HIS FIRST ATTEMPT.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 128, 6 July 1914, Page 8

HIS FIRST ATTEMPT.

SUED ON A LEASE. A peculiar ease come up for hearing before Mr H. W. Bishop, S.M., in the Civil Court to-day, -when Alfred George Bull Bued Nelson'Garnett for a sum of £B6 12/9, alleged to be rent due oa lease of a farm.

Mr Alpers explained that plaintiff was himself lessee of the farm in question and had sub-let to defendant, who went into possession on April 1, and- since that date had paid nothing-. Defendant still had 20 sheep on tjte place,aithough he/was not residing there mett had said to the. solicitorywko drew up the lease that he -iuid capital, and had'agreed to pay. the first sum of £Bl on completion of the lease. He bad not done so, however. Alfred George Bull said he was the lessee of the lands whiei he hadsub-lefc to defendant. The sum of £Bl was to be paid quarterly, but defendant had l 'given an excuse and had been in possession since April 1. He. still had sheep on the place, although he was not living there himself. The rent was acknowledged in the deed, but was still unpaid. Defendant, in the box, said that when he signed tlie lease he had not known what the property was like. Plaintiff called him a "damn liar" on one occasion. Defendant said, lie came from North Lancashire, and had been in New Zealand two years. (( This is the first time I've been done with anything of this sort since I come here,'' said Garnett in his broad Lancashire burr.

'' Well, I'm very sorry for you,'' said Mr Bishop, "but you've signed the lease, and that's tantamount to payment. ''

"Next time I have any dealings the like of this I'll get it in black an<l white,'' said defendant. "That's a good idea," said the Magistrate; "if everyone would do that then there wouldn't be half the work for me to do. Still, you'll have to pay r I'm afraid."

"1 shan't," said defendant, stubbornly; "anyways, J. can't. You can't get blood out of a stone;" "Well, if the plaintiff chose a bad mark for his lessee I can't help that,", said Mr Bishop. "You signed the and if this is y our first s transaction in New Zealand all I can say is.it's a verybad one. Judgment for plaintiff for the claimed, with costs." "* "I shan't pay it," muttered defendant, as lie left the box. 1 For half an hour after, tfre Court rose both parties engaged in wordy warfare on the street outside«the Court, and "the man from Lancashire" every now aud again raised his voicje explaining to anyone within earshot that he'd "not have come to New -Zealand had he known."