OPUNAKE COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 October 1915, Page 3

OPUNAKE COURT.

MONTHLY SITTING. The usual monthly sittings of the Opwiake Magistrate's Court was held at the Court House, Opunake, yesterday, Mr. A. Crooke, S.M., presiding. The Court was occupied all day with three defended cases. A collision that occurred on July 19 on the Huia Road formed the subject of litigation. Mr. Bevan, for whom Mr. Gow appeared, claimed from 11. Williamson (Mr. Marshall) £4 4s, being damages incurred through Williamson's driver, by negligent driving, colliding with plaintiff's gig. After hearing considerable evidence, judgment was given for plaintiff for £4 and costs £2 (is. M. Mulvilhill (Mr. Strang) claimed from H. MeCamn (Mr. Marshall) the sum of £3 17s Gd. ■ Plaintiff had been engaged by defendant to drain by eontract and also to stump at Is per hour. When settling up there was a dispute over 141 hours' work, and defendant also deducted £1 15s for rent of whare at 2s ikl per week and £1 8s horse grazing at 2s. Defendant counter-claimed for £3 3s. Plaintiff deposed that defendant had agreed to allow him the use of the whare and horse grazing, It was not, he said, customary to pay'for sleeping accommodation when working for a settler. Had he known a charge would be made, he would have brought his tent to the job. Evidence was "iveii for plaintiff by W. J. S. Dudley. Defendant, m evidence, admitted telling plaintiff that he could have his choice of the whare or a small cottage to camp in and could also graze his horse, but he expected to be paid. The Magistrate gave judgment for plaintiff for £1 15s, being the rent of the whare deducted, and allowed grazing 14s, at the rate of Is per week, with COSt 3.

A case in which J. K. Law (Mr. Brodie) sued W. Graham (Mr. Gow) for damages for breach of covenant to lease was partly heard and adjourned till next Court day.