The Courts.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXXVII, Issue 11743, 20 September 1902, Page 5

The Courts.

Per Press Association

NAPIER, September 19

In the civil suit Hood v. Wenley and Lanauze, the Chief Justice non-suited the plaintiff, holding that no negligence :ad been given as provided in the Employes' Liability Act.

In the disputed land title case, Tut* Hapama and Henry O'Neill v. David Edward O'Neili and Solicitor-General, clai:n to have the title of the defendants to 10,i83 acres of the Tarawarama Survjey District set aside, the Chief Justice entered a nonsuit, with costs on the highest scale.

Later.

In the Supreme Court., the civil action Hambling and Gi'esnaway v. Latham, an application for dissolution o<f partnership and for accountant© be taken, the plaintiffs were non-suited, with costs on the lowest scale. TIMA.RU, September 19. In the Supreme Court to-day the re-trial of M. Woodhouse for criminal assault (the case in which, tlie jury disagreed yesterday) resulted in an. acquittal. A decree nisi was granted in a divorce case in which the parties were married in 1900. and the wife left her husband six months later without assigning any cause. The minimum coses were granted against co-respondent. ' ■ AUCKLAND, September 19. At the Police Court Frank Fulman, late postmaster and etationmaster at Tuakau,. was charged with forgery and stealing several sums, the same being in his possession as Government officer. The Hon. J. A. Tole (Crown Pioeecuttor) said accused was charged with forging deposit slips and the receipts from the Chief Post Office, amounting to £562, in the accounts of four depositors. There were also four changes of theft in connection with these four amounts. There were seven cases in which a&oused received! money as postmaster 'and entered the amounts in depositors' boqks, but never entered, them in any of blie official booksV Again, there was a sum of £5 10». sd!. paid as interest tender ttha Advanced to Settlei's Aob, which sum was never accounted for. The total amount of accused's1, peculation was £781. A peculiar feature of the case, was that nearly all the defalcations ©ccurred tfui ing the prevent year. The accused, on being chargedl, pleaded guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.

ARBITRATION COURT.

DUNEDIN, September 19

The Arbitration Court gave judgment ; o the caso Public Trustee (as representing Archibald McLean, deceased) against the First Chance Dredging Co., ordering t"u» Trustee to invest £400.. to be awarded t-x deceased's illegitimate child, at his ov n discretion.

In William Reid and Lady Charlton Company, the Court awarded deceased's fahter £300, together with costs.

Later,

In the Arbitration Court in the case of Archibald McLean, deceased, Mi' Justice Cooper decided that the legitimate daughter is the only dependent, and that the two illegitimate children were not dependents, and the Public Trustee is therefore to hold tho whole of the £400 granted as compensation in trust for fehe legitimate daughter as sole dependent.

The Court dealt with a number of cases of breaches of awards.

In the case brought by the Southland Butchers' Union against John Cox, the latter was held to have made a; wilful breach of the awaKfrto bis own pecuniary benefit, and he was ordered to pay a penalty of £10 to the Union, with costs.

For breaches of the carters' award, by paying less wages than, in the award to casual hands, Allan Johnson was ordered to pay 24s and costs, and Keast Bros. 16s lOd. In the first case 4s goes to the man undei'-paidi, and,in the latter the whole goes to him.

Other cases were adjourned or decision reserved.