MAGISTRATES COURT.

Hot Lakes Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 192, 5 August 1896, Page 2

MAGISTRATES COURT.

The usual monthly sittings of the Magistrates Court took place on Friday last before Lieut.-Col. Koberts, S.M. The following cases wore disposed of : G. McAuley v. W. Henshaw, claim £3 19s lOd rent, goods supplied, &c. After considerable evidence of a conflicting nature had been heard a verdict was given for plaintiff in £1 lis 2d, Court costs 6s. John Mckenzie v. William Seddou, claim for £3 17s 4d for milk supplied. The defendant did not dispute the quantity of jjilk dunged for but merely took exception to the price which he averred should be 3d per quart instead of 4d. Plaintiff stated that from Ist November his charge to regular customers •was 3d; to those who only took half their supply from him the charge was 3Jd; these terms continue to Ist March when the price is raised to 4d per quart. The defendant only took half his milk and was therefore charged 3Ad - f he had notified his customers of this practice anil amongst the rest the defendant; previous accounts had been paid at this rate, although he had complained of the charge. In crossexauiination witness stated that he had not promised to supply milk at the same rate as Daibefh if he would deal solely with him. Murdoch McKenzie, bookkeeper to plaintiff stated that on March Ist the price of milk was raised to 4d to all customers ; the account produced was made out at that price; plaintiff had told him to charge 3«d per quart to certain customers who did not take all their supply from him. T. J. Robinson said his

I arrangement with plaintiff was that in the summer months he should he charged 3£dfor snilk and in the winter 4d. W. A. Williams stated that he paid 3d in the summer only. Defendant stated in January last plaintiff told him that he would supply him with milk all the year round at 3d per quart hut he must " knock off Dalbeth ;" he told plaintiff he could not do this hut that he would give him hall' the supply; this was the arrangement hut on receiving his accounts he found he had heen charged 4d. Judgment wan given for the amount paid into Court £3 Is. Kate Young v. John Jlowhmd, claim for possession of house occupied by defendant and rent i' 9. Defendant stated that he had heen three months confined to bed; the house had not been taken from plaintiff but from Mr Steele to whom he paid rent. The plaintiff stated that the house occupied by defendant was her property. Mr Steele was her agent and had received a portion of the rent but defendant was now owing for five months at 10s per week; defendant had been served with notice to quit ; she had to pay a heavy ground rent, taxes, &c., on the property and could not do so if defendantjretained possession; she had notiucd defendant that he could leave and take his furniture with him. The defendant declined to cross-examine and in reply to the bench stated that sickness was his only reason for refusing to leave the house; he also understood the rent was to bo 10s instead of 12s. D. Steele stated that the rent of the house in question was to bo 10s per week till Christmas and after that 12s per week; he had been paid accordingly. Mrs Young was the owner of the cottage. A verdict was given for the amount of rent due and defendant was ordered to give up possession of the house within 10 days. W. Henshaw v. G. McAuley, claim for £2 17s I'd wur'i and labor done. Verdict for plaintiff in the reduced amount of £2 5s 10.U1 and costs. Paharuhi v. Ramera, claim for £4 4s for 600 palings. From the evidence it appeared that the palings in question were cut for the purpose of providing accommodation for the meeting of the native Parliament. It further appeared that various members of the tribe contributed to the work and no individual interest could be determined. Plaintiff was .accordingly non-suited and ordered to pay the interpreter's fee 21s.