ACTION FOR BREACH OF CONTRACT,

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10047, 6 February 1896, Page 5

ACTION FOR BREACH OF CONTRACT,

— « . [by telegraph.—own correspondent.] Pairoa, Wednesday. A cask which occupied the attention of the S.M. Court for sevoral hours last night, was that of Short Bros., coach proprietors, v. John Kelly, proprietor of the Karaugabake Hotel. This was an action for £43 damages for breach of agreement, to let plaintiff's the stables attached to tho Karangahako Hotel. Messrs. Moss and Miller appeared for plaintiffs, and Messrs. McVeagh and Mueller for defendants. The plaintiffs' evidence was to the effect that a big rush of coaching business was expected about Christmas time, and they rontod stables from defendant so as to bo able to keep coaches and buggies at Karangahake and meat the travellers there and drive them to the Thames direcb. Six or seven weeks after renting the stables, however, plaintiffs went to Karangahake to put their coaches in them and found chey had been let to an opposition coach pro prietor. The defendant on the other hand alleged he was justified in cancelling tho agreement, as the plaintiff had delayed taking possession, and moreover had not been pushing custom to the hotel. The plaintiffs proved that hundreds of travellers passed through Karangahake each day for a week before Christmas, and they estimated that they must have lost ab the least £5 per day during thab time. Judgment was then given for plaintiffs for £20 damagos, also £13 Us, value of flooring, etc., put in the stable, and £4 12s costs, or a total of £37 16s. A considerable amount of local interest was taken in the case, and some of the evidence caused great amusement. _________