SUPREME COURT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19250, 14 August 1924, Page 8

SUPREME COURT.

SITTING AT NEW PLYMOUTH. (Peb United Press Association.) NEW PLYMOUTH, August 13. Cyril Louis Wilson, on his second trial, was found guilty on a charge of converting £l9O belonging to Wilson’s Motors (Ltd.), of which he was managing director, to his own use. He was found not guilty on a similar charge relating to £29. Sentence was deferred until Saturday. PALMERSTON NORTH SITTING. (Per United Press Association.. PALMERSTON N„ August 13. At the Supreme Court hearing commenced in the action of Oliver Tremain, a farmer, of Kairanga, claiming £2300 damages from the Manawatu Drainage Board through the flooding of his land. Plaintiff alleged that on Hi'; property were two drains vested in the defendant board, which had allegedly failed to keep them properly cleared and cleansed. Ho also alleged that the drains were incapable of carrying away the waters which flowed into thorn. As a result of the usual and ordinary floods and rainfall plaintiff’s land was flooded in April and August of last year, resulting in damage to his crops and interference with his farming operations. Tho defendant board denies vesting of drains in it, but admits that they have been under its management since April of last year. Tho board also denies having failed to clear tho drains. If plaintiff suffered th© damage was due to several causes—viz. : (1) Floods in tho Manawatu and Oroua Rivers; (2) water flowing back to the drains through an outlet to tho river; (3) subsidiary drains on plaintiff’s land; (4) overflowing of artesian wells on the property; and (5) by plaintiff placing obstructions in tho drains. The board also says it is not responsible for tho construction of tho said drains, and pleads that th© acts alleged to have been done were done under authority of the Land Drainage Act. Tho case is proceeding.