RESIDENT MAGISTRATES' COURT, LAWRENCE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 292, 4 September 1873, Page 5

RESIDENT MAGISTRATES' COURT, LAWRENCE.

(Before Alexander Stewart and Edward Herbert, Esquires, J.P.s) Monday, 29th Attgdst. Helen Marten, remanded from Dunedin upon two charges of larceny, committed while in Lawrence gaol, waa sentenced to six weeks' imprisonment in Dunedin gaol for each offence, the latter to be cumulative upon the former.

Tuesday, 2nd September. (Before B. H. Carew, Esq., R.M., and A. Stewart, Esq., J.P. Percy Gaeves, charged with cruelty to a horse, by working it in harness while having a sore shoulder, was fined 205., with costs of court. Cotton and Henry v. Riddel. — Mr. Copland for plaintiffs ; Mr. Mouat for defendant. This waa a suit brought to recover the sum of £20 for the hiring of horses. The defendant paid £2 ss. into court, and pleaded not indebted for the remainder. Samuel Henry deposed that about 15th May last Riddel agreed to buy a gray mare from,him for £30, and arranged he to Jend him another mare at a nominal sum of 15s. a week. At the end of three weeks he brought back the two mares, one of which was lame, and said the gray mare would not suit him, aud he would not buy her. At their first meeting defendant wanted to take the mares on trial, but he would not let them go so far from him on trial. Defendant said he had used the gray mare. Was accustomed to lend horses, and sometimes charged 15s. a day, at other times os. Considered that 20s. a day for each draught horse would be a fair charge. • Examined by Mr. Mouat — Said that the mares alluded to were staunch, and he had plenty of work for them. Michael Hunt, in the employ of the plaintiffs, deposed that about 15th May last he heard Riddel say he had bought the gray mare from Messrs. Cotton and Henry for £30. Mr. Henry told defendant he would have to pay hire for one mare. Defendant wanted to have the two mares on trial, but Henry would not let him Tiave them unless he bought one of them. Examined by Mr. Mouat — Heard Henry say the mare sold to Riddel was a good shafter. Did not hear anything said about 15s. a week. For the defence, Mr. Mouat called William Law Riddel, farmer, West Taieri, who said that about the 16th May last the plaintiff told liim he had a firstrate shafter for sale for £30, and he had another one, either of which he could take. Plaintiff said he could have the bay mare on hire at 15s. a week. Could hire horses for general work at 12s. a week each. He returned the horses to the plaintiff.Examined by Mr. Copland— Three

weeks after getting the mares he returned them to the plaintiff. Judgment for the amount paid into court, with costs of court, £1 11s., and professional fee. ' M'Beath v. Fahey. — This was a suit to recover the sum of £2 2s. 9d., under the following eiren instances. Tt appeared that Fahey owed M'Beath the Bum of L 3 11s. 3d., and on the 2 1st August last he called at plan tiff's shop to pay the account, for which he gave a L 5 note ; and from the evidence of the defendant it would appear that he received the correct change of LI 9s. in one LI note, two halfcrowns, and four shillings. The evidence for the plaintiff tended to show that by mistake the amount of the account, viz., L 3 11s. 3d., was given in change instead of LI Bs. 9d. ; and the action was brought to recover the difference between the latter sum and L 3 11s. 3d. M'Beath's cashier admitted that his cash on that day was in excess 28s. 6d. The case occupied the court some time, and his Worship deferred judgement till Friday next Mr. Moaat appeared for plaintiff, and Mr. Copland for defendant.