SUPREME COURT.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 2741, 6 September 1923, Page 8

SUPREME COURT.

BUTCHER'S CLAIM. The sitting- of the Palmerstou North Supreme Court was continued yesterday before His Honour, Sir John Salmond_ Further evidence was heard in the civil action wherein N. Wilton, butcher, of Woodvillc (Mr Cooper) daimed £2OO and interest from G 11. Maokay, butcher, of Te Rehunga (Mr Lloyd). A counter-claim for £459 15s Gd was entered. Plaintiff stated, under cross-exami-nation, that lie was unable to. swear to defendant having- taken the wagCH book when he removed the petty cash book from the shop. Witness assumed that defendant would take both. Witness saw no proper system of bookkeeping when he went to work at Woodvillc, and what books were kept later he introduced himself. Evidence as To defendant taking- up the system of book-keeping- was given by Cha3. G. Scott, who stated that the system was unusual, witness finding it difficult to discover from the books the exact position of the business. There were six day books. It was witness's opinion that the business was carried on improperly. Ho compiled, at the request of defendant, a statement from the weights of tno meat supplied to the shop, showing the proceeds of the sales. Between the sum the sale of meat should have yielded and the/amount recorded by the cash register, there was a big difference. Defendant had stated to witness that during February and June last he had not be e n to the till at all, which statement was made in the presence of the j plaintiff, who denied the affirmation. Addressing the Court, Mr Cooper stated that the charge against plaintiff in the counter-claim was nothing short of theft. Upon ' the truth or otherwise of the statements he had made depended the case of defendant. Mr Cooper submitted that the owner Of the shop, who was defendant, was primarily responsible, owing to his failure to have a proper system of book-keeping. The allegations of tha charge were serious, and if upheld by the Court, would braitfl plaintiff as a thief. » Mr Lloyd stated that- defendant's statement had been substantiated in evidence, and records of the weights of the meat supplied by defendant possibly contained inacauracies, yet could bo relied on Decision' was reserved. DIVORCE PETITIONS. DECREES ABSOLUTE. Decrees absolute were made in the following divorce, petitions in which decrees nisi had been previously granted: —Joseph Milton Bennett (Mr Cooper) v. Elizabe'th Bennett; Basil Rule (Mr Cooper) v. Sarah Maule Rule (Mr Ongley). ENFORCEMENT OF AWARD, His Honour made an order to enforce an award for the settlement of disputes in a business transaction between John L. C Hill, solicitor, of Feilding, and James P. Kavanagh, solicitor, of Auckland, together with an order for the payment of £46 7s 6d and costs £4 4s costs. Plaintiff was represented by Mr Cooper.