LAW REPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 18, 16 October 1907, Page 4

LAW REPORTS.

APPEAtiicOURT.

f.Thoir .Honours the Chief'•Justice , (Sit -Rq:

■' b«rt Stout) ■ and William's, : Denriisi .tonv■■ Cooper,VChapman/v 1 and , 'Buttonp took r. their ■ seats; af 10.30 a ( :m.-" yesterday.■;.'-•■'■ ■• »'. .:

pF,.ETASION; OF • DEATH : - \ VV(/ ,;:';•:;-u-v ; : ; ' ; '-;Ar^ment':'^as-' ; ,heard~,,in!:tho---'caM,, i Annie ; Quaylo ; Townonclj, of ■ Chnstchurch .'(appellant) V the''Commissioner.'of'fStamps-, (respondent).; ■Tnis".' was '"fy- t case.,renioypd^into -.thp,.Appeal' ■ Caurt'ifor argument/'..'.'.■■'::.,.•','..■' .•.",,.•,;'/■■ •.-,. ■.-:.■ :s ; Mr:;.'Skorretty;K.C v '(with him.'Mr.. : .Brow,n,' .of Chr'stcl'urcu) appeared for[ appellant, and Mr; IV'W.'fetringorj/K.C.i v pf; Ohristchurch; (with.ihim Mr..; Meyers),,, for..respondent. ■• ■■~ i.' i ■.- The ; statement '.of..the .case?,(as ; propared• by! . ttio.'Minist'er, showed, that. Georgo Hoiary Mpore (fatHer of tlie appellant) : -his.-last: will on; Fpb'ruary;l2,,aß®;;: Hβ died ;at''ChristchurcH on * July:7,Vl9oo,;,being nearly 'jiinety-three'.years;df,,ago. ;rTho.';finali balance ef tho real'and...personal,,e?tato ,of/,the.de ; -. ceased within tho .Dominion, of New .Zealand: w,as certified ; under 'the 'provisions';Vpf ~the ,Dcceased : Eersohs' : Estat'c'3 , Duties,Actjlßß1 f of ; the^Value-:<i£.£6S6;isß''ies';;'7d.: , .Tho. doty ! on %hp' : bsta'to.; jvasi , by..:thc : Minister', at' £34,307 ißs:-.10d. ; ' '■' On ;:the' other hand,vthG executors" claimed .'that 1 tlie'cstdto was'vdfVthe: yaluPVof■ f 3d. ; , The .difference-" b'etweoh' tho', assessments—viz., • os: : ;;4d;r^was:,'claimed7byy^ajppellaßit. jto, 'belorig''.tb" her" absolutely.' 1 ;. The'.-'Minister. decided'-thati the"'properties :and"assets',-in ■dispute formed -part Vof ■tho'pstatoof ..the'dp--'.'jcbas'odj or would-have.'beencldimabfcby^him at: any .'time "clurihg liis' Jifetiine;:and' hp<.npr ;ipli , thefnssc.SEment;C'Th'e.executors,''b.ein^ dissatisfied with tho''assessment,; .and-'having! paid the'duty in conformity therewith; then requested' the. Minister 'to' state,a .oas.p for. the. ; 'opinion'':-of.'- the "Courtl.:; ,The. iaiiiin ;-;'of ■£532;222 :,0s; ; - 4d; represented" sums oi : ;,monPy mid. , securities Iwhich;, came.'., intp '.tho i possessiori of ..the' appellant,';as".the .attorney/pf'.the /deceased,"and; were retained by; the ..appellant i.»nd : 'iiot; paid .over'to"^thei'.decoas'od or .to;his "jji^c:ount'.. , ;:'TheLqnest , ioris r .for.,thb ppiDion..'.pf \tife ;'Court.,.worei'.'ris .'follow :LXI)/,Was' : the. as-

■■ ..sessment 'made iby , .- the .Minister for .-'Duties-: valid :at ; 'laiV:,'-''and' {%)•. .if, ;n6fj;. ; upon' j. ..what I'shbuld'.lchj'ty'' be assessed,', and : ;what reduction or refundV(if, any), in respect -. of 'thV. assessment "were , the" executors en- -:' titled, to ?■••?.-•-- ■::%;,-. 'v'- , !-;:

