TO-DAY’S COURTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12245, 18 February 1918, Page 6

TO-DAY’S COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Mr T. A. B. Bailey, S.M., presided at the Magistrate’s Court to-clay. DRUNKENNESS. A first offender for drunkenness was fined ss, in default twenty-four hours’ imprisonment. Tyilliam M’Lenn Templeton, a second offender, was fined 10s, in default fortyeight hours’ imprisonment, John Tempest Colyer was charged with drunkenness and with wilfully damaging a coat value 20s, the property of the New Zealand Government. Accused, who pleaded guilty to both stated that ho had just lately arrived in New Zealand, having worked his passage out from England. He had lost a coat containing his papers in Tim am. On the first charge accused was fined 5s and on the second he was ordered to pay the damage, in default seven days’ imprisonment. ROGUE AND VAGABOND,

William Thomas Chapman pleaded guilty to a charge of being a rogue and a vagabond, in that he was found by night without lawful excuse on the premises of Crystal Palace, Ltd. A sentence of two months’ imprisonment was imposed.

CIVIL CASES. RESERVED JUDGMENT

Judgment was delivered in the case of Dominion Home Builders, Ltd, v. Annie Blaikie. The claim was to recover £ll3 for commission in respect of an exchange of land effected by tho plaintiffs on behalf of the defendant. A counter-claim for £2OO for damages for the alleged breach of an agreement by the plaintiffs to sow ihirty-five acres of land in wheat was also lodged. The claim was contested on the grounds that no authority was given to the plaintiffs to act as agent and that the payment of conimisskm by the defendant was conditional on tho performance by the plaintiffs of the alleged agreement to sow the thirty-five acres of wheat. Judgment was given for plaintiffs for £ll3 on their claim, and for tho defendant for £35 on the counterclaim.

Judgment was given for plaintiff by default, with costs, in each of the following cases:—North Canterbury Sheep Farmers’ Co-op. Freezing Export and Agency Company, Ltd., v. Frederick Johii Garnett. £33 4s 4d; Dunlop Rubber Company v. Toobey Bros.. £64 19s 8cl; Garrick, Cowlishaw, Alpers and Nicholls v. AT. Ronan. £ll 5s 8d; Sumner Borough Council v. George F. Robinson. £4 14s 9d; And row Lees v. J. M. Heyward and Co., £1 4s.

A PROPERTY DEAL,

Henry and Florence Fitch (Air Grosson) sued Ralpii Stringer and Co. (Air Cniiiiigham) and Hugh O’Connor (Air M’Dongall) for £56 deposit on a contract, for the exchange of properties, since repudiated. Ralph Stringer counter-claimed for £l2 as commission on tho exchange.

Florence Fitch, in giving evidence, said that she, owned two properties at New Brighton, and was approached by an agent of Ralph Stringer and Co., who suggested to her exchanging them for a house in Low'or Riccarton, owned by O’Connor. Witness said she had been bustled into the contract, and that from inquiries sho subsequently learned that the house in Riccarton was damp. (Proceeding.)