DISPUTE AS TO OWNERSHIP.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13896, 20 January 1916, Page 6

DISPUTE AS TO OWNERSHIP.

j A claim for £15, the value of a Hereford steer, was the subject of a civil action at the Magistrate's Court to-day, the plaintiff being Thomas Fraser, | sheepfarmer (Mr Bright) and the defendant being Hori Ihaia, of Pouawa (Mr Dimlop). Mr Bright pointed out that the matter had previously come before the court m a different form, when his Worship did not think there was sufficient evidence to warrant a committal for trial: 'The -evidence to be adduced, however, would show that the bullock belonged to ' plaintiff . Evidence was then given by Detective McLeod, plaintiff, George Moore, James Dunbar, Thomas Fraser, jun., and Hurini Taurima to show that the bullock m <lispnte was owned by the plaintiff. Mr Dunlop applied for a non-suit, and urged that a mistake Kad been made as to what bullock .defendant took. Hia Worship said he considered there was a case for defendant to answer And disallowed the non-suitr. . John Cleary and. George Gray then gave evidence. I After counsel had addressed the Court, his Worship said he was of opinion plaintiff was entitled to succeed. It M*as just possible, however, at -the. time he took it, that defendant did not rknow who owned the bullock. It had been running on the reserve, and when Cleary was bringing . down . a mob of cattle defendant probably thought it a good opportunity to get the beast to town and turn m into money. Defendant had 1 not been called to contradict plaintiffs evidence. Judgment was ftiven ' for plaintiff for £14 with costs £9 8s 6d.