DISTRICT COURT.

Patea Mail, 17 May 1881, Page 3

DISTRICT COURT.

Monday, before Judge Hardcastlo, M’LEAN v. COUNTY COUNCIL. Two civil actions brought by Mr McLean, contractor, against the Patea County Council for balance due under two contracts for work done on the Mountain road, were set down for hearing to-day. Jurors were in attendance, 24 having been summoned, out of whom four could be selected as a special jury. Mr H. E. P. Adams, who appeared for plaintiff, said that Mr Stafford, who had the conduct of the case, had gone up the Mountain road that day to inspect the ground in dispute. The steamer Manawatu had the plaintiff and party on board last Friday', but had to put back to Wellington to escape the gale in the Strait. It had then been arranged between plaintiff’s and defendants’ solicitors, by telegraph, to have the case postponed till Tuesday. The plaintiff and party did, however, reach Patea on Sunday night, but as some witnesses had been instructed not to attend till Tuesday', it was still impracticable to open the case till then, and he now asked for its adjournment. The plaintiff had agreed to pay expenses of adjournment. Mr Hamerton, who appeared for defendants, said he had agreed to the proposed adjournment. It was to be regretted that the jury should have been called here three times on these cases.

Judge : It is to be hoped you will be ready to-morrow, because the convenience of jurors must be consulted. Let the cases be adjourned till Tuesday at 11 a.m. Six jurors out of 24 were then chosen by the process of each side striking off a name alternately till the list was reduced to six. Four of these will be chosen by ballot as the jury, when the case comes on.