ACTION FOR ASSAULT.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 498, 22 April 1881, Page 3

ACTION FOR ASSAULT.

It is not often that we hear of a civil action for assault, plaintiffs generally being satisfied with tlie summary jurisdiction of a magistrate. The plaintiff in the following case, heard at Titnaru, will probably wish he had adopted the usual course, and had five shillings worth of ]Ut. law. A. J. 11. Bowers v. Moss Jonas, claim £200 for damages caused by the defendant assaulting the plaintiff. Mr Perry appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr Jamieson for the defendant, and the measure of damages (if any) to be awarded was refered to a special jury. The evidence showed that the plaintiff had attended an auction sale held by the defendant, and that some books were offered for sale, but not realising anything like fair prices they were withdrawn, when the defendant staled that in the interest of his client he. should withdraw Ihe books from sale rather then let them be knocked down at less than half their value. The plaintiff said "The sale is advertised wilhont reserve, and you cannot withdraw the books. I demand that you go on with the sale." The defendant stopped the snle of books, after which the plaintiff insisted that the sale should go en ; and was rewarded for his persistent interference by a blow from the auctioneer. The npsMilt was not very serious as the plaintiff afterwards purchased goods at the sale. The jury retired to considered their verdict, and returned after a short interval with the following unique finding :—" The defendant to pay the costs of the Court, and make a public apology." His Honor (who appeared greatly amused at the verdict), informed the jury that they had nothing to do with the costs. The assault complained of had been proved, and it was for - thp jury ,to Bay what damages, the plaintiff was entitled to. The jury consulted 'together, and returned a verdict for the plaintiff, with damages one farthing. Mr Perry asked His Honor to make an order for costs. His Honor : You will have to take the costs out of the damages.

Why is the North Pole like an illicit whiskey manufactory ?—Because it's a ecciet still. A Country editor, in alluding to a rival town, says (hat "it takes several of their pigs to pull up a blade of grass, and they are so poor that the foremost seizes the spear in his mouth, the balance having taken each other by the tail, when they all give a pull, a strong pull; and a pul/ together—and if it breaks, the whole tumble to the ground, for want of sufficent strength to support themselves. It takes three or four to make a shadow. A SPECULATOR who had involved his faithful shareholders in no end of disaster, summoned thorn to a meeting at which he revealed to them his intention of letting them in—on advantageous terms —to a scheme'in which there were millions to be acquired.' This lucrative speculation, he explained, was a silver mine of unexampled richness, situated in nn unexplored country. A shareholder, timidly : " But, I say, we want to know if it really exists ?" Speculator, indignantly : " What really exists ? The mine, sir ?" Shareholder, apologetically : ''No ; the country !" A good story (says a Home paper) attributed to a learned judge is going the rounds. The -judge is exceedingly fond of a » game of skittles, and when taking _ a country walk the other day, while on circuit, he stopped at a public-house to get some refreshments. Hearing the familar rattle of the " peg," he sauntered into the * bowling-alley at tho back of (ho house, an.l made 'himself welcome by treating the players to some beer. At the conclusion of the game he challenged the winner to play a game with him, but the man politely declined, as also did another of the company. The judge's curiosity was excited, nnd on pressing for an explanation he found that his "personal appearance had -reated a somewhat unfavorable impression upon the msiics. ' Look hear, male,"' said one of ib«". "we are all honest. ctjai"-hlf ;■".';>!•■ '"'-'" nevvr been ( \ , ' (i i> ial'.i'!! into cut-tody), -'"vi ii. i yon don't want lo>'ork out that iieket-of- . Live I'd advise y!»" tl ' k'et °ut of these pirl* as quickly as ;™ can. .