TIMBER ROYALTY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1535, 8 May 1885, Page 2

TIMBER ROYALTY.

Invehcaegill, Last night. The Commissioner of Crown Lands pro* ceeded against Arthur Perkins in the Resident Magistrate’s Court to-day, to recover JLIOO, royalty on timber cot from Crown lands. The clrcamstaoces were rather peculiar. H E. Moors secured by transfer a license to cut timber, and afterwards Perkins joined him, it was generally supposed as partner, the firm being Moors and Company. Moors left the colony eighteen months ago, "and Perkins carried | on the mill, signing cheques in the name of the firm. The mill had cut over eight hundred thousand feet, but Government never got a penny on account of it. At I the last sitting of the Supreme Court PerI kins sued the Equitable Company for inI surance on the mill, which had been I burned, and recovered. Ha then deposed I that he had been partner with Moors all I through. The Department then proceeded I against him to recover royalty. The doI fence was that thoughjjartner in the mill I and sale of timber, he was not partner in the license to out timber from Crown

lands, the firm paying Moors 4d pec I,oooft for timber sawn. Plaintiff was nonsuited, on the ground that partnership had not been proved, and because defendant’s name was not on the license. It was hinted that royalty had been paid to an officer of the department, but no evidence was adduced in support.