: ■' Jn his. petition (which;" in : the. first '• in- .' stance;' came ;\ip;,for;' consideration 'byi,.Miv ;.;■ .'Justice Chapman .at; Cliristchurcli) ..tliOcMin-; ■' v...'ister stated,,' inter. alfa/'that,'- ; on or.'about '/. '•iDecembar: , tlie;3ebfea^ed ■ f.; ftideed poll ;br:;p6ver-.bf' attorney ~.'. Ifts; daughter (the. 1 appellant) "to: : op* his .■ attpr.- ■ '• nSy.i* that; <late J ..iintil thp;death: of ; tho •'•■•;• deceased she conducted;all,, pr'nearly, all," rtha- '.-_ business' 'of the Appellant frecoiyed ■ frpin th'p ;.;'dcceas'ed .iriyjpey,,.ia :. cash; and; the deceased jnvested in 'her :- other'.Jarge'sii'ms. '■■In'':allj .'slio l '' ; redßiy6d cash ;. ; . : My'j' ; s«uriti^''ofva : : '£832,222,' '.'■. irid;itlie;'executors.had;'jiq't : 'iftcluded' j abV ;^ ; ih'.'thp.'estato-.ofyinc'dc-. . oeascd. 1 ; Petitioner prayed':thai th?.' Court ' \vpMd(dwl9re.ioat.tha M Biiid-:sum;'of^£432'i222 ) ' : qrj. the 'assets' royre'senting ■ tHo. saine,• : wa^^or ■■■',' ■vzere..arid'.remained;the,'proporty.'of tho'.ae-. :. ceased,' cr • in''thp, alternativefthat ;the;]Cpur;t: .-;, Tvould declare that the ,'trapsactions , 'whereb;r .benefited.TCere. dispositions of real ■ ■ property'.of the deceased.-made "';. fortthe-'purposo- of-evading :theVdiity^imposed- ■..•: by.vtho , :' Deceased iPersons'.-. Estates.'-jD.utips :'■ •■. 'A6.t, 1881/ 'and-that '.[ the- duty"'■ was.'payahje! •■■'■•. on'the prbperty/coniprised': in tlie said .'.trans-.. ' 'actions;; .or,Uri:'the.'ruither. Y ■."/•■ tlie\ Court.'would declare tlie'.said.trhusactipiis 1 ■ or'- ■dispositions'' to ho , deeds. .of gift; or j the, ■; subject of 'gift; - -.' "i'".. . '■..., .■':..':, • .'.Mr!; Skorrcit .'(for apjipllant) stated that ~ : .h^d !l i resiile.d 'jnj; Cantertjuxj, ] '■ v*as ..- GJleiiraark Stations, , Vliich;hf !mahy, .0 . ~ mihancedj 'in v :yaluet';t6.; such' an^pitcpt: , tKiii^he-beiaMVjp^H^eal^j^flni'^js: ': wife 'andv , ; 'much .attached., 'to".appellant,.'.tiis.' ''.;■'' chjld.; '''JrpEi; t.irae'/to, time,lie .gave Ker.liuJge : -'su^s'jin'''';cash'.v]antl-:vim i eEte(l ■.'other.'>, Jarge. ; ..'. .ambiints \ iii her'namprjiJe! .(eounsel).;,sufa-i .:.;* fnittctV that all'.tlip.'.tr'aiisftctipiis' resulting. m : '//,' the,,payment,,tp-appellant -pf .the:',amaunt.ih: , .''/•'.disputq.m')ilio'prc^ent;hstWn^vjz.;..£432i222T^' .' wereiyalidj'.and; cojh'pleejgifis 'during- t the iife-': -..-■■. ' timefofjtlie, consequently,,, ... • the 'properties aii'd;.assets ift question ■ •;.■■.• belong .to the.jde'ceascd.'at-.the; time, pfi.his , : ■ :death.]..;As the : -.transactions -Tvere .real -'■ ;■'■ and not; nicr'ely.,colourable r .it;\vas,;icouiiiie.l J .; : . contended,.immaterial■that..tho;.testator had ''■'..■}' tho motive in- making the gifts of escaping■ ■• „,...,..-..,.....^ i ,.,., v . v _ y '.- '-,- -'.Mr;. Brown fbll6wed'"on'tfie'same side. ', Mr.. Stringerf;(for"utUe,.;respondent) • con- ■'•'.'■ tended that there was no ovidonco of an effec- : tive gift of these moneys during the testator's ; ! - .lifetime,. some .act .of irecognition . of;;'eaclv transaction'-by:.tho!'testator-would- : rcquirc'to be!'proved: '■■•Mα 'had not' concluded ': his address■ fh on.the"Court; 'at; 4.30 p.m. ;i:ad'". ..; -until ; .lo;3o this morning.; ;, .0- ? ; ••'-■;:'

