VISITORS .OR BOARDERS

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3734, 25 September 1914, Page 7

VISITORS .OR BOARDERS

A VISIT WHICH ENDED IN A LAWSUIT.

FRIENDS ESTRANGED BY GOSSIP.

M&gnue Anderson and his wife, E. Anderson (Mr Burnard) claimed £6 10s from Louis Lawson (Mr T. Alston Coleanjlin) amount alleged to’ be due for board and lodging between November 20 and December 30, 1913. > Emily Anderson, wife of the plaintiff, stated that Mrs Lawson came to her house at 5 o’clock one evening, and told: witness that she could not get board anywhere in town. Witness agreed to put her and her two little children up that night. Defendant took his family away in the country ne.Vt day. OnMhe following Saturday Mrs Lawson came back to town witn her baby ill, and. asked if she coukl board with witness at £1 per week. She came on May 3 and stayed four weeks. Defendant boarded with witness three and adialf yeeks. Neither defendant nor his wife had ever paid for thi® board.

By Mr Coleman: Mrs Lawson was with witness for four .weeks, and defendant for three and a-half weeks. Witness denied that_she invited defendant’s wife to come and stay with her as a guest. By His Worship: Witness had only casually known Mrs Lawson before she camo to board with them. By Mr Coleman : When Mrs Lawson was leaving, witness told her that £6 10s was owing, and Mrs Lawson said, she would pay as soon as she could. Mr,s Lawson did not find the material and make witness a newdress. Witness bought the material and made the dress, and all Mrs Lawson did was to fit witness. Mr and Mrs Lawson did not bring home gifts of meat. She made witness a few little presents, to the value of about 3s. Magnus Anderson, plaintiff, described how defendant’s wife had come to hoard with them. Witness was at home when defendant’s wife first came to them.

By Air Coleman: Defendant when he left did not make witness a present of a pair of new trousers or a pair of boots. Defendant left a number of things at witness’s house when he left, and the things were there yet. He had never called to take them away. Louis F'J Lawson, defendant, said he was a laborer. He first met Anderson in November, 1913, and later they were working on the same contract at Muriiyai. Early in May, witness and his wife met Mr and Mrs Anderson at Hindrup’s house at Muriwai, and Mrs Anderson invited witness’ wife to come in and stay with her. Mrs Anderson asked her husband if Mrs Lawson could come and stay with her, and Anderson said she would he welcome. Witness consented to his wife going. Mrs Anderson also told witness that he would be welcome to come in and stay with them whenever he liked. Witness’ wife and the two children „went in on May 3 and witness also went to stay at Anderson’s on May 13. He stayed until May 20, when he got work and left to go to it. On one occasion witness spoke to Mrs Anderson about board, and the latter said, “Yon will offend mo if yon offer me board. Witness’ wife bad made presents to Mrs Anderson, but after she refused to take board witness made them more presents. Witness made Anderson a present of a oair of trousers and a new pair of boots. Anderson took the boots, and witness had seen Anderson wearing them. Witness and hiS wife also used to bring home provisions to the house. By Mr Burnard: When witness received the demand for board from the solicitors, his wife went and saw Mrs Anderson. Isabella May Lawson, wife of the defendant, said she remembered a visit paid by the Andersons to Muriwai. They came out on Friday and returned on Sunday. Mrs Anderson invited witness to come in and stay with her as long as she liked. Witness came into town with Mrs Anderson. Witness had been cooking’at the camp where her husband worked at Muriwai. After witness had been at the Anderson’s house for about a fortnight, witness’ husband said, “What about board, Mrs Anderson?” The latter replied, “You will offend me if you offer me heard; I asked you to come and stay with me.” A little fater witness had a quarrel with Mrs Anderson as the result of something the latter was reported to have said, and Mrs Anderson then said, “You will now have to pay your hoard. Witness and her husband made Mrs Anderson presents, and witness made several blouses ana dresses for her, as well as bringing home provisions. Charles Hmdrup, farmer, of Muriwai, said that early in May-last the Andersons came out to his place. Witness heard Mrs Anderson at his place invite Mi's Lawson to come and stay with her in town in order to keep her company while Mr Anderson was away. Mrs Lawson said something about getting a house, but Mrs Anderson said there was no necessity for her to do that, as she was welcome to stay at her place as long as she liked. Witness also heard Mrs Anderson invite Lawson to come in and stay with them.

By Tvlr Burnard: The impression witness had was that there had been a previous arrangement that AD'S Lawson should go and stay with Mrs Andterson.

His Worship, in giving judgment, said that the evidence went to show that the defendant's did go to stay with nlaintiff as invited guests. The claim for board seemed to be clearly an afterthought caused by a nuarrel in consequence of some remark which had been passed. Judgment would he for defendant, and under the circumstances no costs w r ould be allowed.