SUPREME COURT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5278, 7 June 1895, Page 3

SUPREME COURT.

CIVIL SITTINGS. THtTBBDAY, JtJNE 6,

before his Honor Mr Justice Denniston and a special jury of twelve.) PYNE V. BIACK*, BEATTIE AND CO.

This was an action to recover damages for injuries sustained by one of the plaintiffs through the fall of a roll of matting in defendants' shop. Mr Kippenberger, with him Mr Flesher, appeared for the plaintiffs, and Mr Stringer, with him Mr Caygill, for the defendants. « His Honor summed up, and directed the jury, if they found for the plaintiffß, to find damages for the husband aud the wife separately.

The jury retired, at twenty minutes to four o'clock, and, after an absence of forty minutes, returned a verdict for the plaintiffs, and awarded .6200 damages to the husband and .£4OO damages to the wife. On the application of Mr Kippenberger, his Honor gave judgment for the plaintiffs for the amount of the verdict, with costs as per soale, and certified for a special jury and second counsel.

UT CHAMBEES. Friday, June 7.

(Before his Honor Mr Justice Denniston.) His Honor sat in Chambers at 11 a.m.

BB RICHARD BOULTON, DECBASBD. On the application, of Mr Hall, for Mr Cotterill, his Honor granted executors' commission herein.

LB-TIERS OF ADMINISTRATION. Letters of administration were granted of the estate of Henry Cowper (Mr Slater).

PROBATE.

His Honor granted probate of the wills of Frederick Manhire (Mr Joyce) ; Thomas Eobinson and William Thomas Potter (Mr (Slater) j Henry Buckett (Mr Flesher); W. E. S. Cox (Mr Beswick); Hannah Hadfield (Mr Widdowson). The application of Mr Wilding for probate of the will of Thomas Briggs was held over.

IN DIVOBCE. SOLOMONS V. SOLOMONS,

This was an application for a decree nisi on the husband's petition. Mr Solomon appeared for the petitioner; the respondent and co-respondent (I. Morris) did not appear. — Solomons, the petitioner, deposed that he had been married to the respondent in Melbourne in 1872. They had eight children, five of whom were still living. They lived in Melbourne for a short time and then came to Dunedin. He had lived with her there till about two years ago, when they agreed to a separation, and he had paid her £1 a week Bince. He had had strong suspicions that his wife was unfaithful to him, bub had' not had the means to take aotion.

George I. Merrie deposed that he had known the petitioner and his wife in Dunedin for a little while. In Chriatchurch he had kept a shop in Colombo Street, next to that occupied by a cigarette-maker named Morris. The respondent was living with Morris, and told witness that Bhe was now Mrß Morris, Mr Solomons having been dead for Borne three or four years. He identified the woman who was living with Morris as the one he had known as Mrs Solomons in Dunedin.

Evidence was also given by Evelyn C. Merrie, William Foster and Charles H. Parker.

His Honor granted a decree nisi, returnable after three monthß, with costs against the co-respondent.

[Per Pbbss Association.] WELLINGTON, June 7.

In Banco thia morning, before Mr Justice Richmond, an appeal against a conviction under the Shops and Shop Assistants Act was heard. Mr Hutchison, S.M., in March last fined W. H. Day, Greytown North, for keeping his shop open on Saturday, the day appointed by the Borough Council for the half - holiday, and this decision waa appealed again*... Mr Skerrett, who appeared: in support of the appeal, submitted that " January next," where used in Seotion 9of the Aot, must be held to mean Jaauary, 1896. He also urged that the Borough Council meeting, at whi-h. the. special resolution was passed, waß improperly called. Mr Chapman, for the respondent, argued that the atatute must be taken to speak from the date of tha Boyal assent.. Judge Biohmond remarkad that at preaent he did not think there* waa much in. that point. Mr Chapman also contended that the Council meetiag was legally called. His Honor said ac the matter waa of general importance he would give a written judgment. In the Sanco oaße_ Mr Justioe Bichmond remarked that, at present, he did not think "ihere was muoh in the first point raisec, by Mr Skerrett with regard to the Act being inoperative until January, 1896,,

The mean density of the earth found by Professor Poynting ia 549. Professor Boya'a result is 553.