RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 15, Issue 2014, 16 December 1870, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13. {Before Singleton Kochfort, Esq., 8.M.) CIiAIM FOR WAGES, Curtis v. Mitchell. — Plaintiff claimed £16 ss. 6d., balance of wages due from May 23 to Dee. 5, at 15s. per week. Mr. Lee for plaintiff; Mr. Stedman for defendant. Plain tift stated that he engaged for £l a week, and that defendant, on settling, would only allow him 15a. Defendant said that no rate of wages had been named ; that plaintiff was unable to wash wool and was employed only as cook ; and that 15s. was quite as much as he was worth. Judgment was deferred till the afternoon, when it was given in favor of defendant. BBEACH OF PEACE. Mitchell v. Curtis. — Plaintiff applied that defendant might be bound over to keep the peace, he having threatened to burn his (Mitchell's) house down. Defendant said that if he had done so it was when he was drunk, and he did not mean it. Mr. Lee, on behalf of defendant, said that the plaintiff had taken this course in retaliation for the other having sued him for wages. Defendant was ordered to find sureties, and given till the afternoon to do so. On again appearing he was abusive, and was locked up. A RUNAWAY APPRENTICE. Wood v. Pritehard. — Plaintiff claimed £20 as damages on account of defendant's son, who was apprenticed to him as a boot and shoe maker, having absconded. Mr. Lee appeared for the plaintiff ; Mr. Stedman for defendant. Mr. Stedman argued that the plaintiff having become bankrupt two yeara since, the apprentice was released from his engagement. His Worship said he considered that in the case of a master becoming bankrupt, it was necessary for him, to retain an apprentice, that a new deed of apprenticeship should be drawn out. Mr. Lee argued that this provision was for the benefit of apprentices, and that defendant, by allowing his son to work as an apprentice two years after the bankruptcy, had waived any privilege he might have possessed. The defendant had in fact I merely made & convenience of plaintiff. His Worship could see that this had been done, but legally the lad was no longer an apprentice. Judgment for the defendant. CLAIM FOB DAMAGES. Webber v. F. M. Chapman.— -This was a claim for £15 damages alleged to have been sustained through defendant having imperfectly fulfilled an order for staves given by plaintiff. The evidence was very voluminous, but, as the case was an important one, will be given in full in our next. Judgment was finally given for £7 Bs., without

costs. I

THURSDAY. DECEMBER 15. ■ I

Dryberg v. Austin. — A charge against defendant of being illegally on the premises of Alexander Dalziell, of the Albion Hotel, Napier, about 6 a.m. on this day. William Dryberg, sworn, deposed : — I am cook nt (She Albion hotel. Defendant entered, the hotel this morning, as I was lighting a fire in the kitchen. He began to abuse me, asking if the bar was open. He went up stairs and began to kick doors. He called me a blackfellow. I spoke to him quietly, saying the mistress was ill, and aot to make a noise. He said he wanted liquor. The bar is down stairs. I went up stairs and found hira in a room washing himself. I told him he had no business there — to go where he had slept. He was kicking doors and screaming. Case dismissed.