HAWERA R.M. COURT.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume X, Issue 1956, 15 June 1888, Page 2

HAWERA R.M. COURT.

(Before G. E. Rawson, Esq., R.M.) Thursday, June 14. AFFILIATION CASE. Johnston v. W. Lewis — This was an affiliation case. Mr. Hutchison appeared for plaintiff; Mr. Barton for defendant. Mr. Barton applied for an adjournment, on the ground that an important witness named Ashford, who lived at Oroua Bridge, near Palmerston, had not turned up, as the summons was not served. He was one of several that the defence would call to establish the fact that the complainant was not really trying to show who was the father of the child, but rather to obtain maintenance for a child which may have bad many fathers. Defendant would not deny having bad intimacy with the girl, but believed he would be able to show tbat the alleged connection did not take place at such a time as was consistent with the theory that he was the father. It took some time to discover the whereabouts of some of the witnesses, who, in such case, were nearly always hostile witnesses. Mr. Hutchison said nothing had been shown to prove the material nature of the evidence to be given by the witness in question. It was necessary that bis evidence should go to prove that the alleged connection must have been at a time as to show that the witness might have reasonably been father to the child. Mr. Barton had every reason to believe tbat this man was keeping company with the girl about the time when he might have been father to the child. He asked for an adjournment on the ground tbat they had not had sufficient time to prepare the case and obtain the necessary evidence. He was n>t prepared to pay the costs of the adjournment, because time had not been given to get the evidence required. Mr. Hutchison thought notice should have been given of suob an adjournment as was asked for. Mr. Barton had no knowledge that the summons against Ashford had not been served until just before the sitting of the court. The defendant had lost no time in getting his evidence together. An adjournment was granted ; 'plaintiff's costs of adjournment to be plaintiff's costs in the cause. Adjourned to June 27th, at 10.30 a.m.