SUPREME COURT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2066, 1 July 1890, Page 3

SUPREME COURT.

Timaru— Thursday, June 27th. Before .His Honor Mr Justice Dennisloan. The Court resumed at 10 a.m. Thomas Grace v. South Canterbury Hospital Board—Claim £SOO damages for personal injuries. The evidence in this case was that Thomas Grace, aged seven months, was taken by his parents from Pleasant Point, where they lived, to the Timara Hospital, and there taken in as a patient suffiering from bronchitis. In treating him for bronchitis a steam kettle was put beside him, with the result that his head was scalded and permanently injured. The true skin having been destroyed no hair could grow on the head. There was a discrepancy between the evidence of the parents and the hospital servants. i n he parents alleged they did not want to leave the child in the hospital, but that Dr Lawson persuaded them to do so. Dr Lawson swore that it was not the practice to admit young children without their mothers, that he asked the mother to remain with him, that the mother refused, and that he took in the child because he felt be would die if he did not do so. The child recovered from the bronchitis, but was permanently injured for life by the burn. The case occupied all day, most of the doctors of South Canterbury being examined as experts. The judge, after reviewing the case and blaming the mother for not having remained with the child in the hospital, gave judgment for the defendants, with costs. Fbidat, June 28th. The Court resumed at 10 a.m. T. H. Taylor v. Annie M. Tavener, suit for completion of transfer ®f a deferred payment section at Belfield, Orari. Mr Hay for plaintiff, Mr White for defendant. This was a case from the village settlement of Orari, in which the father and daughter were the litigants. Thomas Henry J aylcrgave evidence to the effect .that his daughter expressed a desire to secure ©ne of the sections if he would lend her the first Instalment money, and that she would pay for it by going out to service. He did so. She went to service for a month and returned home. She kakeff him to . take the land off her Kinds, and he did, and gave her £5 la a wedding gift. His daughter signed an agreement handing over the section, which agreement was before the Court. The plaintiff’s wife and daughter— Mrs Priddle—corroborated this evidence , Annie Maria Tavener, the defendant, stated that at the request of her father she signed an application for the section wnich contained 6 acres 36 perches and got it, and on the morning of her marriage her father brought her a paper to sign. This was the agreement transferring the land to her father. He did not give her time to read what was in it, and she thought it was something connected with her marriage. No one was present. Counsel on both sides discussed at considerable length whether the whole transaction was an act of dummyisba, after which his Honor said the evidence was altogether in favor of the father’s story, but that on legal point as regards the power to t transfer the land he would reserve ft judgment. I Be Cain’s estate. —On the motion I Mr Raymond Mr Melville Gray | waß appointed trustee in lieu of Mr Spalding, resigned, Presbyterian Church estate, DeraiJine—Mr Raymond’ applied for an order for the sale of certain laud. His Honor took time to consider. Re -'Paterson’s estate —On the motion of Mr Raymond an order for taxation was herein made. The Court then adjourned aud the session closed.