"-. •••• QUESTION OF COSTS.' ' ' ]•'Application,for;'£ho variation!of'.tho,',ordei • -as to costs in th?: case between' It.. Hiclis (ap- •' ;.and .others^.(resppßdentsj ;• • was'madp'by.. 3ir." i). on behall of .'the appellant.. ;'i'his. case, was .decided, -at • JJio ;iii favour, of rcspoiideniip, and .tiio. Court, alipwed ; Mrs." Jefcoate,, oni>, ; pf' .1. Dn', the middle, scalo,. costs,-as • from .'a.--disUn^r ; , Sfr.7,ejj^?y , \yas for'a review" pf'tfiqlord'crof tlie'Court'as.ft , i the, costs I'rom. a distance,; on .the ground; tha' ;. : tho respondcnt.in :qutst;oii, hpr, coiicitorr.-, am counsel, rcsidcd.Ju /Wellington. ■ • Mr.,^T.. 8 1 \Va;ton appeared:.oil behalf of Sirs. Jefcpafx to opposo.i* Tho' Court ; .granicd. the applica tion, and ordorod .that. Ks' : 'judgment .shouk to-iamonded- by/allov.-ing costs/pn tho'.middl; ■ scale,: occlusive or'costs as from'/a distance clmm roil conr>nsoioN .Judgment in tho case between" Guinhes ?/: and. Lb.■Gre:i,-:Ltd:,' auctioneers,. etc.,- Tirnari (appoilants), aiid William Quinn, fiirmcr, o • Mfikijrihi. .(rcspc,nd,ont). v ,j!.ab Ji ,-bce i n .reserved Tli;3'.-V.-as an anneal,', on lav/ and''facts, /fror f the ijudgnicp.t of; J : hv,3ustico Chapman,,.wjio . on jUgflsfc. 26,?I5Hj$f thf tdecißiou of: Mr. [/Jackson ']£c<l|kfll;~i.S.M. w.bich S'is" (tlic-plain tiffs) lit an-action'for £95- lfis..:<(J)oing»coni ■ .. fmissjoii Jibiif tlipirsilo..of.a farni) ' And ; post respondent.!(wjid.iwas tho (defend »«t). ■ ■ f / ■ ~ .v. Tit: ..

':.-■■. *»■; • NATIVE-LEASES. \ ..'.-J , '- ] V ■ '"■■!•'' i'■ ■■L''Vi--"*'"n>~ T: V'- ■'''■'.'•'■-.■ [ ' ,T3is Honour Mr. Justice'' Co'ope'r.-, delivered . judgmeivt il t o;\'M6 : ndas''iß:6fiiiDg f :iii.tlio case botweeii Gortnidq>3sl!oii!,3l.oin , ertzhagcn (plaintiff) Sv. • tho\ : Board ■ (defendant)/. "• : ':.'J3iis: , for the ■ issnq of a writ ;bT ; :maridaniiis; directing tho defenda?iv.Board,to hoar.and;determine ac- ■••• cording to'law the 'application of the plaintiff ' for.the approval of a proposed lease : from Morehu Turoa ; to ; .the. plaintiff .of her sharo and interest iii'.a. imaraina • block, known as Up. 3a.::' ■■'::■; ''''tf-^-S^iVj ,'■/;'?,- -' Hi's Honour..\said '. i tliat;...-tlio .'facts wero, Bhortly/thatMprehii Turoa andeprtain other ■aboriginal 'nativ¥ : owiefs:of a block (which was nattvo land) executed'a "document whicli' was in the form .of a, lease : of tho r land,,to tho plaintiff, 'and which document was dated April 21,, 1906. ;;; For,the.purposes of; the jndginent he assumed that'._' this document might be construed as an ■agreement for alca.se. The land'.wa's : ;wit.hiii,the.To Ikaroa Maori Land District,.' ind'.j.the.V.defendant Board was,' the Bbard'lcoHstijTicecl'.for 'that district under the , Maori-.rLsnd-.'Settlcraent Act, .19OS;i;Iri."Jjine;;:r90g,VMorehu Turoa signed an application for,, or 'consent to', the consent or approval'of tho'Boa'rd to suchpro--1 posed lease; and'on December 10/-1906,' tho plaintiff lodged with her application for c r the consent to, and approval pf./puch.. proposod lease by the'Boiirel. ■ It might bo assumod for the purposes of this motion that rent reserved.was an adequate rent, : and that the area was within the proa., which mi"ht be legally leased by the nativo" ownors,

