MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 745, 18 February 1910, Page 11

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

LIABILITY FOR CLUB DEBTS;, .;;' INTERESTING ARGUMENT.'' ./'/ /.(Before Mr. \V. G.Eiddell, 5.M.).. ■ ' .Having been engaged to carry bares for •; the Hutt Valley Coursing Club,. and finding that their, account of' JEll,ss. had not been-paid, the. New. Zealand Express Company,' limited, sued J.'; E.. Fitzgerald, cycle dealer, and James' Williamson, of the Government Printing .Office, as president 'and secretary of.the.,club.respectively... ' / '■.■!■■ '".-.•■'

'.Mr.. Samuel appeared.{or.the.plaintiff company, .and Mr.:. Jackson for : ,tho defondant Fitzgerald. ■'•:;■ ;Mr. Samuel's contention was that'mere association with;.a club .of this., sort,' which had a legal standing, rendered a mail'liable." One did not need to bo a inember of the club to be held responsible for -a proportion of its 'debts.'.; : : .

': Mr.- Jackson. considered that- .this: argu- • meht, was; contrary to'com'nioh ' ■' sense.'. "Many men might be ruined if'.thatprin--ciplo' held," he said, "for- we know that some .men accept : appointments '.assideht'or vice-president of forty orlhfty' 'clubs,' of one kind;:and' another./.Your. ■Worsliip'., may be' president. ;or:,vice-pre-sideat of some football -club, with : which, you have' had ,no association whatever, you .accept: tho office' : out : of courtesy, and give a donation. A Drosident.is.'usually, a figurehead, and if he does not' make a-donation to' the'club's funds he, is; probably, .'dropped."' Mr. Jackson on .to 6ay that, the .plaintiff com-' pany was .not. justified in.-.'picking out two, m(!n,:to sue' on .behalf of the club,' because, .even;, if' they ■■ were, members, they : would;.hot. be liable. Individual, momb^rsvwere'not.'liable' for the debts, of their."club';'.their, only : responsibility-;was in regard, to 'their own subscriptions'.': ':■ -■''. In''evidence,: Fitzgerald •. atated- that be had him .'president ;of the club fo'r three years.' been elected - ;'a member,' and .had only/given' donations'to' the. ' club.-'. -Ho was sorry .that the account had' not. been paid, ; i;a'nd;was.;endeavonrin'g to ascertain -'the' reason.' ■-.-." :■.: ;■-.'] "v.Willianison stated-that he ; was.-not a member' of the club, and had acted as' secretary, payment,'.because, ho had been approached by members who de-' sired hini-to.undertake, the work.'; ''.''■ The' magistrate.' decided that' honorary members -were, no t.' liable for' the '. debts of their', club; and - n'oh-iiuited the plaintiff company.-■N6:'c6sts we're; allowed: •■'■;

': : ■ MEDICAL; 'MAN NONiSTJITED/ /.■ • ;(Kfora''MT^^V:; : HaseldeS.S.M.) '.-.,'■ '." Seeking '-payment' <for ;ser-•TicßS'-'rettderod,-'!-!Dr.\ Pigeon-' sued Mrs;. : Matilda; GilohristUfor : JBI9 : 55.-/6 d. ; -Mr. Von Haast appeared ;for plaintiff, and Mr. ' : .',' :i .' !; ", .' . .'.Jlf.-- .Von"-Haast:said- that. Dr. PigeonHad' attended defendant's, son;'. a:man ..of about ■• 30; iiVho"' bad -since died.'." He '{first- • . treated' the patient'at a r boardinghoiise in Dixon:'Street;*:arid .recommended him v togoto'the'hospital'.: "He. was taken' to 'his mother's-house,-' 1 however, 'and Dr. -Pigeon continued to.attend him there.-Mrs." Gil-christ'engage'd-a nurse/for; her' son, and ; paid * her-.''salary:' 'Later,, oh;' Mrs.: GiK' 'ch'rist asked sDr.: Pigeon . what - his ■ ae-' count . him. to sendit .to'her..' ; '~'..■ ■■■'• .■''.' , . , .'•' ihl 'Fair -said ;'. that-' ,;Mrs.'-:Gilohnst .■'wis 1 '■ a ■feeble'.", old -V: lady, without means.:.' -She-.'.'contended -.that she was not'liable for the amount..' l '■'■■ The,yMagistrato. (to.Dr. Pigeon) : : If -she insists on her, legal position, lam afraid youiarejhelrdess.;'Had shebeen a wonjan of:means/ ' l"' should: baye : adjourned'-the 'case'.i-in.'.tfie^hope'-pf-a settlement,'being arrived :ati;b\iti.-.in] : :ariy .case,'she'.' ; would' simply ~be 'answering' for; the debt', of anf. other. V'tfudgmenJ'-yrfU bejjfdr-(lefo'ndSnt; : ; 'i'UOTEECHANTABLE- G(M)AB*S.v''-, :!f j(Befdre'; MrJ'-W. "&■ EiddeU,: S.M.)':';":' .by; :Eeynolds •andtGolf Wdi.'tSJ J.'-Hayden, of New Ply-. raouth,.vwere -thO; subject:of' a claim-for theapaymintnti ,£lfc'Gs.::; .An.ialteriiativo, claim l ;was.made'for;.-iS74 6s;, for-.-damages sustained. by, .reason of defendant/having re'i'osed to''accept and pay :for the goods. '•■■ . Itjv Murphy appeared for .company, and Mr; "Gray.for "defendant.:. 'In, his reserved judgment, the magis-trate-.expressed -the opinion that'-.defend-ant'-; was justified': in v refusing to" accept the go-carts, because' of .their -unmerchantable ...condition,.,,; : Judgment, would.. ..be given ifor ;dofendant with' £3 ' 13s. costs.. '. Security':'for' appeal ',was 'fixed'at ,£lO

