MAGISTRATES' COURT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 229, 8 October 1879, Page 2

MAGISTRATES' COURT.

[Before 11. E. Curtis ar.d T. Mackay, Esqs , J.J.P.] Thomas Bray, a lad of ten years of age, was charged under " The Malicious Injuries to Property Act" with destroying a quick hedge in Toi Toi Valley, the property of Mr Johu Carruthers. Mr Moore appeared for the informant, and said that Mr Carruthers had lately been much annoyed by boys stealing bis fruit and flowers and destroying his property, and wi.be 1 to make an example of the defendant. The damage having been fully proved, the Bench said that there was a good deal of this kind of mischief going on, and it appeared from the evidence that in this case the boy had been actuated by spite in what he had done. As this was the first oifeuce the penalty would be made as small as possible, namely, 5h for the damage dove, £1 fine, and £1 12s costs. The defendant being unable to pay the penalty has been committed to gaol for a week. A. Kitching and Charles Walker, for breach of the City bye-laws were fined in the usual amount. Boyd v. Hunter.— Action to recover £2. the value of a ring left with the defendant for repair four years ago, and £10 damages for detention. Mr Bunny appeared for the plaintiff and Mr Moore for the defendant. Elizabeth Tabl, a resident at Tadmor, deposed to having left with the defendant in February, 187.., a ring belonging to her daughter, M.s Boyd, the wife of the plaintilf. When she first took it Huuter said the cost of repair would be 7s Od, aud thinking that was too much she did not leave it then, but brought it back ou her next visit to town. She had called several timea since but

ii v T ayß beea put off with some e^useiie had given another ring in its stead, but on taking it home they found it would not fit, and so it was returned. Ann Boyd, the wife of a miner giving at the Sherry, stated that within the 4£ years I she had been in town five times, and on each occasion had gone to the defendant for the ring, and was always told that she was to call again, as he had not had time to look it up. W. Boyd said that he had called twice for the ring, the last time being on the 10th September, when defendant said he could not flnd it, and that it was a paltry old thins; that wasn't worth calling for so often and making such a bother about. This closed the case for the plaintiff. The defence was that the ring had never been left with the defendant. Alexander Hunter said that the first be knew about it was when Mrs Boyd called three months ago. He showed her a lot of rings, and when she said it was not among them he asked Ler how long it was since it was left, and she 9aid four years ago. Mrs Pahl had never called for it. He had repaired a ring for her. Cross-examined : Mrs Pahl had never brought a ring to him and asked the price of repairing it and taken it away because the price asked waa too much. He had never given Mrs Pahl a ring to take up to her daughter. He did not remember ever having lost articles left with bim for repair. The evidence given by Mrs Pahl and Mrs Boyd was all wrong, Mary Hunter stated that the first time she saw Mrs Boyd in the shop was three months ago. Mrs Pahl had never asked her for the ring. Counsel on both sidea having addressed the Bench, judgment was given for the plaintiff for £2, the value of the ring, and cost 9, £6 9s. Eden . Patterson. — Action to recover £10 5s Bd, balance alleged to be due by defendant to plaintiff ou the sale of 1,1271b5. of hops. Mr Bunny appeared for the plaintiff and Mr Moore for the defendant. Judgment was given for the defendant, but he was ordered to pay the costs, a3 it appeared that, although he was unaware of it at the time, he had wronged the plaintiff.