A WAIHI CASE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12282, 28 May 1903, Page 6

A WAIHI CASE.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Waihi, Wednesday. This morning Mi. *Bush, S.M., heard the case of Annie Elizabeth Knight and William Harris v. Arthur and Herbert Heaps. Mr. Jackson appeared for plaintiffs and Mr. Finn for defendants. The case submitted by plaintiffs' counsel was to the effect that defendants had taken about 30 tons of firewood, the property of plaintiffs. This wood was cut by plaintiff's' husband, Samuel Knight, a week before Christmas last, for domestic- purposes. The wood was taken from Crown lands. The plaintiffs claimed the value of the wood at tLe rate of 4s per ton. Several witnesses were examined, who corroborated the evidence of the principal witness as to cutting the firewood for domestic purposes. The defendants contended that they purchased the wood from Patrick Hogan. They had only taken 10 tons of wood belonging to plaintiffs, and they valued this at 2s 3d per ton. His Worship said it seemed to him to be a. careless practice to leave cut wood in the bush. He did not think plaintiffs had a right to more than the value of 10 tons of wood, which amount defendants admitted to have taken. Tie would assess the value of the wood at 4s per ton. ■ Damages would be allowed to plaintiffs to the amount of £2 2s, and 16s costs.