RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4383, 7 April 1875, Page 3

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Tuesday, Aprip 6. (Before J. C. Crawford, Esq., R.M.) PROVOCATIVE LANGUAGE. Patrick McCafferty charged Robert Taylor with having used language towards him provocative of a breach of the peace. The parties to the action are well-known—the former being “ Licensed porter, No. 1,” and the latter an express driver—and have “ many a time and oft,” by their vagaries, beguiled the tedium of the numerous loungers who make the Pier Hotel corner their rendezvous. McCafferty told his Worship that Taylor had “ made a regular set at him,” running him “ like a hare,” and had called him “ dog informer,” and other equally unpleasant epithets. He made a point of incessantly hooting and jeering him, till he could stand it no longer, and he asked that it might be put a stop to. Defendant did not deny the charge, but avowed that anything he had said or done to McCafferty was simply in a chaffing spirit, and that it was a common occurrence for them both to indulge in a little goodhumored banter. Now that he aware the fun was annoying to plaintiff, he would abstain from indulging in .it. Sergeant Monaghan, stated that Taylor was addicted to drink, and at times was a very obnoxious character. The information was dismissed, but his Worship impressed Taylor with the fact that if he again appeared similarly charged he would probably be bound over to keep the peace. CIVIL CASES. Hancock v. Moran.—This was a claim of £S, for damage inflicted to plaintiff’s horse, and loss of time, caused by defendant’s unskilful horsemanship. The plaintiff deposed that he had agreed to let the defendant, who is a local preacher, have his 'horse on Sundays at the rate of 2s. per day, and that defendant had expressed his willingness to be responsible for the return of the animal in good condition. On March 28 Moran was proceeding to Karori to preach, and by his unskilful management he had allowed the horse to fall, breaking its knees and inflicting other damages on it. He valued the horse at £2O ; it was a noted one on the beach, and its value had suffered depreciation since Moran had hired it of him. A wood carver, named Bath, who professed to be a judge of horsemanship and horses, stated that he had seen Moran en route to Karori. He considered him a very indifferent rider, and among other instructions he had informed defendant that the horse would surely fall if its head were not held up. The defendant, on affirmation, denied his inability as a rider. He had ridden the animal to Karori and back several times successfully, and the accident was not attributable to his unskilfuluess, but to a nail which had been improperly placed in the animal’s foot, and which made it stumble when it came in contact with a stone. The magistrate, having examined the animal, said he thought it would be unreasonable to award £6, which would be equal to the whole value of the horse. He halved the amount claimed, allowing £3 for damage and £1 for loss of time, execution to be deferred for a month. Nash v. Clayton.—Claim, £SO, for damage to plaintiff's cab, which was smashed on Friday night last by defendant whilst intoxicated. Mr. Allan appeared for Clayton, and confessed judgment, handing in a cheque for the amount. There were several other civil cases, in which judgment went by default.