DUNEDIN. May 19.

North Otago Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2200, 20 May 1879, Page 2

DUNEDIN. May 19.

Early on Saturday morning, Detective Bain arrested a roan namsd William Rogers, who is " wanted " at Tiraaru, on a charge of obtaining goods by false pretences. Later in the day Rodgers was brought before the Resident Magistrate, Mr Watt, and remanded, to appear at Timaru on the 21st inst., fpr which place the detective and his oharge left by this morning's express. Mr A. H. Ross has been returned unopposed for the representation of High Ward in the City Council, in place of Mr R. H. Leary, resigned. A decision important to traders w«i given by Mr Bathgate, R.M., to-day, in the case of Haynes v. Purnell. Mr Bathgate «aid : " The plaintiff sues to recover LlB 4s for goods supplied to tho defendant's wife from January to October, 1878. The accounts were rendered 1 quarterly to Mrs Purnell. The defendant never authorised his wife to pur- j chase the goods, and did not ktow j anything about the account till January, 1879. He made her a regular dress allowance for the express purpoie of relieving her from the necessity of obtaining drapery goods on credit. He therefore contends that he is not liable. In the present case I am satisfied the account was incurred by Mrs Purnell without her husband's authority, and against his will ; he having supplied her with a sufficient allowance. There was, therefore, revocation of any authority she might have had to purchase drapery goods on credit as his agent. lam of opinion that under the circumstances the plaintiff cannot recover. This may be deemed a hardship, but the plaintiff always had it in his power to inform the defendant of the currency of the account by rendering the account to him, instead of to Mrs Purnell. It is sound policy that law should place some limit on the facilities afforded in the way of credit, whereby a man might be ruined without his knowledge by a thoughtless or extravagant wife. This decision does not impeach the principle that a husband is liable for necessaries. The fact of the defendant having allowed his wife a sufficient sum for the wants of herself and i family protects him from the liability. The plaintiff will be nonsuited." The commissioner for the Middle Island railways met the chairman of the Harbor Board on Saturday, when the vexed question of a permanent railway station site was considered. Not only Mr Conyers, but Messrs Grant and Armstrong, nave reported favorably concerning the Board's plan, in preference to that proposed by the Government. Mr Oonyers returns to Christchurch to-morrow. The contract for the Wingatui section of the Otago Central Railway has been at last let. The tender of Mr Daniel M'Kenzie, for L 48.839 7s lOd, has been accepted. The time in which the work is to be completed is one year and eight months. The length of the section is six miles, sixty-five chains, and in its course will Le two tunnels, one 396 yards and the other 220 yards in length. Messrs Mills, Dick and Co. are about to issue "The Old Identities," or the first decade in the history of the province, a book of 300 pages of crown octavo. It us written by a gentleman of considerable literary oxperionoo, who has been identified with the province since it* fonualiuu, and it will preserve from oblivion many interesting historical facts, narratives of events, amusing incidents, and information of the early days of the colony. The men employed at the pottery works at Tokomairiro are busily engaged in making ware for the forthcoming Exhibition to be held in Sydney. The lot includes a quantity of vmob, jugs, teapots, and salt glaze pipes ; also several varieties and patterns of tessellated tiles. It is to be hoped thss the pottery works will show up well by turning out articles worthy of the colony.