and that, the-native, owners .had at,-tho timo', of the execution of . the'. (!o.cuiTient :SUineiu:it c othor<land of ftjpapskiiiiiga.; c On iJccainbcr IQprIOQG,. tbfl:..plpiiJW'ff>. i lodged; I .mth.hori.arplipatipnrA' declaration .pudcr; sec'-; t tion 26 ,of, ttifi iMap.ri, LAnd^L^syAdministra-: tioni Aqt,,-! i9oo;i as- amended;,by, septipn-.-iS. ofs jlaorj Apiepdnient-Act, 1903,; 'ljut, '.jnado. some it) mo; ,af r ; . ter'tbe 'document"'signpd ; J)y i ,,t]io ,'natives!, had: . bcpnpxecutfid;' '.■/rhe' ( ,q^stio.ii. ; was ,^yliethor. vqojfld iJ>9- TP9 u ;r«Wto; j jopntract,rf.oi>.a ..pro-; , posed lease, no declaration as:requijpd-,by)thp c Acts!-of ,'-1900, ia'ntj i.903. Jiaying ;bopij, ) thpipxpcutiph-of; tlie 'J. 6, of ,'tho, Maori Land! f !sett]pm'ent.,Apt,' 190p^#r^ittftd l tfe.lcaso,,byj iMaorj£ofJa'nip_'inj l ea . ing any reptriefcioiis. agam3t.,.,alienatiqn.p i re-' i t .viousjy w»y : 'Acti..or,'|iiatcim6rit! - resncctivo. areas..-,ment joiied J'n sec,tion; 8, ..of ■ tK>tr aiid.,f&: ; a ',fem. not 'exceeding ,50; Maori.'Vownor.; ali'enating ,pr„.sufficient; ' other Ja'nd-for: the. purp.oses of a ■ f or with':'"tlie' rent" payable' 1 (under', jmch ;,prb-; 1 ppsed lease) sufficient''fprj'hjg'sup-'i < port. r : did.iipt'.bijpom.e,,, aj 'i Valid'.lcascS'untilHliere'-'was ehdorsod;,t|tqrodn' •] /Lahd,.Boarcl of. < the''terms l'he.' Boa'rd .h'a'd' a;;dis- ( ''poWr'tp; grant, pr;;rcfuSe 1 ptjch !ap-; prpval." : If the Board'approved 'df^thp^leafc.e: the minute.of approval qf.„ tho Board,;upon; ' the lease thd same foreo*'aiicl''offifacb'* .as; '; cprifiriaatipii pf .th'e'Natiyo.'liand 'Court'.'"''lt, s had'already that the declaration; 'required' ;by ' section'26'of','thp 'Maori' lands; , •Adiniriiistration-'Acti-W j "of i'tKe' Act 'pf niust' he; 'deposited with; , 4 th'e •'Boart.', : pftvi'6us - to"; th'6';.Pxecution' "of 1 tho.' • instrument of: that' until such J declaration had' ( hMn r depositM 'tlie''..approval, of'the'Bbard' ttflfio Tristrumerit'could net'be; ;. given. | Counsel: for the plaintiff had argupd,.that ( the Couft could by mandamus compel the: ( Board to hear and enquire into tho terms of -j an;agreement for. a proposed, lease .although , thi: declaration,'had ; .'beeri. after ' the ■ oxccution of the' : agreement "for tho lease, • The Court view, The . duty of the Board -was defined in section 16 ; pf tho Act ef 1905. Under the Act of 1900, •; as section 26, originally 1 stood, the prescribed ; declaration -which' had'ito >be deposited with ; the Maori Council before any instrument of -. acquisition was executed,was a condition precedent ,to„(;he; applicant obtaining a license to acquire thp -land,;proposed to bp acquired.; As that .'s 1 ..'stood,four 'things wore'nwessary.beroro.: the ; acquisition,.was coiuplete',. 'declaration,' (2) .the ,(By/iin,. ! esfipu£ed, iristruincDt,..and (4) tie.'cpmpli^nce i tß' tl).e of-tho Distript Land Begistrar of the' . cpfl-ditions set; - forth infection. 25,, of ,the-,Aciv~i^s'.the. Jaw I , now,' ;was rpt'ainedj-but the necessity If or. had been'dispensed \nth''(Bubsection' 8 of section 8 of ,thp'.Ac.t'No. 42 of .1901), ithe Board had taken .Board indorsed upon .tho lease, had tabpn, so ■ far as leasos .were cpncerried,' the'place of..the 'prbVisions of subsections ,4.and 5 of/Eectioii.,2s •of.,the Act;,Pf.',l'9(jO,"and'jaiiy,,neces'sity';wh'pii s ' miSit ,!havo. .existed';.: for,, cpnfirma- > ticn by: tlip Lf nd .Court.,',, ,'j But ;- %ere' .was.no;provision.,^hi,oJi,i'in...Kja'opinion,.cast i upoii.';thb;;Bparii 1 "consent,, tp)''an'ragr^pmpp|i;;f(jr' a leaseJ.aiKl'. -to ( , reserve' , iti a finiail.cpp^i,.,^njbil; intende'd' tbjbe/Jthe' .actual;^^'iristrumeii^ ~'was:yComplct'ely oxeciitod 'and' finally submitted to ,it .f.or..i.tsjap^.roxa,l, rt if • •'.'His'i Honour,',jpaid;' ho.j^aa.jsectioji ,-16. : ; as 'meaning'tHat^'l'.aninstrument. ..cpmpletely ', 'ijpjOTiy.^s/ v qti4|^s^^.upo%!it;i j 'valid iristrum.ehtj, was ' tho ; .only instrument ''ihe.'terms'pfvwHicli ■ could' b'ei.comj. p'sHetl- to oriqiiire'.iiitpi > rent proposed!'• iiij clause: (a)."of subsc-ctiQn; 2, Veferred in.'his,!ppinipP;to..tho' r.ent.statpdrin : tender'o'd. as;tlieiinstruinant:.of torfcV! -tlie';, ipropps?*} MfflTed'jts'i'^n/jtrj^tibnl ( )xl).iclv r jya? ; ilh'til, .the -minute'.'bf I'.apprpval'rWMllpiidbrsed not ; jjiitil. ,tli,q\'apprq>;al : iwiss .sP'.'bnd'brsed. ; prc.codqi!t ; : ,wiii?K' an. applicant haci ' ; asKf'&Slßpapl tq iosprcise.-it's jurisr f dicticni;'was "the.'lqdging .'li.pforq,,^}iq ri qjfccutjLo.ii ,o£"the.i necessary Ideqlarii;. ' !£u>n.'l';.<^<9 • ,yariqus .sectipiis:' iief.Grreji,.., tq,;J>y.,,c,pui)sal;.in . , his v.fjry^ablq..'ajgu'mpnt' giippqrt of/.tho motion,' lie, was' jsa'tigfied ~tnat ; Jie > had-, only,- to, I poiistiuo.soe'tion 26,',0f ;1900((as q'fiitSOSr Hb :.was,; thei'efpre, a of Ipp.inipn,;, tljat.^tjip,i de r ; i fondant Bpard!,ypr& ; nbt.,bou(id tp.onqui.rp,into. * a PX>l*9 a fii W-a al i fjcrf. ~ the'; 'terms j se^;: ou ( t, ~,in;',tl)o 'terodl.bi; had.- ; .not,)prior itp.ritlie. exgeutiony jpf; t this. inptrunieiit j depositedjlthe .. ;,Jit ponclusibn,;:His 'Jlonour' iSaid ithat lip did. riot'-hold;.that aj-llapri!Land Bolird -could; noty Jf.,a'', l 'pr,qyisibnar;agrperaent-.,wpre ibrought.;beT' for.e .it, give,, seme, indieat.i.pu ,as tp„\Yhetlier;,it' .lbgal,'cbnditiphs,hayp:been ; epinplied; with-byia : . proposed, lessee",,;gi.ve its'approval strumont''iintend.6d%;toil)o"i,tho;factuaj; ; loase:'ilt( , ; a,,ca?e- such;an■ iiidioatipn-.cpuld'' uttimatoly: to ■. give, its i consent. -. \ All -,he-iheld . was that tho'plaintiff'.Oould not cbmo-.tdithis' ; .Court and pbtaih a;mandamus,to:compel ii-.to do 50..; .The rules'of-procedure annexed to ■ the statoment,bf'claim and appearing in tho ■ ;supplement;, to; tfte f ,'.' Nofr Zealand;iGazettej"' of-August 17,;.1906,...ahd.i5igped by<Lthb, ie'specj, 1 tive,.chairnien<i pfr tho-- » various i -Maori. -Land : . ;Boardsi.i.were;:Jiiere .office, rules,, iutdohadhno' Vindin^ ; :eff.ept,:up.on,,;thp: varipus, boards..- They. 1 merely .indicated that-, the would'follow. them where" the. Boards .'considered it L was .applicable or appropriate to do so,'but , the. Supreme.-,Court';'could.- not .compel the •' Boards. tp;do/:SOJ..!--.;.These rules no'doubt ,'sugi. v gqsfed,'v'that,--,-the j", Boardsi-'-w"oul(l,- i ':'if'>;;theyi i thoughtyfit : i-.to-.do tso', :-in-fsomo'.'.casos grant- ! some •bind of -.preyisipnal ,apprOvalj-;h'ut'''."tho rules, were merely domestiq-regulationsi- These t rules '.werp .not, .however,!.'signed'.by.'tho> prc- . sbnt : chairman of itho defeudaint' Bbard; In' ;■ his opinion, the defendant BoivrJ was' not- ' under nny obliijation to 1 ; ..enquire into the V ! plaintiff's ; applipatipn,;and, :- consequently, ' tho motion; for must; bo refused,. • and, there must?;bo .judgment for tho! def6n'd- ; - ant Board .with £l 0 -10s.- costs? and : necessary;. ' Court .fee's.,; ;.-, >;iw.y,'. -.r,'ivi ;• -. 1 ' .Mr. iMorison. appeared;for the, ' Mr. Skerrettj.wK.CJ.- -(with- hinr'*Mr'J.' L." Stout), for, the defendant Board. " : ' MAGISTRATE'S ;CdU'RT; J.:

