RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT, LAWRENCE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 211, 15 February 1872, Page 5

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT, LAWRENCE.

(Before W. L. Simpson, Esq., HM.) Saturday, February 10th. W. Brown, charged with arson at Tuapeka Mouth, was brought up on remand, and after additional evidence had been addnced, was committed for trial.

Monday, February 12ih. Ah Chin and others v. Gliristie. — Claim, £22 damages, and £10 for detention of goods. Plaintiffs' evidenc.3 was to the effect that on Friday, the 26th ult., the defendant, a coach proprietor, undertook to convey six Chinamen from Waipori to Lawrence and back again to Waipori for the sum of 15s. each. He took them into Lawrence, and on the following day about one o'clock he started from Lawrence, having the Chinamen in the coach. When they arrived at Wdtherstones Hill the defendant asked the plaintiffs to come ont of the coach and Avalk to the top of *th j hill. They did so, and walked ahead leaving some parcels in the coach. After proceeding on a considerable distance, and not seeing the coach, they turned back, and found it was not coming, so they returned to Lawrence, and went to the Chinese Interpreter, They afterwards found defendant on the Itace Course, and when asked to take them in his coach he refused, unless they paid him an additional 10s. each. This they refused to do.

For the defence, it was alleged that defendant had gone on up the hill for a considerable distance, and waited for a long time, and plaintiffs not making their appearance, he thought they had changed their minds and had gone back to Lawrence, and that he also returned. The evidence given by defendant's little girl was <iivt;n in a confused and contradictory manner.

Tho Magistrate gave judgment for the plaintiffs for £5, £1 damages for detention of goods, cost of one witness, and one guinea professional fee.