lined 10s. John Nolan, for allowing two horses to wander on the railway line at Winslow, was fined 17s lucludiug costs. Mrs Clarlt was fined in a similar amount for a similar offence at Tinwald. A charge against Peter Kellar, for allowing cattle to stray at Wiuslow, was dismissed. Drunkenness.—Peter Felton was fined 5s and costs ou a charge of druukenness. Civil Cases.—J. Orr and Co. v Felix McLean, claim £19 5s 2d; judgment for plaintiff. J. A. Benny v C. H. Dowding, claim £28 10s. Tnere was a cross action Dowding v Benny, claim £29 10s. Mr Crisp appeared for Benny; Mr Purnell for Dowding. This was a case arising out of Benny having contracted to cut fifty acres of grass, make it into hay and put ie into stack, for 15s per acre. About thirty-nine acres were cut. when by mutual consent tne contract was slightly varied by the balance of the grass being left to be cut for the grass seed. Benny cut two acres of the grass seed and then threw up the contract, alleging that Dowding had kaockedhimoffonaccountof tbegrassseed being on the greeu side. Dowding refused to pay Benny until ths contract was finished, and had to employ men to do the balance of the work. It was alleged that, owing to the delay caused by Benuy refusing to complete the contract, the grass got very much laid, aud some seven or nine bushels of seed per acre were wasted. Benny claimed £28 lus foi work done, and Dowding put in a contra claim of £29 10s for additional coat of cuttiug the balance of tho grass seed and damage through loss of seed owing to the crop getting damaged through the delay, and the work of cutting the grass and stacking the hay being badly done. Evidence was given by J. A. Benny, W. de B. Wilson, S. Foreman, John Boyle, Chas. H. Djwding, B. E. Todbuuter, T. Mawson, W. Langdon, Jas. Moran, and C. Primmer. Counsel having addressed the Beach, his Worship reserved hie decision. ___