A WAIKATO RACING CASE.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 59, 19 July 1884, Page 7

A WAIKATO RACING CASE.

At the Cambridge Court on the 11 tli iust. nn interesting case, Brindle v. Bnekland ami «thers, was heard, showing tie non-responsibility of t-tewunls •ami officer* for payment ot stakes. MiDyer was forth? plaintiff, and Mr Hay for the defen hints. The plaintiff ciaimed £9 10s, the amount of stakes won at the Piako Turf Club Eaces, on %!»o 30th x)f November last, by his horse Robert the Devil, fhe plaintiff state<l th it he had applied for tue money to tne Secretaiy of the club, Mr George Vmith, of Morrinsville, wUo ll!ul Mi ' 1 tlie ttioneys should be paid when the nice subscriptions wove g«>t iv. Messrs Buck-}.-tnd, Evans, Turnbiil), and Bfeakell were iiovv summoned as stewards, but each w icn swoin stated that their tiames were placed on the list of stewards without their consent, and in their absence. Plaintiff admitted in cross-examination tliat he could not swear that any of t\\e defendants were stewards, and no such -evidence was adduced by the plaintiff's solicitor. A letter was produced by the latter from the Secretary of the club stating he could not get the subscriptions in or he w -uld settle the claim. Mr Buck land deposed that the duties of race stewaids were simply to see that the horses are run on their merits and to settle disputes. Mr Hay argued there was no case. No contract between defendants and plaintiff had been put in, no rules produced, nor the evidence of the starter, secretary, or judge brought forward. He quoted autiioriities to sho-v that even had the defendants been proved to be the stewards they were not liable) not being the stakeholders, and that even the stakeholder himself was personally not liable for the stakes until he had himself received possession of the money. Judgment WOS given for the defendants with oosts, £8 3s.— Herald.