RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 237, 27 January 1860, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Wednesday, January 25,1880. Before J. Poynter, Esq. R.M. and R. K. Newcome , Esq., J.F. G. Hooper and Co. v. Jos. Parker and Croucher. —This was to recover ,£lO 2s. 6d. on a bill of exchange drawn by Jos. Parker upon Croucher. The summons was withdrawn in consequence of having included both names instead of one only. Elizabeth Estoourt v. L. Hargreaves.—Action to recover J4 103. balance of account. E. Estcourt sworn: I paid a sum of .£lO to defendant on the 11th of April last; I asked for a receipt, but he said he would bring it when he brought the remainder of the furniture, he was a neighbour, and wouldn't wrong me; I paid it in one £10 note, he said he had no change, but would be more than £<k in my debt, and he said he would let it be until he sent in the furniture; this was on a Monday, I think; I made a memorandum the same day in the book I now produce. Cross-examined by Mr. Kiugdon: after he brought the furniture to the house he said he would work out the remainder. Lawrence Hargreaves sworn: I never rendered my account to the plaintiff; about 5 months ago I gave the particulars by word of mouth, and Mrs. Estcourt wrote them down in the book produced ; on April 12 the' charged I did not receive; plaintiff gave me a£s note on that date; no conversation took place at that time about working out the remainder in the house, the house was not thought of at that time; on the day I received the £5 I entered it in the book produced, on one occasion she offered me a pound, saying that I had not paid myself for what I had done; at no time between the 12th of April up to the time when my brother took out the summons against Mrs. Estcourt, did she ever claim anything from me. Mrs. Hargreaves sworn : I received some monies from Mrs. Estcourt on account of my son. I know he got paid for the bedstead oh the 11th April, after that she offered me some money for footstools made by him. At the end of November she gave me £1 for my son, he would only take 55., and I took over the 15s. to her, this was long before there was anything disagreeable between us. Judgment for plaintiff for £2 55., costs divided. E. Snow v. C. L. Mason.—For £2 10s. Verdict for plaintiff, to be paid in a week. J. Levien and Co. v. J. Leggatt.—For £9 11s. lid. The defendant admitted the account and said that he had been so much pressed by his creditors that he had been compelled to make an assignment of his property to them. Verdict for plaintiff for the amount. King and Goodman v. G. S. Fleming.—For £5 Bs.

C. King sworn: This action is to recover an acceptance given by defendant ; that is the defendant's handwriting. It has been presented at the bank, but there were no funds. I have seen him since ; he has promised repeatedly for the past 2 months, but never paid anything. Judgment for plaintiff.

Stoke Library.—A public meeting was held in the Stoke School Room, on Thursday evening, January 19th, for the purpose of enrolling members, receiving subscriptions, auditing the accounts, and electing a fresh committee for the present year. Mr. Holland presided on the occasion, but the attendance, we are sorry to say, was not good, owing somewhat to the busy season of the year, but chiefly from a want of interest on the part of the majority of the inhabitants. According to the report, the "library waa established in April, 1858, and the amount of money obtained from that time to the end of the past year, was £45 9s. Bd., namely, J37 16s. Bd. in two grants from Government, and £7 13s. from donations and subscriptions. The manner in which the money has been expended is as follows: the purchase of a commodious and substantial book case, value ,£8 10s; the purchase of one hundred and thirty useful books, vstlue £21 55.; the sendipg an order for £15 7s. 6d. for booVs from England; and the purchase of paper for covering books, &c. 7s. 2d. The number of persons who have belonged to the library during the past year is eighteen, namely, three who have presented a donation of one pound each, two of ten shillings each, six yearly subscribers of Bs., and seven who have>een half yearly.or quarterly subscribers. The number of books which have been circulated during the year may be reckoned at sixty, and the number changed weekly (chiefly during the winter season) from ten to twelve ;* while the number of householders in the district may be put down at sixty. The practical result of the meeting was the choosing of a fresh committee, (11. Martin, Esq. being appointed Treasurer), the enrolling of 14 persons as members, and receiving subscriptions to the amount of £& os. 6d. Persons who wish to become members, or lend, or present books, for the use of the library, should apply any evening (except Sunday evening) at the school or schoolhouse, Stoke.— Qommunicated.