RESIDENT MAGISTRATE COURT.

Westport Times, Volume X, Issue 1349, 28 January 1876, Page 4

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE COURT.

(Before Dr. Thorpe and J. W. Humphrey, J.P.'s) Tuesday, Januahy 25,1876. police cases. R. Pufflett, charged by P. S. Dempsey, Town Clerk, with allowing a horse to stray within, the limits of the Borough, was fined 10s and costs 6s 6d. C. Christie, for allowing certain cows to stray, was fined 20s and costs 6s 6d John Stitt, James Powell, and Jas. Ormond, for allowing their horses to stray, were each fined 10s, and costs 6s 6d. The Bench reprobated these offences against Municipal laws, as endangering the public safety, and said that although tip to the present nominal fines had been inflicted, in future the lull penalty allowed would be levied on transgressors. CITTIi CASES. Jno. Munro, Manager of the Halcyon Q. M. Co., v. Jobberns.—Claim for unpaid calls. Mr Haselden applied for an adjournment, which was granted until the Bth of February. Same v. Jenkins —This was a similar case and was similarly adjourned.

Powell v. John Jonas.—Claim for £5 4s 7d, goods supplied. No appearance of defendant. Judgment given for full amount claimed, and costs 13s. Anthony v. Shipp.—Claim for £7, original claim and costs in judgment summons. James Shelley produced an authority to appear on behalf of plaintiff, but the document was held informal, and the case was dismissed, Shelley declining to ask for adjournment to give plaintiff time to attend. T. H. Dickinson v. R. M'Dowell.— Adjourned until the Bth of February for sitting of the R.M. Court. Amount claimed being in excess of jurisdiction of the Bench. Graves and Fleming v.T. Maunsell. —Claim for £6 15s. No appearance of defendant. Judgment for amount claimed and costs. "W". Mailer v. Charles Crowall.— Claim for £15 4s, Defendant disputed part of the claim for goods supplied to Charles Patterson, without any written order or request from defendant. Plaintiff said he had rendered the account at the time a composition of 10s in the £ was offered by defendant who did not then dispute any of the items. He had not received any specific orders to supply all the goods but knew that the party obtaining them was in the employ of defendant, and in the- habit of getting goods by his permission.

Defendant admitted having received two Baddies and some harness, to the extent of £9 worth, but for the rest he disavowed any liability. Plaintiff produced an order, but defendant swore that be never wrote it nor authorised any ono to write his signature. No witnesses were produced. The Bench gave judgment for £13 6s and costs. Defendant applied for order for payment by instalments, and, by conBent of plaintiff, an order was made for 10s per week. Pitt and Fisher v. Joshua Annett and Annie Annett his wife.—Claim for £5 5s professional charges incurred in 1871. Mrs Annett, at that time Annie Coleman, had been charged by Louis Sweet with a breach of the peace at Mokihinui, and had instructed plaintiffs to defend her in the R.M. Court, for which professional services the amount claimed was charged. Defendant, Joshua Annett, pleaded not indebted, and that action for recovery of the amount had beeti previously made in the B,M. Court, and a nonsuit recorded. Plaintiffs, by Mr Fisher, explained that such action had been brought against Joshua Annett in error, under supposition that Annett was a principal in the original transaction, which he swore he was not, and that the defendent, Annie Annett, then Coleman, was not at that time his wife Both defendants gave evidence that the engagement of professional services was by a letter from Mrs T. Jones addressed to Mr W. Pitt, and that the agreement, if any, was virtually between Mrs Jones and Mr Pitt, and not between Coleman and Pitt and fisher. The female defendant denied that she had ever been in the office of plaintiff's in consultation on the matter. Mr Fisher pleaded that the service had been duly performed, and that the husband was liable for the debts contracted by his ivife before marriage.

Judgment given for full amount claimed and costs 19s.