CLAIM AND COUNTER.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXII, Issue 4327, 7 October 1921, Page 2

CLAIM AND COUNTER.

AA AWAIT! FAHM. A special sitting pf! the Paeroa S'.M. Court was held tq-day, to deal with the adjourned case of Alice Elizabeth Hewitt, of Waikino, versus John- Gibson Dickson, Awaiti,. claim £l2B- 4s, rent of section 33 Awai'ti, from Ist February, 1919, to 30th April, 1921. making 116 weeks at 22/- per week. There was a countei- claim of £l7O for services rendered by defendant as. plaintiff’s farm manager. Owing to the defendant not putting in an appearance the counter-claim was withdrawn temporarily. Mr E. W. Porritt appeared for plain■tiff, and Mr E. J. Clendpn for the defendant. Mrs Alice Elizabeth Hewitt, plaintiff in the case, testified that she had carried out all of her part of the bargain, having spent £3lO in improvements, though she had stipulated to spend only £2OO. She had secured exemption from residence. To Mr Clendon: Witness had secured permission from the Lanl Board to put a party to live on the place, and 22/- per week was the agreed rent to her brother. She denied that there was any agreement to pay Dickson for work done on the farm. Dickson was in charge pf the place, bu,t she did not ask him to do labour. She did not expect him to work for nothing ; he had the farm at half its rental value.

To Mr Porritt: Defendant had been agent for a milking machine company, and caused his absence from the place occasionally. Defendant’s wife and family lived on the place, having no other place to live on. Mr C'lendon askpd plaintiff to make some compromise on the counterclaim, in consideration of the work done by defendant. Plaintiff would not agree to this, unless defendant paid £2 per week rent, instead of the Government rental of 22s per week. Mr Clendon agreed to the 22s rental, and judgment was given for plaintiff by consent, for the full amount, £l2B 4s, with costs. £l6 12s lOd.