:;;; WOTDLD;;7ViIVE THE RENT.:':;'.;' v?A;; claim for rent. >and.possession ofi'a . house\was.brought. by-'.-GeorgVLambert , against' Mary Young, whftse husband :'ap- ; pearSd in; court to. defend the case.', ;' .' . : iilr';".' Putnam, >'jvli6j/'' : appeared'".'for ■ 'the landlord; said .that 5 an.: offer;:': had:, .been made' to, waive- the''arrears'"of. ront, if ■the tenant would'only.leave the house. ; ~-Defendant pleaded that ho was out of work; "and could not pay : .: the. arrears; He hadvbeen.in'tHe: city ) for.fif teen : ryears, and,'bore a,goOd-dharacter..;- : .:, ! ~::' . The court ordered that.a,warrant should .be issued;on,February;24, »for possession by March .-10.;,, Judgment was' also 'given, for. £6 85.-; 9d,: for, -rent,'-, and £1 Bs. Gd; .CMJS.;>.;;.v ; \.;;/-':; : ;.i v v',.,v.-. ■:.<'■ V-.'•.;'".: -.:'. ! -y- ■'■■"'. [ INSOL'TONr^ESTA^ Procee'dingss:wer'e...takcn<!.by - V Stratford .Limited;;against .the"Public^Trustee (as executor'of' C. ; J. Bartlett) 'and. C. J. Bartlett, jun.,; to recover the sum of .£54 4s.' 9d.' for: building supplied, :'• 'Mr. Dix appearedifor plaintiffs, and Mr. Von Haast'for defendant?'.'."' ' Mr. Dix pointed out'that when C. J. Bartlett, sen.,:,died, the late firm of.Bartlett.'and'So'ns^wasLunableito.coihpleto a : hbuse.which'it had' commenced. to build ,at Miramar,. and •' asked plaintiffs to take steps, to have, the work' finished.. Nothing was .done, but J. "H. Smith purchased the land.frofa'the owner,' T: R. Johnson* , and completed the house himself, using the material found on*the, job."'. ; Counsel for defendants contended that Smith had:becomef.liable -to plaintiffs for the value of the'material supplied; -. After,: heating Evidence,'.'the magistrate :deoided"that'plaintiffs 'weTe. entitled"to the full amount i'fro'nT- defendants, but, as. the estate of ,Ci 'J.- Bartlett, deceased, was said to bo insolvent, and a judgment ; might give priority to this claim, ■judgment would'not be entered. ' ■ Mr, Von 'Haast, undertook..-that' the • claim should: rank; equally., with others which , might... ,bo'. put: in.■:■/ The amount ordoredto.be paid was £5i 4s. 9d., with £5 17s. v. ;•■■■■ ■:

; i : disagreement between-two residents of Pahautitnui was disclosed in the case of Matthew Moynihan/fhotelkeeper) v.'Johii Nicol (storekeeper). Mr. M'Grath appeared for plaintiff, and Mr. Brandon, jun.,.for. defendant.:!. ■ ... •. :■,>..■;■■ Plaintiff olaimedHh'at, under his memorandum of lease from the defendant, he was entitled to "quiet possession" of the Pahaotahui'--•Hotel.'-'"; Ho alleged that-on January : 2B,' defendant .wrongfully and in , an', aggravating, and'.insulting - manner en-' j teretf. on the- premises ■ and.'.torcihly : took possession of. about "30, : sheets or.iroh, "to the quiet nee arid possession of which' the plaintiff was at .the time'entitled." The claim, was for: £l- 10s. (value of the iron) and JBIO (6peoial damages for trespass and: wrongful entry).-. :• ■"'■■'■'.■.- The magistrate: hoard - evidence, \ and gave judgment, for defendant, whom he allowed-'.&!<ls. costs.'' - : ' :'; A PHOTOGRAPHER'S CLAIM. Reserved judgment, was delivered in iho case'of Loins Darroux, photographer, of Wellington, v. Charles Harper, commission agent, of Mr. Dix appeared for'■ plainiiff, ; and Mr.": Toung for defendant. Defendant had been authorised by one Edward- George Pulton, of Potone, to pay. plaintiff .:<Bi9, out, of moneys received by. defendant v from "mortgage moneys advanced on the security of a' house at LoiwrHutt. It was nllegod that defendant had declined to "pay the amount of . thoorder to plaintiff.'- ■:,'■' .'' ,' Tho.-magistrate held that the: document sued on -wosnot a:bi]l of'exchange, and ■had- hot been accepted as euoh,'and also ' .that plaintiff, had failed to show, .that . the condition oh which defendant" had agreed to pay certain moneys to plaintiff had not been fulfilled. Plaintiff would bo nonsuited.

