CIVIL SITTINGS

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 280, 19 August 1908, Page 9

CIVIL SITTINGS

(Before his Honour Mr. Justico Chapman.) RENEWAL OF LEASE. A caso involving tho granting of a renewal of lease of land at tho Hutt was heard between Crespin Parker (Haywards) and Reginald Palmer Grevillo and Mary J. Edwards. Tho plaintiff was represented by Mr. H. P. Johnston and Mr. Rothenberg, and the defendants by Mr. Findlay. It was set out in tho statement of claim that in May 1900 tlio defendants leased to the plaintiff certain land in tho Hutt District, adjacent to tho Hutt River. Tho lease was for hiho years, cotnputed from March 10, 1899. A covenant was inserted in the deed of agreement providing for a renewal of tho lease for a further term of ten years, on condition, however, that certain improvements wero carried out, and that the property was kept in a proper state. Tlio plaintiff contended that these conditions had been earned out, but the renewal of the leaso had been" refused. Certain of tho land had been taken by the Government under tho -Public Works Act for a railway gravel pit. The plaintiff asked that a renewal of the lease be granted—with allowanco for tho portion taken for public purposes—and that damages bo allowed for tho withholding of tho lease.

Tho defendants denied that plaintiff had punctually paid his rent, and said that lie had not fulfilled tho covenants of tho leaso to pay rates and taxes, and insurance, and to hand over to tho lessors the policy or policies and receipts in connection with tho insurance. Tho plaintiff had not also fulfilled. the covenant regarding tho maintenance of tho fences and buildings in a good state of repair, the grubbing and eradication of sweet briar and tauhiivu, the maintenanco of .drains and water-courses, and tlio over-stocking-of the property. • The plaintiff in his "evidence said that when lie took tlio property over it was covered in weeds, ana the fences had all been washed down by the floods. Ho detailed efforts to burn off the' gorso and eradicate the weeds, also tho improvements effected by him to' the houso and property. Ho had not been in arrears with rates or insuranco. •No complaints had been made regarding rent, or by ,Mrs. Edwards, as to tho stato of .the land. .

The caso occupied tho wliolo of tho day, and tho defendant Grevillo was giving evidence when tlio' Court rose.