IMPORTANT TO LIVERY STABLE PROPRIETORS.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3508, 23 March 1880, Page 2

IMPORTANT TO LIVERY STABLE PROPRIETORS.

A case of some importance to hotelkeepers and livery stable proprietors was decided by Major Keddeli, R.M., at the Court held in Alexandra, Otago, on 12th inst. According to.a local paper, the plaintiff was Mr Tobill, proprietor of the Criterion Hotel, Alexandra, and the defendant Mr Bryne, travelling agent for Messrs Guthvie and Larnach. The former was represented by Mr Wilson, and the latter by Mr Blood. The facts of the case shortly stated were as follows:—" Bryne hired a horse from Tohill for the purpose of riding from Alexandra to Blacks, and having some suspicions as to the beast's quietness ho obtained,from Tohill that Uiotigh the horse might behave skittishly at first he would settle down to a walk and go steadily afterwards. This guarantee did not appear to-bare been fulfilled, for

the animal not only played up to begin with but continued his tricks until Mr Bryne found it necessary to part abruptly. The horse then took to the hills, and although Mr Bryne obtained competent assistance and did his best to recover him, the chase eventually proved fruitless. Mr TohiJl's action was. consequently brought to recover £12 5s for labor employed in finding the horse, injuries to the saddle and bridle from his rolliug, aud the hire originallj agreed on. This last item had been tend* ered since the occurrence, but refused by Tohill. His Worship held, following th« principles laid dpwn in " Addisou on v Torts " and " Jones on Bailments," referred to by both professional gentlemen, that a bailee for hire was only bound to take the care that a prudent man would be expected to take. That Mr Bryne had done all this, and that judgment must be for the defendant with costs.—N.Z. Sun.