DOGS LEFT IN HOUSE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 651, 1 May 1929, Page 1

DOGS LEFT IN HOUSE

DAMAGES AGAINST MUSIC CONDUCTOR “UNTENANTLIKE TENANT” The damage done to a £2,000 house at Epsom, when dogs had been shut up in it without food, was stressed bycounsel for plaintiff at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday when Maurice Guttridge, music conductor, recently of Auckland, was sued for £62 4s 6d by G. W. Crocombe, architect, of Auckland (Mr. Schramm). Claims were made for £sl 5s 6d as damages, £7 17s 6d as overdue rent, and £3 Is 6d, the amount of water rates paid by Crocombe for Guttridge. There was no appearance of defendant, but it was said that he was believed to be in Wellington or Dunedin. For Mr. Crocombe, Mr. F. W. Schramm outlined the events that had led to plaintiff's claims. Guttridge, in February, 3928, rented from him a house situated at the corner of and Manukau Roads, Epsom, at a weekly rental of £2 12s 6d. Of that rent, three weeks remained unpaid, defendant having paid nothing from February, 1929, to March. “Guttridge left the house in a filthy condition,” continued counsel. Three rooms had to be completely repapered, as the paper was dirty and had been torn by the dogs. The whole place had to be fumigated and properly cleansed. Mr. Crocombe had been unable to let it for some time after defendant had removed. Besides the filthy state in which the house was discovered, a tap had also been left running. This was not found out until a week afterwards, and plaintiff was billed for the water rates. The actual damage done to the house was estimated at £sl 5s 6d, including repapering of the rooms. Repairing an electric stove which was said to have been left in a filthy’ state cost another £lO 10s, and a similar sum was said to have been lost by plaintiff through his inability to let the house until some time after his “untenantlike tenant” had vacated it. Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M., gave judgment for plaintiff for the full amount. Defendant was also ordered to pay Court costs £2 10s, witnesses’ expenses 15s and solicitor’s fee.