FLORIST'S BILL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1833, 20 August 1913, Page 11

FLORIST'S BILL.

ECHO OF DREADNOUGHT BALL. FINANCIAL FAILURE. THE HAGGLE OVER ACCOUNTS. The payment for the floral decorations at the Citizens' Ball held in honour of the visit of H.M.S. New Zealand to Wellington. was the subject of a. civil action heard by Dr. A. M'A-rthur at the Magistrate's Court yesterday. In this ens? Eoselind Prebblo, florist, sued Mrs. Algar Janet Williams for Mi for floral decorations, carried out to tlio order of defendant. Mr. J. J. M'Grath, who represented JDiss Prebble, stated that yesterday morning Mrs. Algar Williams had paid a sum of .£55 into Court, - bait :fliis |left nil. amount of ,£9 in. dispute.-.-.-This amount was made up as followsto be taken oil the account in tho'•event, of the ball not beiing a financial' succcss arid for payment for the removal of "debris" to tho destructor. The work had been oanrietl out in April, and Miss Prebble has since been a.t a loss to understand why she had not been paid. The Florist's Evidence, Rosalind Prebblo was then called to give evidence. She stated that her fee corresponded with the amount which she had chnigwl to the Wellington, Racing Oiub for similar service. The ball wns hold on April 15, and she had visited Scoullar's (Lambton Quay) on April 11, ajul had mot Mr. anil Mrs. Algar Williams, Mr. A. E. Whyto (Wellington Raoing Chtb), and Mr. Brown (manager of Scoullar's). • The object of tlisdr visit, said plaintiff, was to endeavour to get Mr. Brown to do certain furnishing lor XSo instead of for <£100. During tho course of this little conference, tiie belioved that some suggestion had been wade that, in the evunt of the ball not proving a fimanoial success', Mr. Brown would bring his bill down to .£SS, and' she (Miss Prebble) would bring liors down to .£55. She had not agreed, but Mr'. Brown partly accepted, on condition that part of the furnishing was left out. Mr. Whyto and Mr. .Williams would not agree to -this, as they wajitod tho decorations done on "the best poi-'siblo lines." She (witness) had remarked that she wouW agreo to accept. .£6O if the Mayor or City Council arranged to mako arrangements for tho removal of the "debris"' af'tor the ball. On the following .morning she ?aw lire. Algar Williams,' who stated that a meeting of the committee had been held.on the previous evening, over which Mr. ,T. B. Harcourt had presided, and, without any demurring, Mr. Harcourt had authorised a total expenditure of .£l6O for the decorations— those to be carried ouit by herself and Sconllar and Co. Mrs. Williams then told har and Mr. Brown to "go ahead." After tlio ball, however, she had been notified by tho custodian of' the Town Hall that no arrangements had ■ bc«n ■made for tho removal of tho "debris." "Government Was Going-to. Foot the : ■ . Deficiency." She had sent in iseveral accounts, and about three months after the ball, she rang- Mrs. Williams tip regarding it. Mrs, Williams then stated, "that slio would "see into tho matter." She (witness) had been advised to seo Mr. C. Palmar (Navy League), and he had sent her to Mr.

Beauchanip-Platts, who, in turn, had direc.ted,lher,.to,sep.1her,.to,sep. Mr.. Harcourt. Mr. Harcourt' gitto" 'her to" understand that "tho Government was going to foot any deficiency." They (meaning tho ball committee) could not approacli. tho Government until after the battleship had left the Dominion. . Mr. Harcourt also told witness that he had instructed Mr. 'Whyto to givo her "something on 'account." Plaintiff then went to'see Mr. AVhyte, but he-denied all knowledge of this. Financial Deficiency on Ball. Subsequently Mr. ifarcourt had suggested that «£2O would probably bo taken oil Miss Prcbble's and Jilr. Brown's accounts, as the. cprinnittee were about. .£2OO deficient. Ho added that if she (Miss Prebble) did not".agree, "Ire would withdraw his .£5 guaraiiteo and' "throw the "affair ill the lands of the Official Assignee." He had added that Miss Prebblo. and Mr. Brown could then take what they could; possibly, they would gee only IEOs. in tho .

"Did you agroo to reduce your account then?" asked counsel.

"Not much!" roplied Miss Prebble. "Good on your, pluck!" replied counsel.

