Patea R.M. Court.

Patea Mail, 2 April 1881, Page 3

Patea R.M. Court.

Tuesday, before Mr C. A. Wray, R.M. CIVIL CASES. Black v. Carroll was a claim for £5 12s, advertising &c. prior to April last. Judgment for amount, with costs. Black v. W. S. Cobhara was a similar case, the defendant being formerly at Waverley, now at Featherston. Jlulgment for £1 6s 2d, part of amount, the other portion having been paid. Whelan v. Edwin Hills, Patea, Avas a claim in which judgment had been given for £5 Ss 3d, but defendant had paid nothing. Plaintiff stated he knew Hills had received various sums lately for work done. Hills did not appear. Ordered to pay amount within fourteen days, or one month’s imprisonment.

Taplin v. Forster, A.C., lately at Patea, was a claim for £ls 16s 6d. Defendant did not appear. Judgment for amount) Avith costs.

11. Mahaffy v. 11. Slattery was a claim for Avrongful detention of a horse. Mr Hamcrton Avas for plaintiff. It appeared Mahaffy and George Lynch were Avorking in apparent partnership in some tilings. Lynch lent a young horse to Slattery to break in to harness. The horse Avas put in Slattery’s paddock, but the gate being left open the horse got out, and had not been seen since. Slattery said lie Avas to have nothing for breaking in the horse, and ought not to he held responsible for the loss. Mahaffy now sued for the value of the horse or its return. Slattery denied that Mahaffy had been concerned in the transaction ; but Mahaffy said he Avas the real owner, and produced a receipt showing that the horse had been sold to him by McKittrick some time before Lynch lent the horse to Slattery. Lynch was not called for the defence. Slattery contended it, had not been slioavu that this Avas the same horse as that described in the receipt, and said the horse lent to him Avas Lynch’s. The Magistrate said he Avas satisfied this Avas the same horse, from the evidence of Mr Mcßae and defendant’s oavh admissions. If evidence could he obtained to slioav Lynch Avas the oAvner of the horse, a rehearing on that Avould he granted. Judgment for plaintiff for £2O, the value of horse and time lost in looking after it; with one month to pay in, or restore the horse.