A WEDDING RESENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2895, 8 September 1909, Page 13

A WEDDING RESENT.

{ CLAIM TO RECOVER PART OF THE COST. At the Magistrate's Court on the 2nd, before Mr H. Y. Widdowson, S.M., Charles Batt sought to- recover £7 from John Farrant, at one time second steward on the Moeraki, now waiter at the Grand Hotel. Mr Oallan for plaintiff and Mr Hawkins for defendant. Charles Batt said his son was married to a niece of defendant in April last year. Just upon the marriage defendant was second steward on the Mosraki. They arranged between them to give the young people a wedding present. Defendant agreed to present them with a suite of sitting room furniture, and witness agreed to give a | suite of bedroom furniture. Defendant said he would get the furniture in Melbourne, but he returned without it. Defendant then ask-e<l witness to get the sitting room suite I and charge it up to him. Witness had purchased the furniture from F. and F. Martin for £9, and the articles were sent out to the house in St. KiLda which the- young people were to occupy. Sixteen months passed, and witness received no payment. Finally defendant said he had cot the money. John Farrant, waiter at the Grand Hotel x said early in 1908 he had a conversation with plaintiff in the cabin of the Moeraki. They were the only two present. Witness had suggested giving his niece a dinner service, which he proposed buying in Melbourne. Plaintiff had said: "What about furuniture?" Witness had 6aid : " All right; get it if you like, and I'll give you my bit towards it." Witness kept his promise, and gave plaintiff £2. He had not even seen the f urnitvnre. As steward ~ for the Union Company his wages were £5 a month. Mr Oallan : Do not the passengers " remember" the stewards? — Witness: Yes, Wihen they have any complaints to make. The Magistrate: Don't you get any tips? —None. The under stewards get the tips. Were he offered a tip he would keep it.' He could not remember the magnitudle of the largest tip he ever received. It was 6iio.ii a loner rime since he got one. The Magistrate: I thought it was a very difficult thing for passengers to get out of giving tips.— Oh, no ; passengers do not tip like they used to. Besides, it's not allowed. The Union Company is trying to stamp it out. Plaintiff* was nonsuited.