Oii one occasion she (Jtiss Prebble) Had asked Mrs. Algar Williams if she could not mako her account a preferential one, ■and shortly after this ono or two of her creditors wrote • threatening to. sue for moneys owing. Slio told Mr. Williams of this, and ho told her to seo Mr. Whyto. Slio saw Mr. AVhyte, and ho stated that ho had "nothing to do with'tho payment -of tho account. Ho asked plaintiff to acccpt iESS in settlement, and added that t?he "had agreed to take .655 in the event of tho ball being- a financial failure-." Plaintiff denied this. What Amounts Were Agreed On? George Fair Brown,' manager for Messrs. Sconllar and Co., stated that he remembered an interview at which Mrs. Algar Williams, Miss Prebble, and. himself were present. . Ho .agreed to' do the deoorations lor JJIOOj and to reduce,!the.amount by 5 per cent, for a cash transaction. Ho had not been paid yet. Ho was asked to feduco tho amount of his estimate, and lie. suggested that the scheme of decoration should be raiuccd instead, but they wanted-the same scheme and a .reduction in price. As ho had not yet been paid, ho etill considered. that the -CIOO was duo to his firm. A suggestion \vas mado for a reduction of Miss Prebble's account. He took it that tho amount agreed to was .£95 for his firm, and i'Bs for Miss Prebble. Mr. Whyto had told him he could look to him for tho payment of his firm's account. At tho interview it was stated that tho committee had only authority to expend Xi2s <Si decorations. It was alio stated by Jlr. Whyto that both Scoullar's- and Miss Prebble's accounts were higher than they generally were for decorations for the acing Club's balls. A suggestion, was made, but not agreed to, that if tho ball was not a success, Scoullar's account should be reduced by Xl 5, but witniss thought tho suggestion-was; made in jest. "All tho Guarantors Had-Been Called on." Arthur Edward Wliyts, secretary-of. tho Wellington Racing .Club,, was called for the defence.' llo'stated thai he had becu asked to come. to. ScoitLlar's office to meot Jlr. Brosvn and. Miss Prebblo, as their prices for decorations wero "exorbitant." this conferenco it was decided that Sconllar and Co. should receive J;BS, m tho event of tho guarantors being called upon, aud Miss Prebble .155, Hut if the ball was a success the accounts should be

paid in full. The ball treasurer liad resigned, and. Mr. Harcourt t.irae to his office and laid the accounts there. All the guarantors had been callcd upc-n to pay up, and liad done so. On resuming after luncheon, Mr. Whyte stated inter alia that the ilornl decorations Mere "far below those of other balls." He had also been under the impression .'hot ihs Government would foot the bill. 'Lhe (.Joverninent gave a donation of .£SO, and the c. mlnitteo had a deficiency of .£2OO. Evidence of Mr. Algar Williams. • Algar Tomplo Williams, khnrebroker, staled that, the final arrangement, conio to, was that Sooulliir.i should set .£IOO if the ball was a iinnnci.il success, end J:S."> if otherwise. In tho same wanner plaintiff should get £05 or .£55. in reply lo Mr. M'Grath, witness stated that, be "knew for a positive fart thai .Miss I'rebble did agree to reduce her account. Mrs. Williams to be Called. . His Worship made an order that tho amount paid ink) court by the defendant be paid over to tho plaintiff. The caso was adjourned siuo die. .Wt&a J

it comes on again the evidence of Mrs. Algav Williams will be taken. OTHER CASES. JUDGMENTS 'BY DEFAULT, Judgment for plaintiff by default of defendant wn» given byj)r. j'rArtliur, 8.M., ill the following ens-as yesterday morning: —M'liregor and Jamie-oil v. 'Mary Jane Toms, .fc"> costs 25». (id.; Onslow Borough Council v. J. \Y. Hickman, 85. Ud., costs 75.; \V. Booth and (.'O., Ltd., v. John \Y. Thompson. .1:2 lis. 5d., costs 10s.; James Smith, Ltd., v. Alliert Jury, £3 17s. lid. costs 10s.; Jerusalem aiul Co., I Ad., v. A'. W. Stanley, .EG lis., costs 235. Oil.; A. W. Izard v. Mrs. Kate Thomas, .I'l Is., costs 55.; same v. David Le Comte, JC2 -s., costs 10s.; Wellington Plumbers' and Gas-fitters' Union v. Robert lioss, costs as. Judgment Debtors. David M. Owens was ordered to pay I!. Martin, Ltd., JEI9 .'is. 7d. before Sei>tember 2, in default H days' imprisonment; John It, Welsby to pay Thomas Ward JJ2O 6s, Gd. before September 2; To Ileuheu Tukino to pay Henry Fortune .£0 'Ss -d .before September 9; 11, Walkwau was ordered to pay Herman Hermann .C 5 lis. in monthly /"instalments of 10s.; Georgo Bevun was ordered io pay G. 31. Banks, Ltd., J23 13s. Gd., before September 2. A Lawyer Sues. J. J. M'Grath, of the firm of M'Gratli and Willis, solicitors, Wellington, sued T. Clarkson, late manager of the "Gisborne Times" Company; for .iil lis. Gd., for professional services rendered. After hearing evidence his Worship cave judgment for plaintiff for the lull amount. Mr. Fitzgi bbon appeared for the plaintiff and Mr. P. l'\ Newman for the defendant. Police Cases. Wm. Sullivan pleaded guilty to a charge of theft of a bundle of flannels, valued at 2is., the property of Green and Davis. Accused was fined 305., in default seven days' imprisonment. For insobriety Wm. M'Donald was fined 205., in default three days' imprisonment. Four first-offenders similarly charged were convicted and discharged.