DISTRICT COURT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 193, 12 August 1878, Page 2

DISTRICT COURT.

[Before His Honor Judge Broad.] Kobert Eden v. Patterson. This case was tried by a jury consisting of Alfred Amos (foreman), J. Armstrong, W. Armstrong, and C. Andrews. The action was brought to recover £43 lls 2d for five bales of hops alleged to have been sold and delivered by the plaintiff to the defendant. The defence was ti>at the hop 3 were delivered by the plaintiff to the defendant for sale on the plaintiff's behalf on commission, and that they had not yet been sold, and further that their sale had been prevented by the plaintiff's negligence in not forwarding them in proper time. Mr Acton Adams appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr Pitt for the defendant. The evidence, which was very contradictory, occupied until half-past two, after which counsel addressed the jury, and his ' Honor summed up. The jury retired shortly before four o'clock, and after twenty minutes deliberation returned with a verdict for the defendant with, costs £4 2s.

Some feathers were sold in. the Port Elizabeth market, at the Cape, the other day at £60 per lb. When H.M.S. was here last one of her Jack tars came aboard at night after unlimited leave of absence iv a state of jovial intoxication. He was accosted by the officer in charge who happened to be a gentleman more remarkable for bullying propensities than brains. "You're drnnk, sir," said Lieutenant . " I know I'm drunk," replied Jack. " but I shall get over that— As tor you," he continued, eyeing his superior with beery contempt— "You're a fool, and you'll never get over that." Strange to say the officer never reported the man, but the story leaked out somehow.— Auckland Star. A curious case (says < the N.Z. Sun) was heard at the Christchurch Eesident Magistrate's Court a few days ago. It appeared that a young man entered an auction room, while a musical box was being offered for sale. He bid 30s, and At that price it was knocked down to him. He tendered a £10 note and to his astonishment received £1 in exchange. On demanding au explanation, he was iuformed that the box was sold "at per tune," and that as it played six tunes, the price was £9. He then sued to recover the difference. Counsel was employed on each side, and it was contended on the one hand that the box was sold in the recognised manner, at so much per tune, and subject to conditions of sale ; on the other hand that the money having been paid under a mistake of fact was recoverable. Judgment was giyen against the auctioneer by Captain Mellish, the R.M., whose (jecisjon will he appealed against.

It is understood (says the Chronicle) that after the close of the pressent session Mr P. pignafl #jH tesijin his seat for Auckland City We/jt, tfh'en 1 he. wilt be appointed to n scat in the LegisMife Cou'ncii. .There is no : truth in the rumor tHrifc, Mr Buffi! iV to 1 grace j the Colonial House 6E LoMs. • | .. ,The poverntuent have introduced a bill Ui J pixtyjejghi clauses to .nreyent corrupt pr.icticeS^at elections. The short tii!le of the Rill is " Assume a virtue ii *o« have it not."— Ch'onicle. We should say that no one envies the position of the telegraphist at the Bealey, the highest point on the road between Christchurch and Ilolcitika. At the station he is in charge of the thermometer at nrid-dayjhas often stood at 21deg. in the shade, and at night it goes down occasionally to 4deg, below tern. lima da Mnrskft has just been led to the hyuienni aitaf foT the seventh time. The victim on this occasion Is a wealthy Nevada miner. Robert $[. Hurlbut, private secretary of Governor Bishop of Ohio, has fust had his tongue amputated near the root The chin was sawed in twain nud the Jaws spread apart in order to take out tlie diseased tongue. The work was performed iv a comparatively short space of time, and the patient was comfortable and conscious in loss than an hour. Next day Mr Hiirlbut walked across the room, and wrole his wants on a bit of paper. He is not permitted to attempt to speak, and, of course, could not do so if he desired. The physican thinks he will be able to articulate in course of time. Thus far the difficulty has been to give nourishment, which has been done by injection. Glass tubes have been secured, and hereafter nourishment will be given by that means iintil Hie aoreness in the mouth is somewhat subdued. A very successful experiment has just been made m Dunedin, viz., the production of an opera with full stage accessories and costume by an amateur company. The Dunedin amateurs have achieved a most triumphant success in the recent performance of •' Maritana," which they repeated three times, in each case to overflowing houses, generously giving the proceeds of the fourth perforto the Benevolent Institution. They had the great and double advantage of being drilled by that old Wellington favorite, Signor CarminiMorley, whom originated the idea, and who is perhaps without a colonial equal as a singing instructor, and also in having that gentleman himself as their ienore prhw. As to the audiences, a Dunedin letter says : — " The house on the first night was crowded to excess, hundreds being turned away from all parts of the theatre. On the second night the audience were clamouring for admission before 7 o'clock, and the doors had to be closed long before 8, a similar rush taking place on the third night. Such a ' hit' has never yet been seen in Dunedin, and it shows that although the idea was ridiculed at first, it was quite practicable. Signor Morley's amateur company also gave the last act of ' Lucia,' and now have ' II Trovatore' in re- | hcarsal." The Dunedin papers give voluminous and most laudatory accounts of the performances. It is a singular coincidence that the death of Victor Emmanuel, King of Italy, took place on the same day of the same month as j that on which Louis Napoleon, the Emperor j of the French, died at Chiselhurst.