TAURANGA R.M. COURT.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume I, Issue 50, 22 February 1873, Page 3

TAURANGA R.M. COURT.

WSUN BSD ay, PkbKU art 1 9. [Before Henry Ct.akkk, Esq . E.M;, and Major Hob® UTS, R.M.jj Cirri, Cases. TArBiXOA ITOWS BO‘HD V. JOHN CHADWICK. Claim, 5s 7d, for rates. TACBiSfIA DISTRICT DOIHD V. TTIS SAME. Claim, £8 ISs 7d, for rates. These were adjourned cases. The Bench gave judgment in each for the plaintiffs, without, co-ts. Mr Chadwick informed the Court that the rates being illegal he declined to pay tho amount of judgment. A portion of the land for winch ho was assessed did not belong to him. The law might, take its course? to recover the amount, but ho certainly would not pay. Mr Chadwick then left the Court. SYDBR V. JORDAN. Claim, £0 13s, being balance alleged to bo owing from the defendant for wages. After the plaintiff’s evidence had been given, Mr Jordan applied for an adjournment until next Court-day, in order to procure the- evidence of Mr Jackson (his manager) in the matter. It was a matter of some moment to him (Mr Jordan), as t his case would, of course, establish a precedent. Ho desired to state that ho simply defended the action on principle, and not with" any pecuniary motive as regarded the plaintiff’s claim. The adjournment was granted. GREEN V, JORDAN. Claim, £42. Mr Jordan stated that ho had only received tha summons late the previous evening, and he had not had time to flic si set-oil ho had against the plaint iff. Adjoux-ned until next Court-day. A. COCK V. S. .MARTIN, Claim, £S 7s, for goods sold and delivered. _ Mr Samuels appeared on behalf of Mr Cook as his authorised agent. Judgment by consent, time being allowed defendant for payment of the amount. GREGORY T. ROBERTSON. Claim, £l2 lla 3d. This was an action brought to recover the above amount in consequence of alleged breach of agreement by the defendant in not delivering a quantity of rations by pack horses in accordance with plaintiff’s instructions. Ihe case occupied the Bench a considerable time, and was of 00 public interest whatever. Plaintiff nonsuited, with costa. Friday, February 21. [Before Henry Cdatike, Esq., R.M.] SnOU-XJTTING BY A NATIVE. Wiromu was charged with stealing a wooden pipe, value Is (id, on tho previous day, the property of Messrs Samuels and Jacobeolm. Mr Samuels deposed ho was in his store on Thursday last, when tho prisoner entered j had a conversation together about the price of soma wooden pipes 3 shortly after prisoner left, a native boy told him that prisoner had stolen ono of tho pipes; gave instructions to Detective Kell to arrest prisoner, which was accordingly done ; pipe produced was similar to some witness had in his store; Mr Samuels stated that he had lost » large number of email articles from his store lately, and felt it his duty to prosecute in this instance, in order that it might bo a warning to other natives. A native boy who was in the store at tho time stated that he had seen prisoner take a pipe like the one produced from off tho counter close to tha door, and hide it about Ins person. Mr Samuels was at his desk engaged at tho time, and tho shopmen was absent. By tho prisoner: I did not eoo your hand in the box of pipes, but I saw the pipe in your possession ; I said nothing to you at tho time. By the Court: The prisoner “ winked ”at me, and I thought then that tho pipe was stolen. Another native witness said ho was present in the store at tho time, but did not boo the prisoner take or have a pipe in his possession ; prisoner never threw any pipe away out of the boat as ho was returning. Mr Hopkins Clarke, Clerk of the Court, deposed that Detective Kell brought prisoner and last witness to his office on Thursday, when last witness stated to him that he had seen the prisoner throw the pipe overboard 1 witness was partially intoxicated at the time. Detective Kol! proved the arrest of tho prisoner in a boat in the harbour returning to Mafapibi ; when close to the boat saw prisoner throw some-* thing overboard which resembled a pipe ; prisoner ultimately offered to pay Mr Samuels for tho pipe; last witness used threatening language towards witness, and threatened to cut him down if he arrested prisoner ; could not recover tho object thrown in the water in consequence of this squabble. Prisoner denied the charge altogether. Another native witness was examined for tho defence, but nothing new was elicited. His Worship thought the theft had not been proved ; there were several weak points in tha evidence adduced. The prisoner was discharged ifter a severe caution from his Worship as to his future behaviour.