MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Waipa Post, Volume I, Issue 25, 11 July 1911, Page 2

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

TE AWAMUTU —FRI DAY,

July 7TI-1, 1911

Before MrF. O’B. Lough nan. S.M.

CIVIL BUSINESS.

The monthly sitting of the Magistrate’s Court was resumed after we went to press on Friday.

G. P. Morton claimed from D. O’Shea, sawiniller, of Pirongia, £lO 19s. Mr Swarbrick appeared on behalf of the plaintiff, and Mr H. Y. Collins for the defendant. It appears that the sawmill was closed down in March, and the claimant with all the other men was dismissed. He was living in one of the mill houses, and had been asked by the manager to feed the horses during the manager’s absence for a few days. Shortly after work was resumed, he was dismissed and was paid, and gave a receipt for wages due. Fie then sought to recover wages for the time the mill was closed. A considerable amount of evidence was taken in support of both the plaintiff and defendant. In summing up the Magistrate said there was two bad points in the plaintiff’s case, the claim was both stale and excessive. He had taken wages since, the period claimed for, but bad made no mention of claim and the amount charged was excessive. It had been proved that the duties at the outside occupied but threequarters of an hour per day, for which Ils was claimed —a rate equivalent to 14s per hour. Further, it was customary for the men to wait about the mill if closed for a few weeks in order to be re-engaged. He gave judgment for defendant with costs £2 17s.

W. Humphries, of ie Kuiti, was charged by the police with supplying liquor to Maoris at the Te Awaniutu Railway Station on June 13th. He was convicted and fined £5 and costs £2 14s.