■ ;: ' v:.' ; (Boforb M .<jaiddell,:.6.M._)-'- : - ■-■■ ■'-[ .1C ; : GASES. ■ '- ■ ■ ■■} , Two tirsfr-oifoiiding inebriates appeared at the- Magistrate's "Court'ye'sterdav morriirig,' and were, convi'ctec], and' , fined 55.,. in/default, 24 'hours' 'imprisonment. '' •' '[.'. , : ....'.' ~':', ;;•'' ATTEMPTED SUICIDE. /-• ■ -.. ; Kichard .Thomas. camc;forward: on. a charge, of: having atomptejl. to, commit,, suicide.. a& : Wellington.,on;,oct.ober,4.;' ;,,,, .'..■■,-. [■,:,- ;.„>, V Station-Sergeant, Phair.; stated that.?accused. ,Vbiit to,' Hajl'a' 'Turkish, Baths about 7; p..m, : on the evening of October A, and'was ..shown; ; into a bathroom. Beforo ho had been there i vory long one of tho attendants wont into ! tho. rppiu, f and i found, -.acciised. ;. l.Y.i'ig; j& J the ■bath. , ' The watd'r was discoloured, and the ■man, who had a razor in his possession, was bleeding from a wound' in the thigh. Tho : attendant; took the vazor, , and; asked ?Thomas what lie liad been doing, and ho replied that ho'had'cut his thigh; r.dc wantedtlip razor I returned ; so;'thatho 'might' mako a , bottorjob iof the work. Thomas !iad been .employed"iis ia '. kitchenman ,r iu'.;a ; 'boardihgh6us6'. ; i. ,; '■■' -■ •, ; ': His 'Worship, -rin: giving' his 'decisidripsaid' :it , had been stated that accused was'addictcd ito,'drink, andv;was'niridor tho influence of' I liquor ■ when 'ho committed tho Vact;/- Tlio!offenco was a serious ono, 'and;' if ro'p6atejl{'a)v 'order! would have to -be v mitd6' toj ,prote"ct 'aci ■:cused from bimiblf by a ' place where •. ho'! would be kept' hbdpr" re r ' ;straiDt. The- fact -that: ho was-" iihdd' , : thfc' ! jniliiunce.'bf drink might havo boon ono ; reason why he' had.aoted;iii::the vvay 'b6>'bad' : 'durie: His- Worship was 1 to se'rid -ric'r oused" to prison?at tho.-- present-I'stago-"but ■ woiiJd:.'givo;.him another - chance if' ! he'- : pfor ;misod to beluvve" better itv hiturov "'''" ''"'"'■ Accused: "I will promise."

