RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5534, 21 December 1878, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Thursday, Decembeb 19. (Before T. A. Mansford, Esq., R.M.) CIVIL OASES.

Baird v. T. K. Macdonald and Co.—Claim £3O, money paid to the defendant, as agent for E. Sheehan, as a deposit on a house at Clyde-quay. Mr. Sievwright appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Edwards for the defendant.

From the evidence it appeared that after the deposit had been paid plaintiff discovered that the house had been built on a public road, and consequently refused to complete the purchase, and demanded his deposit. The chief point raised was whether an agent in the case of a private sale is bound to detain the deposit. His Worship reserved judgment. Judgments for the plaintiffs were given in the following cases :—C. Mclntyre v. D. Nicholas, claim £l2 10s.; George Guthrie v. Mrs. Chas. Howard, claim £ls. This case had been adjourned from last week, and was an action for damages through the bite from a dog. Judgment was given for the full amount, and £5 12a. costs. K. J. Duncan v. Morton Quin, claim £B2 lis. lid. on two promissory notes. Alexander Dimant v. Wm. Walker, claim £1 lis, 3d.; C. Mclntyre v. N. Lowzine, claim £6 16s. Bd.; same v. Friend, claim 10s. I0d.; Colonial Bank v. W. J. Pallant, claim £SO (dishonored promissory note.) Friday, December 20. (Before T. A. Mansford, Esq., R.M.) FORGERY. George Smith, alias Webb, on remand, was charged with uttering a forged cheque. David Smith, a farmer, in whose employ prisoner had been, stated that he (witness) always paid prisoner in cash, and never by cheque. The signature to the cheque produced was not in witness's handwriting. Prisoner, on being asked, said he had nothing to say, and he was committed for trial. Bail was allowed as follows : Prisoner in £SO, and two sureties of £25 each. FAMILY BRAWLS. W. J. Dark was summoned by his wife to show causo why a married woman's protection order should not issue. Complainant deposed that her husband had frequently beaten her with his stick. She had threo young children, the eldest being only five years old. The order was granted, and defendant was directed to pay 255. a week towards the support of his children. Defendant then stated that his wife was frequently the worse for liquor. On one occasion Bhe tried to hang herself, and he had to cut her down to save her life. Another time she obtained a three gallon keg of brandy and drank herself mad, and then set fire to the house. She subsequently beat him about the head with a pair of boots, and threatened to cut his heart out. All this took place when they were liviog at Blenheim. He then came to Wellington with the hopes of earning sufficient to keep his children, but his wife still continued to dissipate. Only last week sho struck him with a Btick. He said he would be very glad to separate from her, but he could not afford to pay 255. a week, as he had other children to provide for by his first wife. His Worship then reduced the amount to 20a. a week, and fixed the 10th of January for the hearing of further evidence, and cautioned defendant that unless she could disprove the statements made by her husband it would be the worse for her.