MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2140, 4 January 1881, Page 3

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Tuesday, January 4. [Before W. Deamer and J. E. Parker, Esqs,, J.P’s.] Dbunebnnbss. —For a first offence, a man was fined 5s and Is 6d cab hire. Labobny. —Alfred Forest, who had been discharged at the Supreme Court yesterday, ■where he was brought up committed for breaking into a house in Lyttelton, now appeared to answer a charge of stealing a pair of trousers from the shop of Charles Cooper, a tailor, of Oxford terrace, on November 4th last. Mr Joyce, who was for the prisoner, said ho pleaded guilty, although he really knew nothing about the trousers. He bad been drinking very heavily at the time of the theft, and had no recollection of what had occurred. He had been in prison two months, and Mr Joyce hoped the Bench ' would take that into consideration in dealing with the case. Mr Cooper deposed to finding prisoner in the act of taking the trousers. He appeared sober enough, but smelt strongly of beer. Mr Joyce produced a letter from Dr. Stuart, of Dunedin, giving prisoner an excellent character. He was sentenced to fourteen days’ hard labor. Civil Casbs.—Adams v Burrows, £3 18s fid. Plaintiff some time ago found a stray mare on his promises, which he advertised without finding the owner. After keeping the mare eighty-three days he took her to the Heatbcote pound, and she was afterwards old by the poundkeeper. Plaintiff claimed fid a day for her keep and the expenses of advertising. This the poundkeeper refused to pay, banding the proceeds of the sale to the Hoad Board. The magistrate said that plaintiff should have impounded the mare at first. It was an error to suppose that people bad a right to detain and sell for their own benefit strayid stock. Judgment for plaintiff with costs. Shore v Allen. Plaintiff had been at work for defendant ; had been discharged. He now claimed £2 3s fid for wages while he was waiting for payment. The Bench refused to allow the e’kim. Judgment for defendant, with costs. Compton v King, £2 10s, for labor done and trees supplied. Mr Stringer for plaintiff, Mr MeOonnel for defendant. Plaintiff, a gardener, supplied and planted some trees for defendant, of which a large i number failed to grow. The defendant re- - fused to pay until the latter had been 1 replaced. The Bench fonnd that no guarantee to replace had been given, and judgment ; was for plaintiff for £l2, Wynu v Finn, £6 ) ss, for services as nurse and general servant five weeks at 25s per week. The evidence , showed that the services had been voluntary, i and judgment was for defendano. Judgment r went for plaintiffs by default with costs in Pratt v Hollow, £5 17» j Montgomery and r Co. v Cole, £3 19s ; Jameson v Kelly, £4 4s ; Chandler v Johnston, £3 10s j Avon Boad Board v Burke, £1 12s; and George v i Bobinson, £ll.