MANAGING A HOTEL

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 74, 20 December 1929, Page 15

MANAGING A HOTEL

CLAIM AND COUNTERCLAIM

A somewhat involved case was concluded before Mr. Justice MacGregor in the Supreme Court yesterday, when judgment was given in the action brought by Frederick Henry Rennie, ‘ hotel-keeper, of Wellington, against Margaret Diamond, widow, of Napier. Plaintiff, who was employed as manager for the defendant of the Central Hotel, Wellington, from March, 1927, until February, 1928, claimed £745, allegedly representing wages and money paid out by him on behalf of defendant, and other amounts for which he made himself responsible on her account. Defendant counter-claimed for £5OO damages for alleged failure on the part of plaintiff to keep proper books, and for alleged negligence by him in employing a barman who was convicted of bookmaking. Defendant also claimed accounts. The matter was heard before Mr. Justice MacGregor on May 16 last, when Hia Honour, after hearjng the parties, ordered the questions in dispute, excluding the claim for £5OO damages, to be tried before an arbitrator. The award was duly filed, and gave the plaintiff a total of £699/8/-, and the defendant £6O/6/7 on her claim for accounts.

Yesterday His Honour entered judgment in terms of the award, and dismissed the claim for damages. Defendant was ordered to pay the arbitrator’s fee, and the plaintiff’s costs, together with witnesses’ expenses and disbursements. Plaintiff was represented by Mr. W. Perry, and defendant appeared in person.