MAGISTERIAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXII, Issue 15511, 11 January 1911, Page 7

MAGISTERIAL.

CHRISTCHURCH. Tuesday, January 10. (Before Mr H. W. Bishop, S.M.) Drunkenness. —One first offender for drunkenness was fined os. in default twenty-four hours’ imprisonment, and another, who pleaded not guilty, was fined IDs, in default forty-eight hours’ imprisonment. , " “ Ringing toe Changes.” —Thomas Hussey was charged, on two information?. with having stolen 10s, from Emily Nelson,and 10s from John Netting. .The..police, stated .that Hussey liaa been “ ringing the changes.” Ho was at present serving a sentence. The accused was sentenced, to three months’ imprisonment on each charge, the terms to run concurrently and to commence at the end of his present., term. Embezzlement. Georg© Newman, alias Percy Newman, alias Neville, admitted having embezzled £1 7s 3d, received by him on account of the New Zealand' Express Company, where he had been employed. He had a police list against him. The Magistrate sentenced him to one month’s imprisonment.

Remanded. —Frederick Henry Jones was charged with having stolen clothes and jewellery, to the value of £l2 3s, from Bessie Seymour. Chief-Detective Bishop stated that the man was alleged to have been acting with his brother. An express-van of stuff had been secured. Jones was remanded until Friday. Theft.— George M’Phail appeared on remand in answer to a charge of ha-v----ing stolon an overcoat asid bag from a ’tramway motorman. The Magistrate convicted and discharged the accused, and ordered him to pay 17s 6<l medical expenses. A prohibition order was also issued against him. A Trespasser.— -George Martin admitted having been found at night, without lawful excuse, on the premises of the Church of Christ. _ He said that he had come from, the North Island to go grass-seeding on the Peninsula. but had had a few drinks and had gone into the church premises to sleep. Sub-Inspector M’Grath said that there was no suggestion that Martin had gone- to the church with any evil intent. Nothing was known against him. Tiro Magistrate discharged accused without convicting him. Prohibition Orders.— -Dorothy Aubery was fined 20s and ' costs, in default one month’s imprisonment, for having obtained liquor .during the currency of a prohibition order.—George Warden a.nd Ellen Warden, man and wife, in answer to similar charges, said they had “forgotten the order.” They were each fined 10s, in default fortyeight. hours’ imprisonment. Affiliation. ---Charles Smith was adjudged the putative father of an illegitimate child, and was ordered to pay 7s 6(1 a week towards its support, to pay costs, and to hud a security of £IOO, in default six months’ imprisonment.

RANGIORA. Tuesday, January 10. (Before Mr T. A. B. Bailey, S.M.) Unlawfully Imbibing.— E. R. Gee

and A. T. Chapman, against whom prohibition orders are in force, were each lined 10s and costs 7s. for procuring liquor-

An Abortive Claim. —P. M. Stewart, of Papanui (Mr M’Dougal), claimed from W. Quinn, Southbrook (Mr Mosley) tho sum of £3l 13s 4d for services as supervisor of the re-erection of. the Masonic Hotel at Southbrook. Plaintiff, who is a builder, stated that in March last he agreed to act as supervisor of the contract for the erection of the hotel. Defendant told him the contract was to be completed by July 9, and he offered to undertake the duties for a fee of £2O. Defendant thereupon said he would give him £3O. Plaintiff went up to Southbrook from Papanui on an. average twice weekly. On July 9 the contract was far from completion. and he informed defendant that be would expect to be . paid an extra fee .for the extended time. Defendant said that would bo.all right, as it would come out of the builder’s penalty of £5 per week. The building was not finished till November, and plaintiff then sent in a claim for the extra fee, based on the amount he was previously paid, but defendant refused to pay it. ToMr Mosley: Defendant did not give the additional £lO on condition that witness saw the contract through. To the Magistrate: Defendant gave no reason for offering to pay £3O for what he was willing to do for £2O, and no reference was made to the extra £lO when witness in July asked for an additional fee. The defence was a complete denial of any second contract for services after July 9. Defendant stated that after plaintiff agreed to act as supervisor for £2O, doubt was expressed by him as to whether the job could be completed by July 9. and witness thereupon offered an extra £.lO to plaintiff to see the contract through. (Fitness knew before July 9 that the penalty against the builders could not be enforced, and he did not tell plaintiff that an extra fee would be paid to him out of the penalty. The Magistrate said it was unfortunate that the contract between the parties bad not been put in writing. It seemed to him that" there must have been some. reason for the increase of the fee from £2O to £3O, and the explanation given by defendant was a. reasonable one. Judgment was given for defendant with £2 2s costs. Civil Cases.— W. Hodgson (Air Van Asch) v. J. Barrick, claim £3 12s. A sum of £1 10s had been paid on account end judgment was given for the balance with costs.—Alice Hole (Mr Johnston) v. C. H. Lander, claim £3l 17s 6d rent and possession of premise*. Judgment. was given for the amount claimed and an order was made fer the premises to be given up within a week.