RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT, CHRISTCHURCH.

Lyttelton Times, Volume II, Issue 74, 5 June 1852, Page 8

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT, CHRISTCHURCH.

29th May, 1852. (Captain Simeon, Mr. Bhutan, and Ma Bowen on the Bench.)

The Rev. G. Dunnage v. J. C. Rae.—Mx. Dunnage, Jun., stated that Rae had been engaged by his father in England to come out, and had been employed to superintend the work of a house that was being made to bring with, him in the " Fatima." Rae had drawn an advence towards his outfit, and with other expehees, had incurred a debt of about £32, which sum it was agreed should be worked off by his erecting the house brought out; he has left my father's service without sufficient notice, the house is unfinished, and the balance due is now sought to be recovered. J. C. Rae defended his case at some length concurring in the principal facts stated, but" added* that a" difference having arisen between Mrs. Dunnage and his wife, I was induced to take a house at Papanui and remove from Mr. Dunnage's house. That having to pay rent aud find myself and family I applied for an increase of wages, which have been refused to the extent I required. lam willing to pay the balance I owe Mr. D., which I make £17 Bs. 7^d., if he will allow me time. After some discussion, an arrangement was made for paying off the debt by weekly instalments. Mumford v. Hurley. —Mrs. Mumford summoned W. A. Hurley for 135., being for the keep of a dog for three months. The defendent did not appear, and judgment was given for debt and costs. James Gilbert v. H. Jackson.—This case caused much amusement in the court. The complainant is in the service of Doctor Barker, and had, what he considered, a valuable bitch. The defendent\being anxious to become possessed of the animal, had bargained to purchase her for £2, and\to give Gilbert two of the pups, these pups to be,considered equal to £l. The bargain being struck, Gilbert in due time applied for his pups; but was told they were all dead. A witness/however, proved the pups to be alive ; the complainant did not care now for them, and sued the. defendent for £1 as their equivalent. Jackson declared he had offered the two pups to Gilbert who refused to take them, and added "the bitch wasn't worth a dump," that he had tried her at a pig chase, and as soon as the bitch saw the fiist pig,she bolted The court decided Gilbert should accept the pups offered by Jackson, and the.costs to be divided. James Recce, alias Black Jim, alias Darken, the well known bullock driver, was summoned by Thomas Foulks, for a debt of £8 75.; how the complainant made out the amount,it would take a history to describe ; suffice it, the amount claimed was by counter claims, &c, &c., pared down to £l jßs., for which the judgment was given with costs.