AN IMPORTANT CIVIL ACTION.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3551, 15 February 1886, Page 3

AN IMPORTANT CIVIL ACTION.

I (By Telbgbaph.) Wbminotoit, Feb. 14. A case of some interest to depositors m the Savings Bank was heard at the Magistrate's Court yesterday. It was one brought by a depositor m tho Post-office Savings Bank named William Nicholson, against the do--3 partment for the recovery of the sum of £14, ' being the amount of balnnce which had stood ! to his credit at the Savings Bunk. Nicholi son, the plaintiff, when he originally made ' his deposit, was handed a depositor's book, l which book waa subsequently etolen or lost. On tho day following tho loss or theft the 1 book was presented at the Savings Bank by a , peraon who forged Nicholson's nupic to a re«

f ceipt, and obtained the balance standing to 3 the account of the depositor (Nicholson), viz., £14. Under these circumstances tho plain- , tiff now sought to make the department re- ) sponsible for the money. The defence relied , upon regulation 34 of the Post-office Savings ' Bank, which provides that if any person shall obtain by any means any money belonging to any depositors, the postmaster shall not be held responsible for the amount. 1 The Magistrate reserved judgment.