'■'•His' Worship entered a conviction, and ordered accused to como up for sentence when called upon, ami also ordered the issuo of a prohibition order, and the payment/of £2 6s. (id. expenses. , , ■ -. . (Before Dr. M'Arthiuy S.M.) Judgment was entered for plaintiff in tlig: folowing civil-cases:—Smith and Smith, ■Ltd.', , - v/'Geok and Stevenson, £5 14s. 7d., coste,-£l-'6s.-6t1.; Palmer Engineering Co., Ltd.; v.-'JairiesGlecson, £6 12s.,.costs £1 3s '6tl:;!sairio. v. Wm. James MatthoTvcsj'£7 11s. Sd.,costs£l 3s Gd.; sumo v. Jolin Gnnn, £2 ss,i'7d;,-.'costs 10s.; Wellington City Council vl John "Reginald 'Welsby,; £5 Is. 7d., costs ■95.; • Charlbs Rolston V. Mrs. Win. Rowland, ■iOs/; '■ costs ■ os.; Benjamin Someloff ■v. Richard Lewesy£2 15s. 6d'., coats 165.,-and possession of;tenement; Georgo Alfred Hnrley- v. Amy- Florence Shorter, £7 10s,, eosts-£l 3s. od. ;- : -' ; ■ ■■ ■,: .JUDGMENT •SUMMONS CASES. ■-'• In judgment summons case Edward Seagaf"vT' Harry Robertson, a debt of £155 ISs'V deb'tofwas ordored to'piiy on or before October '29,. in default tlireo monthil'. impri'sonm'ent. In the caso F. Dickenscn v. A. I'ea'rcpi a : debt of £4 7s. 10d., debtor was ordered to pay, on or before Octobiir 29, in defaiinrf'days' imprisonipcnt. JUDGMENT, ..