' THE .DEFAULT CASES. . • •Judgment was given'fbr plaintiffs,by default in the following civil cases:— William. Ryan v. Fred. Montague, for .£2B, and £2 165.-costs; Palmer Engineering Coy., Ltd. (in liquidation) y. ,Ei Benson, for'*!' Is. 3d., and 10s..costs; &..' b; Fownos v. Robert Howard '-Taylor, for -£3 Bs. fid., and. 10s. '.costs;-. Elizabeth. Armstrong v.' Smedly .Hedgmnd, for ;£3 8s„ and 13s. costs; Kirkcaldio and : Stains, ;Ltd. v. Mrs. Eliza' Lee,, for,;4a-'55,:3d,,; and £1 3s. (id. costs j same v.. James Harris, for £3 175.. 7d.;.:.and': 10s.- costs; Vhounm Oil Coy. Proprietary v; Scllwood and M'Millan, for' .£lO Ms.■ 3d., and 10s. Cd.-- costs; Barber and Co. v.' John ;S; Mitchell, for' -ss.', '.nnd.-lOs..costs; 'It. and W..Young''- v. Syd.' Evans,,for Bs. 6d., Us. costs; Solomon.Hyam. .-Myers, John Myers, and Philip Myers v. •William Graham Walker, for .£2 155., and 10s; costs; Wellington Hospital : Contributors v. Frederick Henry Mayer, .for £t 135., and 'ss. costs;: same 'v: Robert Dowthwaite, for. lis.,' and 55.. costs; ,same v. Philip M'Kbnha, for, ;£S 6s:,,and ss. costs'; sahle v., George Greeks,' for £1 '4s;, and ss. costs; "N.Z.,Times"; Co., Ltd.,v. I. Harrison," for M Bs., and 14s. costs ; Smith and Smith, Ltd. v..Charles ErnestFisher, - for. :£$ 14s.;' and £1 iOs. 6d. costs; Wellington Publishing,- Company,' Ltd. v. Dr: Edward Biickeridge;.for £3, and ss. costs;: same v: John H. Evans, ; for. £13 lis. '4d;,' and 15s. costs;'-Thomp-son Bros:,' Ltd..,v.. James Maher; for-15s:.' and ssi-costs; same y.' James.Mathew-; son, for ' 19si- ; 9d., • aiid. 55.. costs;Vsanin v. : Mrs: 'Kathleen Harrocks,' .for .Ms'., and 55.. costs; ;Johh:Batemah:iHarcpiirt..and Charles James Stanton Haiconrt' v. Frederick. F. Barber, for JE33 55., and .£2 14s. costs; Charles Hill and Sons v. Robert Jillett, ; 'for £U 125.,' and ■-. £1 ■ .I8s:> 6d. -costs.'; :...;■'. ■■.-..,■' .';..■ .-;..: ■ ~.,.:■' ..

■."■'-." JUDGMENT;SUMMONSES;'.'■:..-. ; Claiming £IQ. 15s. 6d. on a. promissory; note,-, John; Caleb :■ Trickett' jproceeded by; judgment summons' agaiiisfc Joseph'Mbl-.' loy, '.The debtor was examined 1 as.to his': means, >and the -Magistrate''refused, to makb.ahy order....:. '-;^-.,:;i.:. ; ;...:.:•;.- •In'the case of the'Anglo-Colonial Importing Co. .v.. Harry P. Evison, the debtor was' ordered' to' pay: : £i 2s. Gd. on, or-before March 3; m default: four, •days'..imprisonment.:.- .''.'..-;. .; .:. • ;Arthnr'■:• B;- Temperton was . ordered to ,pay to Henry..G.-.CJarke : the.sum.of;£l7. , 18s. lldl,.in. orvbefore.March-3,'in Hi fault 18: days'Hmprisonmcnt. v : ';..-' fi ; .;.'.- •■■■"" An order was mado that: Fred -Davies should pay .to -Robert, Andorsbn the sum of £i ■ 12s,' 6d., on \ or 'befbre'- ; March :3, in :default .48 hours'' imprisonment. . ' .In the caso of Mary; Jane Dyson 1 v. John Whitehead, tho judgment debtor was ordered .to . pay - £10 15s. .Od.,' oh oi, before March' 3,, in default :10 days' : imprison- .;-.■* ':-.,;:.'-!:- ; ,: ■'■'.;;, :.-:.o;