THE COURTS.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19178, 8 December 1927, Page 14

THE COURTS.

SUPREME COURT. (Before Mr Justice Adams.) CLAIM FOR DIVIDENDS. Alleging that the sum of £194 5a was owipg to him by the defendant company, Robert Henderson Wilson brought an action against the Zealandia Soap, Caudle, and Trading Company. Mr Wilding appeared for Wilson, and Mr Hunter and Mr Gee for the defendant company. In the i>tatemcnt of claim, plaintiff stated that he was a shareholder in tlia company. Dividends duly declared became payable by the company to the shareholders prior to May Oth, 1927. The amount of the dividends due to plaintiff was £l9l ss, and plaintiff had demanded payment of that amount, but the company had refused payment. For several years prior to August, 1920, plaintiff had been manager of tlio company at a fixed salary, and a bonus payable in those years in which the company's operations were profitable. A bonus of £IOO hud been voted to plaintiff for his services to the company at a meeting held on April "J9tli, 19-3. Plaintiff had received £SO on account of the bonus, and had demanded the i.iO balance due, but the company had refused payment. Plaintiff therefore claimed

.1194 as—interest' on £4B lis 3d from November 17th. 1926, interest on £145 l:!s 9d from May Oth, 1927, until final judgment, and the sum of £3O with interest from April 29th, 192,"). The defence admitted the declaring of cerium dividends by the company, but denied that plaintiff was entitled to such. The bonus of £IOO had been voted to plaintiff on the condition that he paid £SO of it to the company on account of a debt of a relative of plaintiff. The case was adjourned to permit of legal argument being heard later in the week. MAGISTERIAL. WEDNESDAY. (Before Mr 11. P. Lawry, S.M.) DRUNKENNESS. A first offender for drunkenness was fined 20s and costs, in default 21 hours' imprisonineut. Another first offender for drunkenness was fined "JOs and ordered to pay costs and expenses'. James George Andrews was charged with, being a person in receipt of house rents, did, upon request, fail to furnish a half-yearly return of weekly rents. He was convicted and ordered to pay costs. HEALTH CASES. Leonard Theodore Taylor was charged with selling milk below standard. He was fined £1 and costs. Mary Elizabeth White was convicted and ordered to pay costs for selling drinks containing colouring matter incorrectly labelled, INFERIOR WHISKY. Although tlio bottle from which customers were served was labelled with a well-known brand of whisky, an inspector of tlio Health Department found tbc liquor sold by Mabel Whittj not to be up to the Btandard of the make tmder whose name it .was-sold. Mr Sargent appeared for the defendant, and Mr Brown for the Health Department. A fine of £lO and costs was imposed. A "PEEPING TOM."

James Alexander Henderson, 21 years of age, a postman, was found on Tuesday night on the premises of Pearce Carey, 72 Weston road, St. Albans, and, caught by the owner of the property, was handed over to the police. He was charged yesterday morning with being found by night on private premises, but the senior-sergeant said the accused admitted ho entered the premises for prying. Accused was convicted and fined £5 and costs.

lie was represented by Mr Batchelor. ASSAULT CHARGE.

William ■ Carey, charged with assaulting William 1). Norgate, was fined £5 and costs, lie assaulted the informant twicn on the same day, and knocked him out aud left him on the side of the road. RANGIORA.

(Before Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M.) Sefton Boyce, who pleaded guilty to a charge of being found on licensed premises after hours, was fined £2 and costs. Thomas John Falkinder (Mr E. D. R. Smith), on a similar charge, pleaded not guilty. The case was dismissed.

Donald McLean, dairy farmer, Leithfield, wbb charged with being in charge df ;a motor-car while in a state of intoxication, driving' a motor-car without a license, and procuring liquor during tbe currency of a prohibition order. Mr E. D. R. Smith, on behalf of accused, pleaded for leniency. Since his previous conviction accused had resided on his. farm and'' led an exemplary life. On this occasion he was induced to go to Cliristchurch, and unfortunately took liquor. He had no intention of driving , the car, but. bis friendß left him at Papanui, and he had to take the car home.

The' Magistrate said he took a very serious view of theso cases. The public had to be protected against drunken motorists, and he would be (ailing in his duty if ho extended leniency. There were certain circumstances which were in accused's favour. For driving without a license accused was convicted and fined £5, and for. being in charge of a car while in a state of drunkenness accused would be convicted and sentenced to 14 days' imprisonment. On the third charge accused was convicted and discharged. Harry Frith, labourer, Christchurch, was charged with being found drunk, failing to give name and address on demand when found on licensed premises during prohibited hours, and resisting tho police. Accused,, who pleaded guilty, was fined 10s on the first charge, £2 on the second, a similar amount on the third, and convicted on the fourth

For allowing stock to wander on the main rond, Maurice Dando was convicted dnd fined 10b and coats.

Judgment for plaintiff by default was given in 11. A. Bullock v. Norman Doogan, claim £5. .1 Catherine Kennedy, widow, and Julia Helen Adelaine Kennedy, of Loburn,. sought to. recover from J. ,0. Jameson, sharebroker, Christchurch, £49 12s 6d damages in respect of an accident on the Loburn-Whiterock road. Mr Kennedy appeared for plaintiff?, and Mr Thomas for the defendant. After evidenco . had beon given the Magistrate reserved his decision. Hector Sinclair, farm labourer, claimed from J. Suckling the sum of £l6. value of a bicycle detained.. Mr Jamieson, who appeared for plaintiff, stated his client was 8 lad working at Rotherham. He met a man named Cunningham, and got to know bira fairly well. He made an exchange with him of a bicycle, and also gave him three pounds in cash. ' Some time later he took the bicycle into Suckling's to be repaired. Suckling recognised the bicycle as one out on the hire-purchase system, and on which • the payments had not been kept up, and refused to give up delivery of the bicycle. Defendant admitted the facts, but relied on the bailment to justify, his action. Judgment was given for plaintiff for the amount claimed, £l6, with costs amounting to £5 Is.