..i.Judgmpnt was given by Dr. ,A. M'Arthur, S-M-, .ypsterday morning, in-the caw against ,Wm. - A,-,< Andrews, sued for the .maintenance ojrhis alleged illegitimate child. ■ Complain.a'u't (mother of the child) prayed (1) that dofondant, be adjudged the putativo father of the child.'..,' (2) That.defendant bo ordered to pay such weekly sum for maintenance as the .Court'imay deem fit.- (3) That defendant bo ordered, to pay costs..' ...■"■■'.■,.- ■• J.'vThp, evidence showed . ibit defendant had been paying a sum for until quite recently. In May, 18G6, he married and continued to pay tho maintenance. Lately his ivifohad. a child, which died, and ho had since refused to pay any further maintonaneev but'-' desired the custody of .tho child. --'-He had , nfcver seen his child, . l iYl]'ereas-.. 1 th0 mother had ■ been most attqhtiv,Q:.,to, it, and had ■ visited. it frequently in theTjoine in which it "had been placed. The mothor'had lived a-good-life and had provided clothing for tho child, and it i had been 'woirip'oke'd, after. The whole question was whether t ,the mother was entitled to the custody,..of. her child. The mother, although she-had 'gone astray at ono time, had since lod a; v pei;fectly good and respectable, lifo, and had , dqno'tho best-she could for the child, whereas'"the father, beyond paying maintenance, even gono to seo the child, which .was ..now.^about-.four- years old. _ His Worship considered ho 'would be going against express "authority if ho said that the wishes of, the mother wore not to have priority. If that vrosVso, ho had next to consider what w'ds ; best for the child, ,and .whodier the .wishes of the mother woro detrimental, to the ~intbrests!.of tho child. Ho was satisfied'that

