NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 694, 20 December 1909, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

HIS FATHER-IN-LAW. A CLAIM TOR m ■ ■ . Westport, December 18. ■A civil action, Henry Oaso v. Wm: Morris, a claim for .£203 for alleged wrongful imprisonment, was heard in the Supreme-Court . today; Plaintiff is the father-in-law 1 bf defendant, who,; believing' plaintiff to bo leaving Westport for .Wellington,- arid was abandoning a daughter staying with defendant, and: for whom plaintiff had agreed to'pay 12s. 6d.\ weekly, had the latter arrested at Wellington and brought back to /Westport.' Plaintiff admitted being seven weeks in arrears with -the payments to defendant, that he had numerous creditors in the district, and that when searched by the police ho had in his possession iG3O in notes, besides loose cosh and Hoz. in gold. He stated, however, that lie haa taken out a return ticket, arid intended to come back to Westport in a fortnight's time. The money had been • placed in a belt merely for safety while travelling.. Judgment was reserved.

COAL-MINING LAW. ■ . | ' IS IT DEFECTIVE? ! Wcstport, December 18.' i In a coal-mining ease in which J. W. Mason j appealed'from the judgment of Warden Rawson that pegging was necessary, before the filing of the; application for a lease of what is known as' ' "Cook's" coal lease,' was lueard ini tho Su--premo Court V hero to-day. . Mr. Hannan, who appeared .for the Westport Coal Company, raised, a preliminary/point that there"was no provision under the Coal Mine Act for an appeal from the warden's decision. Ho admitted that the Legislature had no doubt intended to make such provision, but had . failed to supply the necessary; machinery. 1 His Honour Judgo Cooper reserved judgment on the point, and also on the main question whether, pegging was necessary .before, the; filing'of an application. 1 . MAGNETIC BRAKE FAILS. / Dunedln. December 18. Owing to the failure of a magnetic brake to act, two tram-cars proceeding south, in close proximity, collided. Both cars,were badly damaged. . A motorman, • who was much cut by broken glass,.'was the only one to : receive any injury, though \both cars- were"crowded with passengers. . DIVORCE SUIT. •' Wcstport, December 18. The Supreme Court - concluded its Westport sittings to-day. In the divorce suit, King y. King and Bottom, a husband's petition,, a decree nisi was granted.; . ; NAPIER AMBULANCE DAY. ". Napier, December 19. ' The street collections in aid of the Napier division , of tho St. John Ambulance Association were made on Saturday, when about JE32 was obtained. :