MOKOIA LAND DEAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 March 1921, Page 8

MOKOIA LAND DEAL.

QUINN v. CATCHPOLE. I# this case, heard before Mr. Justice Hosking and a jury of twelve at New Plymouth, the jury found for plaintiff for £lOB6 damages The defendant applied for a new trial on the' ground that the verdict was against the weight of evidence, that the damages were excessive, and that the judge had misdirected the jury on the method of arriving at the damages. On the application Mr. A. Blair (instructed by Messrs. Brown and Brown, Wanganui) appeared for the defendant in support of the motion for a new trial, and Mr. T. Young (instructed by Messrs. O’Dea and Bayley, Hawera) appeared to oppose. Mr. Justice Hosking, who heard the motion, said he was quite satisfied that the verdict was not against the weight of evidence. The only matter about which he had any doubt was whether his direction to the jury as to the method of arriving at the damages was a misdirection or not. Counsel for the plaintiff (Qujnn) submitted that even assuming there had been a misdirection upon the question of damages, then the new trial could only be granted for the assessment of damages upon the proper basis. His Honor said he would like to consider the whole matter and refer to the notes he had Blade with regard to his direction to the jury, and he therefore reserved his decision.—Star.