tho wishqj of tho mother wore, not detrimental to.the- child, and he would ordor (1) That Wife .defondant be adjudged the putative-fa-tljer of: the child; (2)' that, tho defondant pay tlfb : s'uny'of 7s. a week for., maintenance tlie?,firs.t payment to be mads on.October 21; ■an<T r '(3).''that defendant bo ordered,,to pay costs of. complainant. : ■ . ■ r ,;'jMT.;'..'.Npavo appeared for.the- complainant, and I&i-Fair for defondant. ■■; ; ■• . ■ Mr. W. G. Riddoll, S,M.) ■■■■"■■- »ABOJJT,A: "jJEyEL" SECTION.'.''.' .'..'. Meech Bannohr, auctioneer; Ernest barrister-at-law; -and-. John Thpmps'on'j civil, servaiit,- till of-/Wellington, sued. William Lori'crgan, tailor, of -Wollingioii' :for.:'£3 17s.- 6d.,,'being £2;125. 6d; second .^instalment. of purchase money. , in ■ resjp.fec't'.'.'.b'f!.' Lot.'. 2.0, Fairview .Estate, ■ Karori, . and £1;;55.. interest .'to datq of: judgmout-on ■same at tho.rate of 5 per cent. •.< • on his part;, counter-claimed fpr''[£3' : 'l7s.. 6d. instalment paid by- him to ,the/v£hdo.rs ofiLot 20: aforesaid. -,Mr.-E..E.-Le'vyey.prosecuted, on behalf, of the syndi:,qaie,'','sK|Q,.jMr.'.j\Vestoii appeared for Loner : gari. ' "■';'*'"■ ■■■■'■' '-I ' .' . -.- i The evidenco showed that Lonergan some -'months 'ago] ■'had attended a land salo ,at Messrs. Sidey, Meech,'and'Co.'s auction mart, 'and liad, on tho strength of representations • made by tho auctioneers, on their plan, prospectus of salo, to the effect that certain ] b'6etions' ,: o'fFered-- for sale,- and sot out in the : aforesaid ! plan;.-.were.the "pick Of 'Karori," iand-'.'were'- "level section , sj' r, "hp,d ■, purchased : Lot '20 ■on , tho. plan thereof.' 'Ho ■ had aftor- • wards ---visited- tho ■ locality/' and '-'found that iliis'iproporty was not in accordance with'tho , ! auotioners* description; .it ,, wasj' ; --in : -*-fa'nt; "a '.hili-slopei , : He- complained -to -the , yondors. ! and ! shortly after negotiations were institu- ; tedi'With- a -third- party ifor^a■ transfer; 1, Theso inogotiations fell through, and -Lbnergari how, sought:, to. repudiate , his 'liability.- '■"' ' '"'.' y\ Counsel for the plaintiffs' : hold that as rppudiation of: tho sale on tho : grounds stated ; had:: not''been -mado -at the -time,' defendant ■ w'as: liablo... for, continuance of contract: ;THis Ipiea-i.wasistrbngtliencd , by the- fact' that su'b- ' sequent negotiations regarding transfer wero' .opened up with defendant'Si consent;- " : ::;,For.vtho defence it,was urged that- the pipspectus of salo issued' by tho auctioneers contained, certain representations as to ■ the cliaractei-. l oi the property which wero not in accorclanco .with actual fact. <i ! , Judgment ..was reserved. ;■■-*■ /•■ /•': IN BANKRUPTCY. ' ! : X-^"' MEETING OF CREDITORS. . .'A -meeting of , creditors. in the bankruptostato';bf;W. G. Hutchison was held in the : official assignee's offico yesterday morning, Mr. Jas. Ashcroft, Official Assignee, presiding. Mr. .Heare, on behalf of the bankrupt, stated , 'that negotiations were .ponding with ;the Government regarding the salo of the .Corrington Estate, which, everything !included, was , ' .estimated ■ .to produce :£IBOO, and in which Mrs. Hutchison held an 'interest of ohcrtliird. In view of this, Mrs. llutchisoh was prepared to guarantee, on bankrupt's behalf, a payment of ss. in the] .&: r-TlTore were a number of assets estimated to'-bo-v'orth about 1 £65; and an endeavour; 'would: be made to collect certain .book debts.

The Official Assigneo said that'this offer' d'-tentative nature, and nothing dofinitc'conld bo put to'the creditors until i further-.'particulars regarding the salo of ;tho.Corrjngton 'Estate had been- received from-' tho Government. ■ 'Ho suggested that the jnpeting' bo adjourned sine die. . In the meantime an effort would/be made to paliso bn.iCertain assets aud. book debts.. Tbis was ■ agreed ito; and tho sitting- adjourned.