RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT, WANGANUI.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XIII, Issue 1020, 29 April 1869, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT, WANGANUI.

Tuesday April 27. [Before W. L. Bailor, Esq., R.M.] DRUNKENNESS. For this offence John Toole was fined 5s or 24 hours’ imprisonment, and Charles Price 20s or 4S hoars’ imprisonment. professional practice. Mi’ Buller in delivering his decision on a point of practice brought under the notice of the Court some days previously by Mr H. B. Roberts, on the question of legal costs, said that in the matter of taxation of costs he saw no reasonable objection to the general rule—circumstances might vary cases and he determined to hold it merely as a rule for general guidance—that all bills of costs objected to should be submitted to the Registrar of the Supreme Court who was appointed by the Law Practitioners Act for the purpose of adjudicating on such matters. Mir Buller did not agree with the suggestion of Mr Roberts that professional charges should be sustained by the production of the evidence of another professional brother as to their reasonableness, for it was notorious —be would not say that it occurred in Wanganui —the sympathy among members of the profession in sticking on the charges for services, consultations, and advice. And in the matter of costs upon these disputed bills , he (Mr Buller) would lay it down as a rule that, if the

amount sought to-be recovered by a member of the profession was not sustained by the taxing-master, and that therefore there was an evident case of fleecing, the costs should be paid by the party seeking to recover ; while on the other hand, if passed by the taring master, the costs would fall upon the defendant. The members of the legal profession present expressed themselves satisfied with the ruling. CIVIL CASES. M. V. Hodge v. J. Jackson. —Adjourned case.—No appearance. T. Henson v. J. Henson, —abo a cross case, —both withdrawn.