DAMAGE TO A HOUSE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20243, 1 May 1929, Page 17

DAMAGE TO A HOUSE.

MUSIC CONDUCTOR SUED.

DOGS SHUT UP IN ROOMS.

JUDGMENT GIVEN FOR £62.

How clogs sliut up in a house at Epsom, Rallied at £2OOO, caused considerable damage to wallpapers and floors and how the

occupier had behaved in "an untenant..

like manner," was revealed in the Magistrate's Court yesterday, when Maurice Guttridge, music conductor, recently of Auckland, was sued for £62 4s 6d by G. W. Crocombo, architect, of Auckland (Mr. ■Schramm). Claims were made for £sl os 6d as damages, £7 17s 6d as. overdue lent, and £3 Is 6d, the amount of water

rates paid by Crooombe for Guttridge. •Ihere was no appearance of defendant, /but it was said that he was believed to be in Wellington or Dunedin. According to plaintiff's claims, Guttridge, in February, 1928, rented from him a house situated at, the corner of Lewin and Manukau TToads, Epsom, at a weekly rental of £2 12s 6d. Of that rent, three weeks remained unpaid, defendant having paid nothing from February, 1929, to March.

Damages estimated at £sl 5s 6d were said to have been sustained because of the improper use by Guttridge of the house, of which he was tenant to plaintiff upon terms that he. should use the placo in a tenant-like manner. Plaintiff had been put to the expense of having the house fumigated and the floors scraped to rombve ordure matter caused by dogs being shut up in it. Three rooms had to be repapered through damage done to the

The sum of £lO 10s was stated to have

been spent in repairing an electric stove v.iiich had been left in a filthy state, and the glass door of which had been broken.

Other damage was also said to have been

done to the residence, and apart from it plaintiff stated he had suffered the loss of £lO-10s owing to being unable to let the premises on account of the condition in which they had been left by Guttridge. I In asking for judgment, Mr. Schramm said that the case had been adjourned from last Court day at the request of the

defendant -with a view to settlement, but as defendant had removed from Auckland nothing further had been done by him. When Mr. Crocombe let the holise to Guttridge it was worth £2OOO and was in good condition. During his term of occupancy, Guttridge had had two large f)ogs in the place for the purpose of protecting him from some man whom counsel understood had a private grievance against defendant. These, dogs were often shut up for hours at a time ■without food, the consequence being that they made the place unclean. "When Guttridge left the house was in a filthy condition,'" said Mr. Schramm. Three rooms had to be completely repapered. as the paper was dirty and had Keen torn by the dogs. The whole place had to be fumigated and properly cleansed. Mr. Crocombe had been unable to let it for some time after defendant had removed. Besides the filthy state in'which the honse was discovered, a tap had also been .left running. This was not, found out until a week afterwards, and plaintiff was billed for the water rates. Mr.- E. C. Cutten. S.M., gave judgment frn- plaintiff for the full amount.. Defendant was also ordered to pay Court costs £2 10s, witnesses' expenses 15s and solicitor's fee.