LAW AND POLICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6936, 9 February 1884, Page 3

LAW AND POLICE.

■ ———• .■■.:■ R.M. COURT.— Fbiday. [Before H. G. Seth Smith, Eaq., R.M.I A sitting of the Court was held this more* ing, and the following business disposed of :— L\mb v. Keyes.—Claim, £9. Mr. S. Hesketh for the plaintiff; Mr. Cotter for the defendant. This was a claim for storage of a quantity of potatoes. - The defendant went to the plaintiff and wanted storage for 30 tons of potatoes, agreeing to pay 6d a week per ton. The plaintiff gave the storage on these terms in his mill in Port-street. Sometime after the plaintiff asked for the key, which defendant Baid he had given to Mr. Dowden. Plaintiff told defendant he had no right to give the. key to anyone. Ultimately plaintiff got the key, an I upon opening the door found the lower floor (50 by 70 feet) covered with rotten potatoes, and several persons were picking them. Plaintiff said he would not have let the storeage for potatoes in such a condition. He wrote to the defendant that he must remove the potatoes forthwith, and that he must pay rent (£4 a week) for the rent of the place while the potatoes were there. Plaintiff also claimed £1 for cleaning, rendered necessary by the bad condition of the potatoes. The plaintiff deposed to the above facts. G. S. Jakins deposed to paying rent for storage of potatoes on the same floor at 4d per ton. The rent for the floor came to more than £4 sometimes at that rate. Witness found the floor strewn with rotten potatoes—potatoes sold as "rotten" from. the ship's side. The defendant s&id the store was let for the purpose of " storing and picking" the potatoes, implying that plaintiff knew a portion of the potatoes were bad ; that storage of potatoes was also let to one Davis, so that the defendant had not the exclusive possession of the store, on account of which a demand of £4 was made; that defendant kept the potatoes in the mill for about a fortnight, and tendered to Mr. Lamb 30e for the storage, John Keyea deposed to the above particulars of defence. He admitted that about 50 per cent, of the potatoes were bad, that ia, damaged. Thomae Evans, employed to pick the potatoes, deposed that he scrubbed the place and cleaned it. It was better when he left the mill than when he went into it. A witness named Erown, employed by the person Davis referred to, said that Evans left the place clean, that he (Brown) got the key from plaintiff. His Worship thought the whole difficulty turned upon a misunderstanding as to the contract. He thought the defendant entitled to the use of the place to store and pick potatoes. Judgment for defendant. Adjotjbned.—The case of MacGormick v. Usher and K.eetley was adjourned on tha ordinary terms, that the plaintiff pay the costs of the day. L&mb v. Keen an.—Claim, £7 4a. Mr. S. Hesketh for the plaintiff. This was an action to recover the rent of a cottage in Fortstreet, the property of the plaintiff. Rent was claimed from the 25th December, 1882, to the 19th March, 1883. John Laxon, clerk-to plaintiff, proved the letting of the house and the * amount of rent due. The defendant's wife deposed that the key waa given up before the 15th of February, John Laxon said he entered the date when the key was delivered in the " rent book,' , at tha time it was delivered. Judgment for the plaintiff. . .. Smyth v. McCahey.—Claim, ;>6 ss. Mr. E. Cooper appeared for the plaintiff. Thia was a claim for posts, rails, and firewood. Jndgment was given for the plaintiff. McDonald v. Bentlet.—Mr. Cooper for the plaintiff. This was a proceeding to rei cover possession of a tenement occupied by defendant. The defendant was ordered to give np possession within a fortnight. ' Mtjbphy v. Noeth.—Mr. E. E. Cooper for plaintiff, Mr. Xeesley for the defendant. This was also a proceeding to recover possession, of a tenement. Mr. Keetley asked for time. Mr. Cooper said the defendant had paid no rent. Ordered to give np pos« session within a week. POLICE COURT.—Friday. [Before Messra. W. J. Hurst and F. G; Clayton, J.P^J The Rape Case.—Mr. Tole, the solicitor for the defence in the prosecution against: Henry Goodward, applied to have his client! admitted to bail in a reasonable amount. Sergeant White opposed the application, or, if it was granted, that it should be substantial. The Benoh decided to admit the prisoner to bail in his own recognisance of £200, and two sureties of £150; bail to be approved by the police. [Before Messrs. F. Hall and F. L. Prime, J.P'sJ ■DBttNKENNEss.—One person was punished for being.drunk. ' : Laecsny op Fruit.—George Wm. Smith, a child about nine years of age, was charged with stealing fruit, worth twopence, the property of Edward Shillington. He admitted the offence. Mrs. Smith was in Court, and on her promising to give the boy a good whipping she was allowed to take him away. Licensing Acr.—Henry Corhetfc, licensee of the Royal George Hotel, Newmarket, waa charged with selling and exposing for sale liquor at Seccombe's paddock, that not being a place for which lie waa licensed. Mr. Cooper, who appeared for the prosecution, said he had arranged with Mr. E. Heeketh, who appeared for . the. defence, to have the case adjourned till next day. Obstructing the Footpath. — John Wilson pleaded guilty to a charge of placing planks on the footpath in Shortland-street, whereby life and limb were endangered. It appeared Mr. Wilson, who was erecting a house in Uhortland-street, was entitled to half the footpath, but -occupied .the whole of it on the occasion in question. Hβ was fined 5s and costs. ~