RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5530, 17 December 1878, Page 3

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Monday, December 10. (Before T. A. Mansford, Esq., K.M.) DRUNKENNESS. One offender was dealt with in the usual manner. LARCENY. Phoebe Butler, aged 14, was charged with stealing a dress and a hat and feather, the property of Mrs. Halting* Snow. On account of the prisoners youth, fch>' charge was withdrawn, his Worship intimating that there were some ladies who would take charge of the girl and endeavor to break her off her love of dress, which appeared to have led her into the commission of tbe present offence. The accused was discharged accordingly. CIVIL CASES. In the adjourned case <»£ Guthrie v. Howard, to recover damages through plaintiff’s son having been bitten by defendant’s dog, the summons was withdrawn, in.order that a fresh action might be brought against the defendant's son, who was alleged to be the owner of the dog. Mr. Fitz Gerald appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Travers, sen., for the defendant. Blake*v. Sellers.—ln this case Mr. Mansford, in giving judgment, arid be was of opinion that the injury sustained by the plaintiff was caused by a rocket fired from the ship Zealaudia. He enterbaiued considerable doubt whether the action was properly brought solely against the defendant as master of the Zealandia, and he thought it would have been better had tbe owners been joined as defendants, and on this point would probably have non-suited the plaintiff were it not that the defendant was about to leave the colony immediately. It would bo unjust to deprive the plaintiff of hi* remedy by such a course, and the defendant would have no difficulty in appealing, should he ba advised i-o to do. His Worship gave judgment fur the plaintiff for £SO, and £l4 2s. costs. Judgments for the plaintiffs, with costs, were also given in the following cases :—J. P. Johnson v, H. Duncan, £6 9s, judgment summons; ordered to pay 10s a week, or six weeks’ imprisonment. John Carr v.J Simpson, £3 17a., judgment summons ; ordered to pay 15s. a week, or three weeks’ imprisonment. W. Clark v. E, Cheshire, £9 3s. 9d. Colonial Bank, v, J. Gilchrist, £2O. 11. Ololand v. W. Oallam. £7 15s. 10d; Zuhrab and Co. v. G. Wilson, £l2 15*. Ud.