THE BLUE SPUR CASE.

Evening Star, Issue 3135, 7 March 1873, Page 3

THE BLUE SPUR CASE.

The longest case ever tried in Otago, or, we believe we are correct in stating, the Colony, came to a conclusion at 7 a.m. on Wednesday. Seventeen sitting days were occupied in the trial ot the case Clayton and Co. v. Morrison and Co.—the jury returning their verdict on the morning cf the 18th day. The case would have extended much longer, but both sides did not call many witnesses they had summoned. Eleven witnesses were called for plaintiffs and fifteen for defendants —exclusive of a witness examined under commission in Victoria, The evidence was concluded on Monday, at half-past ten. Mr Barton occupied the remainder of that day in bis address to the jury, Mr Macassey commenced his reply at 10 a.m. on the following morning, and continued speaking till 1 o’clock. At 2 o’clock his Honor commenced to sum up, and concluded at a quarter to five, 'I he jury then retired to a private room in the A ictoria Hotel, there being no accommodation in the court-house. During the whole day the court-house was crowded; At 10 o’clock, the jury returned to the court house to ask his Honor a question regarding the law of support. At 12 o’clock, refreshments were supplied, and the jury locked up. At a quarter to seven o’clock the following morning, the jury, after 14 hours’ deliberation, arrived at a verdict, which his Honor received at a quarter past seven. Each day’s evidence, as‘in the Tichborne case, was specially reported and printed for counsel. The jury cost 1 204, and the total expenses of the trial will probably exceed JL.2,500. A number of law points have yet to be argued in banco, so that it will probably be some time before the case is finally concluded. The answers to the issues wete to the following effect ' That the defendants mined upon lane), contiguous to the plaintiffs’ claim, leaying the latter without sufficient giippoft and pausing it tq give way ; that at the commencement of the action they continued so to mine; that the injuries com plained of by the' plaintiffs were wholly caused by the defendants’ improper and negligent mining j that the defendants wrongfully removed from the plaintiffs' claim 19,000 cubic yards of stuff valued at L 2,375. Tuapeka Times,