MAGISTRATES' COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 35, 1 July 1914, Page 6

MAGISTRATES' COURT.

HEW PLYMOUTH SITTING. Mr A. Crooke, S.M., presided over a meeting of the Magistrate's Court at New Plymouth yesterday. A FAMILY DISPUTE. -Elizabeth Cooper (Mr C. H. Weston) applied for an order against her brother-in-law, Wheeler Turnber Cooper (Mr A. 11. Johnstone,) for £7 17s. The case aroae out of a judgment against the defendant about two months ago. 'Defendant deposed that he lived at New Plymouth and paid £1 per week for board. His family were in Oamaru, and lie intended to rejoin them there and seek work as a carpenter. He was supporting them as well as he was able. Since the judgment against him, he had sold a property and furniture at Spotswood for £ls, of which he cleared £hi. There was a mortgage on the place for £250. Before the judgment he was asking more than JCl'so for the property. A horse andxtrap 'belonging to his wife was sold at £!). Since the judgment he had taken a contract to build a house for £55, out of which he realised only £5 for twenty days' work. He was now working at odd jobs and had earned only £1 in the last fortnight. He could not work hard because of ill health, jHe belonged to a but did not i ask to be put on the sick fund because > he did not like to do so if he could help I it. He did not consider the amount of ! the judgment as a contracted debt. It i was not his fault that the judgment had I gone against him. The house lie had 1 sold was in his name, but the proceeds | of the loan raised on it belonged to his wife, because it was her money which bought the house. His brother at the present time owed him about £7O. lie had intended that the amount of the claim should be taken out oi the money owing to him by his brother.

To Mr Johnstone: He was for some time in partnership witli Ins brother at New Plymouth. He got 110 wages, but paid into the business about £4O. In the last two years lie had not earned more than .01 per week. Mr Weston asked for an adjournment, as lie had been informed that defendant's wife 'had repudiated any knowledge of the moneys- which the defendant said lie had paid her, and lie wished to enquire into it. The case was adjourned until July 21, in order that the wife might be examined at Oamaru. ORDERS MADE. Mary A. Tait (Mr A. 11. Johnstone} v. 'Frank Kccuan, a judgment debt- of £7 13s fid. Judgment debtor deposed that he was a laborer and contractor and since the judgment for £0 3s, and costs on March. :!. lie had earned up to March 2(i, £1 10s per day for himself and his team. He still owned the team which was mortgaged for £BS, and was worth £225. He intended to sell it in the spring. lately lie had been working as a laborer at !)s per day. He owned two sections in Waverley mortgaged for £225 and worth about £350. He had a wife and six children, lie offered 2s <>d a week in reduction of the debt. His wife had been ill for some time.

An order was made for the payment of the debt of £7 13s fid and costs forthwith, in default eight days' imprison ment, the order to be suspended sc. long as he paid los per month. In the judgment summons ease, John Grayson (Mr A. U. Johnstone) v. John Boulton, the judgment debtor, who did not appear, was ordered to pay £2 <>s cd and costs forthwith ; in default, three days' imprisonment.

In the case of VV. limeny (Mr Standish) v. Harry Eva, an order was made for payment of £2 His 8d forthwith; 'in default three days' imprisonment. There was no appearance of the judgment debtor. BY DEFAULT.

Judgment by default was given in the following undefended cases:— John Grayson v. Arthur Coleman, Ids fid, (costs (is); Sash and Door I'actory v. Samuel Weston, jnr., £7 0s Sd (l"s).