RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2160, 8 April 1870, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

This Day. (Before A. C. Strode, Esq., R.M.) Civil Cases, J. Leckie v. R. Hood.—L37 10s, for fencing. Judgment by default. Nicholls v. Green, Foster v. Campbell, and Marland v. Watts, were dismissed for nonappearance. A. and J. Macfarlane v. S. Crafts.—L7l, amount of a dishonored acceptance accepted by defendant. Judgment by default. George Thomson v. James Stevenson, was a claim for L 29 4s fid for wages, and damages for wrongful dismissal. Mr Barton, instructed by Mr Sievwright, appeared for tbe plaintiff; and Mr Harris few the defendant. According to the plaintiffs account, in January last he was engaged by the defendant, a farmer at the Taieri, as farm servant for six months, at the rate of LI per week — he stipulating at the time that he was to have three days during that time for himself. He worked for over nine weeks, when he was dismissed without any reason being given. For the defence the defendant and his wife were called, who stated that the engagement was for six mouths, but that it ■was agreed that it should be terminable at the end of harvest, if either party should be dissatisfied with the other. During the time plaintiff was in their service they had occasion to find fault with him, because he was absent from work and the farm without Rave; because he did not attend to the pigs, as was his duty, and because he was insolent. For these reasons defendant decided to avail himself of the power to terminate the agreement. All the allegations made by the defendant were flatly contradicted by the plaintiff in his evidence. The Magistrate said that the weight of evidence was in favor of the defendant. The engagement, as related by the latter, was a perfectly legal and proper one, although it placed great power in the hands of the master. Judgment for plaintiff, L 9 4s and costs.

Everett v. Potter was a claim for L 3 Bs, for wages. Judgment for the amount and costs.