RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Evening Star, Issue 3843, 18 June 1875, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

(Before J. Bathgate, Esq., R.M.) Friday, June 18. CIVIL OASES. Judgment was given by default in the following casesA. and T. Burt v. A. Muir (Christchurch), claim LI 3s 6d, for repairs done ; W. Taggart y. D. M'Crae, claim LlOmoney lent Lo Bs, livery for six horses L 3 12s ; M'George (Black, Thomson, and Co.) v. W. Hilton, claim L2O Is 6d, for goods supplied. Halfway Bush Road Board v. D. Mackenzie.—Claim L2l2s 6d for rates. Mr Stout appeared for plaintiffs; Mr Harris for defendant, who pleaded non-liability, as the property was not his own.—W. Taylor schoolmaster, said he rented the house on the land in question from defendant in 1873. J. Walden said that during 1874 defendant had cattle running on the land, which was unfenced.—W. Johnson, clerk to the plaintiffs, said that when he asked defendant to whom the property belonged the latter told him to a person living in Castle street. Witness had endeavored to find the said person, but could not do so.—For the defence, Mr Barns said the property belonged to some orphan children whom defendant had brought up, fed, and clothed since their parents died some years ago. Defendant had not occupied the land or received any benefit from it beyond Mr Taylor’s paying him L 5 rent for one year. He had certainly a few head of cattle running on a sort of common adjoining and on this property, and other residents used it for a similar One of the children to whom it belonged was in service at Mr M'Kellar’s, in Vt 8 r ? treet > whither defendant had directed Mr Johnson.—ln cross-examination by Mr Stoul, defendant admitted that he had cropped the land for seven or eight years. Judgment was given for plaintiffs, with costs. Wallace v. Monteith.—Claim L 34, for meat supplied. Mr Aldridge appeared for plaintiff ; Mr Cook for defendant, who paid L3O Is 9d into Court, and disputed the balance as an overcharge —Plaintiff stated that he used to charge defendant 3£d per lb. for beef and mutton up till last April, but on the 9th of

th ß t month witness told him, in the Empire Hotel that meat had risen, and that he should 4d ,Ff r lb - Defendant reThat be blowed.' to which witness said nothing. -James Wallace, plaintiff’s son, said in the first week of April he told defendant that he would in future be charged 4d per lb.—Defendant stated that he kept a boa ding-house, and had for some months dealt with plaintiff, r »nmng monthly accounts. When he met plaintiff at the Empire they a cohversation as to the probable price for the month, but plaintiff did not give witness a decided answer. It was in the middle of April that plaintiff’s son told witness of the nse in price.—A witness named Leckie deposed to hearing plaintiff and defendant talking outside the Empire about the future pnee to be charged by the former for meat ■— defendant wanting it~ reduced to 3d per lb. and plaintiff saying he could not do so. A bystander remarked that they had better toss up.-His Worship said there was a conflict of testimony in the case, but, looking at the current price charged by other butchers, the presumption was injfavor of plaintiff. Judgment for plaintiff for amount claimed, with costs. [Left sitting.]