FISHING DISPUTE

Southland Times, Issue 19553, 18 May 1925, Page 7

FISHING DISPUTE

CASE BEFORE THE COURT. AN ADJOURNMENT MADE. At a special meeting of the Civil Court held on Saturday morning before Mr G. Cruickshank, S.M., Charles Seymour Trillo (Mr Gordon Reed) claimed from Robert Hugh Dixon (Mr V. Raines) the sum of £37 18s 4d, being the amount owing in defendant’s contract on the plaintiff’s fishing launch “Digger.” Charles Seymour Trillo said that defendant approached him for the use of the “Digger.” saying that he was “on the rocks” and wished to make a cheque. Defendant arranged with witness to sell at 30s per 1001 b for blue cod and 24d per lb for groper, less 3s craft share. Altogether only two small lots were received by one Hilton, who was in charge of witness’s shop and the rest was sent to Dixon and Broad. Witness had finally to hunt defendant out of his boat. He was claiming on craft share, loss of profit, and for repayment on oil, groper lines and compass that defendant had been supplied with. James Robert Hilton, labourer, said he leased plaintiff’s fish-shop for about three or four months. During that time one small lot of fish arrived and after that nothing was sent. Finally witness was forced to close his shop, owing to lack of supplies. Witness bad had about seven years’ experience in grocers’ shops but had not been in the fish business before. His Worship: You only dealt in tinned fish. (Laughter.) John Pagan, taxi driver, said he had arranged to finance up to a ton of fish at the time. Robert Hugh Dixon contended that the agreed price for fish was 35s per 1001 b, heads on, and 30s per 1001 b, heads off, also per lb for groper. The craft share was to have been 2s 6d. Witness did not know Hilton from a crow and sent all fish to Trillo. The boat was given up in August as witness found a note from Hilton telling him not to touch it. From that time on witness acted as engineer. Robert Waitiri, of Ruapuke, said that he met Hilton in the Eagle Hotel at Bluff, and arranged to take over the “Digger” from Dixon. They get a small catch and sent a portion of it to Hilton. His Worship said he would like to have information as to the ruling rate of payment. The Court was adjourned to enable evidence to be called.