RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 3274, 25 March 1885, Page 3

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

TIMARU, Tub3day, March 24th. (Before Captain B. Woollcombe, R.N., H. J. LeCren, and H. H. Hennah, Esqs., J.P.'s.) DRUNKENNESS. Four first offenders, charged with the above offence, were fined 5s each. Thomas Halpin, against whom a long list of previous convictions was recorded, was fined £3, m default seven days' imprisonment. Charles Gosling was next brought up, and m answer to the charge said it was fully ten months since he was m a similar plight before. Unfortunately on Monday lie came into town with some harvest hands and got the worse for liquor. He intended knocking the drink off altogether for the future. The Benoh fined him ss, m default 24 hours' imprisonment. CHILD DESERTION. Mary Mcintosh was charged with unlawfully deserting her male child, Maurice Gentleman Mcintosh, and leaving him without adequate means of support during the month of January, 1885. This case was adjourned till to-morrow, when it will be taken by the Resident Magistrate. DISOBEYING ORDERS OP THE COUBT. James Johnston was charged with disobeying an order of the Court re maintenance of children. The case was adjourned till to-morrow. — Goodman was charged with disobeying an order of the Court by not complying with an order made for tho support of his wife. Mr W. Reid appeared for Goodman, and said that the wife was now anxious the case should be withdrawn. The Bench decided to leave the case to be dealt with by the Resident Magistrate, and accordingly adjourned it till to-morrow. CRUELTY TO ANIMALS. Donald Ross (Kingsdown) was charged on remand by the Police with cruelty to animals. Inspector Broham now applied that this case might be withdrawn. He said it was a light one, and had been before the Bench a nnmber of times. Mr White, counsel for Ross, offered no objection to the withdrawal. civil cases. Judgment by defaidt was given m the following civil cases : — Levels Road Board v. Ann Black, claim £1 10s lOd (for rates), and costs 17s; M. J. Knubley v. Mary G. Grahame, claim £1 6s (dishonored cheque), and costs 10s ; Bowles and Burnett v. same, claim £3 10s (dishonored cheque), and costs JOs; Jonas and Bourn v. same, claim £12 (money lent), and costs £1 ; White and Smitbson v. J. J. Wardle, claim £3 3s (legal charges), and costs £1 ; Samo v. T. Flaherty, claim £1 17s 8d (legal charges), and costs 17s ; H. Clapham v. T. Tait, claim £9 4s 2d, (for goods), and costs 10s ; E. M. Watkins v, same, claim £2 10s ld (for goods), and costs 10s ; Jos. Murphy v. W. Meade, claim £7 0s 6d (for goods), and costs 20s. H. Clapham v. E. A. Griffin— Claim £3 16s 6d, judgment summons. Mr Ormsby appeared for plaintiff. Defendant was ordered to pay the amount within seven days, m default, seven days' imprisonment. R. Thyne v. J. McDonald— Claim £10, for rent of house. Mr White appeared for defendant. After the Bench had heard some evidence m thia case, it was adjourned till 10.30 tomorrow morning, to allow plaintiff time to make out a proper account, showing distinctly all his transactions with defendant m respect to the rent of the house m question. The accounts put m were so badly drawn up that the Bench admitted it was quite impossible to make them out. M. and C. Hobbs v. Jno. Hall (of Mackenzie Country) — Claim £11, amount owing for horse sold. Mr H. L. Forster appeared for defendant. M. Hobbs, one of the plaintiffs, said he sold the horae to defendant at the end of March last year and had not yet received payment for it. Ih cross-examination he' said he had only sold one horse to defendant. Mr -Forster then put m a receipt signed by witness' brother showing that a horse had been paid for. Witness doubted whether the receipt was m his brother's handwriting. Mr Forster applied for an adjournment, so that bis client, who at present was at Lake Tekapo; might attend, but the Bench held the receipt as sufficient and nonsuited the plaintiff. J. Buchanan v. McPherson — Claim, £3. Mr Reid for plaintiff ; Mr C. T. H. Perry for defendant. Plaintiff m evidence said ho was engaged m January, 1883, by defendant, manager of the Pareora estate, to cook for a harvest camp on the estate at the rate of 35s per week. Soon after this plaintiff had a row m the camp with one of the harvest men, and got one of his hands severely burnt. He was then shifted, at his own request, to another camp on the estato, but as there waß no Jproper appliances there for working, he left it. He did not see defendant till a short time ago at St. Andrews about the wages due, when defendant refused to pay him. Defendant swore that when ho engaged plaintiff the engagement was for the harvest, and that he was to be paid wages at the end of that time at the rate of 35s per week. He also distinctly told him that if he left before the harvest was over he should forfeit all wages due as was the custom with all men engaged harvesting on the station. To showthat such was the custom defendant called two of the harvesters, as witnesses, who proved that they had been engaged on similar terms, and that such terms were thoroughly understood by all engaged. Judgment was given for defendant. J. Mcllwrick v. Verity.— Claim £10, for trespass of sheep. Mr White for defendant. Plaintiff accepted a nonsuit. The Court then adjourned till Thursday at 10.30 a.m.