THE COURTS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16158, 12 March 1918, Page 3

THE COURTS.

SUPREME COURT. CIVIL SITTINGS. (Before his Honour 3lr Justice llcrdmau.) I Tho civil .sittings of tho Supreme Court were resinned yesterday, i AN AFFILIATION APPEAL. Wilfred Carlyie iSliilton (Mr Donnelly) appealed, by way of a re-liear-ing, against tho decision of Mr T. A. B. Bailey, 5.31'., adjudging him the father ot an illegitimate child. Mr Johnston appeared for tho respondent, tho mother of the child. The ground of the appeal was that, at the hearings, tho evidence of the mother was not corroborated. Mr Johnston submitted that at tho second hearing Shilton's evidence was shaken, and tliat tho evidence of 3lrs Petrio, though a hostile witness, was sufficient to corroborate the girl's statements. i Tho' appellant, who is Sergeant-In-structor, ' Dcfence Department, at Lceston, and is a returned soldier, was called by Mr Johnston, and gave evidence, in which lie maintained that his relations with the girl had never ripened into anything beyond acquaintanceship. Replying to .Mr Donnelly, witness denied having had improper iclations with the girl. Evidence as to the relations between the parties was given by the wire of appellant's employer. After hearing the arguments of counsel, his Honour reserved .udgment. IN CHAMBERS. In re John Cooto Irwin v. .Mary Elizabeth Muirhead and others, leave to remove proceedings into the Court of Appeal was granted, subject to defendants filing a consent. Mr Lane appeared in support of the* application.

MAGISTERIAL. (Before Mr T. A. B. Hailey. .S.M.) DRUNKENNESS. Three first offenders wore each lined os. Daniel Hogartv, a third offender, was fined 20s, in default seven days' imprisonment. VAGRANCY. George William Spicer appeared on a charge of being a rogue and vagabond, iu that he was found by uigiit without lawful excuse in a railway carriage. Sergeant Divan stated that accused was a sufferer by the Silver Grid fire, having been injured there and lost much of his clothing. He had been going about sinco being discharged from hospital with very little on, and had told him (Sergeant Dwan) that he was unable to obtain employment. Captain Barnes stated that tho Salvation Army would clothc tho man. Accused was convicted and discharged. CIVIL BUSINESS. In tho following cases judgment was given for plaintiff by default: —S. Needham v. Charles Johansen, £1 0s sd; Jones Bros., Ltd. v. Mrs Rebecca Knight, £1 3s (3d. DEFENDED CASES. The International Harvester Co. of Now Zealand, Ltd. (Mr "Wright) sued Thomas White (Mr R. Twyneham) for £14 10s, amount allegedly, due for a separator. Judgment was given for plaintiff. Tho Ohristchurch Press Co. wero given judgment against George Birch for £1 2s Gd, amount due to them by , defendant. . DISPUTED WOOD, James William Butt (Mr Upharn). claimed from Frederick Mitton (Mr Thomas) the sum of £20 10s. Mr Up"ham said that the plaintiff was tho | owner in equity of certain land near the Waimakarjri. He alleged that in August last the defendant came iipon an area of the property, cut the fence, and carted away about 30 cords of wood. In addition, lie had left tlio land unfit for grazing purposes. The defendant claimed that the place where he had cut the wood was not on plaintiff's property at all, and that he had cut it on tho authority of the chairman of the River Board. After a considerable amount of evidence had been hoard, the ease was adjourned to have a survey made of tho property.