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Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 278, 27 April 1914, Page 7

CtUli BUSINESS.

Judgment was given by default .n the case F. t algher (Mr. Paterson) v. Geo. Earl, claim £0 (costs 13s). In the following judgment summons cases in which there was no appearance of judgment debtor, an order was made for the payment of the amounts forthwith, in default seven days imprisonment in the New Plymouth gaol:— T. W. Hoi ston v. J. Roguski, claim £6 Bs, J. Paterson v. W. Kinselia, claim 17s lOd; J. Paterson v. S. Bishop, claim £1 18s 9d; A, Cantell (Mr. Thomson) v. 'Geo. Earl, claim £4 ss.

BY-LAW CASES. T. B. Pinch was fined 5s and costs 7s and John Sohrader was mulcted in a similar amount for cycling without a lio-ht. The magistrate intimated that in future heavier fines woud be inflicted.

DEFENCE CASES. F. Wheeler was charged with failing to attend drill on September 4th, 1913. The defence officer stated that defendant iiad been very irregular with Ms drills. He had not attended since he appeared before the court previously, when he was let down lightly. Defendant said that he had been in Wangajui, where he had attended drills. He aid not ;have any cfirtincate of having attended drills there, nor did he rememoer the dates. In inflicting a fine of £2 and costs or in default 14 days' military detention, the magistrate warned defendant that next time the fine would be made very stiff, and that he would probably be sent to military detention. He also stated that a warrant would be issued if the fine were not paid the following day. Lindsay Brightwell, who was admitted to have been very regular in attending drills and camps, when within reach of a drill centre, was granted exemption on the ground that he was living sixteen miles away from the nearest centre and was milking 70 cows. 'DISPUTE OVER "SANDY PAUL."

Arthur Gilbert, for whom Mr. Paterson appeared, sued 0. Mumby (Mr. Standford) for £lO, being a claim for services, icadered in connection with the purchasr of a horse, or, in the alternative, fill which was agreed to be paid when the horse was sold or taken out of plaintiff's control. Plaintiff avered that in 1909 an ar rangement was made between the parties, whereby plaintiff was to go to Hawera to buy a race-horse, for which 'ic was to receive £lO and] also to train the horse. The horse unbroken was bought and put in plaintiff's stable for about live weeks to be handled and fed. defendant finding all food and plaintiff to receive 15s per week. After the horse had been broken in on defendant's farm

it was returned to plaintiff, who pleaded ignorance of payments, though some were eventually made. T ere was no written agreement, everything being verbal.

Evidence was given for the plaintiff by Glynn, a Hawera groom, A. E. Stockman, C. Martin and Mrs. Gilbert. | Mr. Mumby denied the agreement, but admitted that he had promised to give plaintiff £lO when the horse was sold, but the horse was not sold. The horse Sandy Paul belonged to witness and not to his father. As Mr. Stanford was about to call evidence the magistrate said that he was quite satisfied. The claim was based on a verbal agreement made five vears ago, and when a man allowed such a claim to hang on for five years without making any endeavor to claim it ne deserved to lose it, and no sane inas would suppose that a man who was paying him for work done, if 'he owed him £lO, would not have made some mention of it in the interval. Judgment would he for defendant with costs £3 4s 9d.

ASSESSMENT COURT. A sitting of the Assessment Court was held at Inglewood on Tnnrsday to deal with objectorsi to the Government valuation of Inglewood recently made by the District Valuer, and it is a striking commentary on his work that out of about 500 assessments only tnree objectors, representing seven assessments, appeared in court, and in tne principal case, that of Mr. H. B. Curtis, representing his daughters, Mesdames H. Charters and Law, the valuation was sustained. The Assessment Court consisted of Mr. U. \V. Kentick, S.M., president, and Mr. W. G. Percival and Mr. A. K Surrey, assessors.

Mr. H. B. Curtis, who objected to the valuation of £3964 placed on section. 188, containing the block of shops erected by him, was represented by Mr. Paterson. Mr. H.- F. Russell, the District Valuer, appeared for the Department. Mr. Curtis, in evidence, stateu that the land, which was valued at £1200,. had been purchased by him in 15)02 for £BOO, s and that he did not consider it worth more to-day. He estimated the value of his building at from, £IBOO to £l!10l>, on which the Government valuation was £•2800. In support of this lie stated that the amended contract price was £2015, but that, witness had to find timber and plate-glass. The timber cost him Us per 100 ft, and the plate glass £B3. Various defects in the building which he enumerated reduced its value by £2OO. In cross-examination, he admitted that the building was insured for £3OOO, but that he considered it was over-insured, and had endeavored to get it reduced, but it would be after the expiration of the present policy in October. He also admitted that the land which he purcnased in 1002 for £BOO, and which l.e stated was not worth more than £BOO to-day, had been sold in 1010 to his daughter for xaOO. Evidence was given in support by A. Luke, insurance agent, J. Dull'ill, late borough inspector of buildings, W. A. Ijightfoot, Amos Clark, and .1. W. Winfield, The last-named stated that he considered shop property had gone down hi value, the reason presumably being that the supply exceeded the demand.

11l cross-examination, lie admitted that ho was one of the three objectors.

The District valuer called A. .Roberts, contractor for tbe building, wlio stated that including the timber used in the building, and the plate-glass, the total contract, prices would have been taking tbe tirnbur supplied bv .Mr. Curtis at the Association list price at that date.

In cross-examination, lie said tliat timber had since advanced from b to 10 pelcent.

Mr. Hickman F. ltusjcll produced actual selling values of sections in the immediate vicinity, showing that his vain.'; lions were all below actual sales of sc.lions less favoraby situated. 'I'li;? assessors wrr.: mtammo.i*'" t.: sustained, and -i,:,v

• , .riation of --a •£ section £ISU. i-.tipitf, town block, .tMOO; obicci inn '■* f "drawn. ••!:uuKsh . z'oet, £O2; ol>V. tion withdrawn. ' ' n. 1 d, factory, £420; reduced f • ■

J. W. Wiirteld, residence; reduced from £01) i ti> by agreement. K'lwiir' ' >d<(. improvement.': reduced from £SiS (n £fis, making capital value of £145 in ! "ad of £165.