R.M. COURT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 1910, 9 February 1885, Page 2

R.M. COURT.

MASTERTON.-THIS DAY. ' (Before H. S, Wardell, R.M.) Ollver'v Oliver,—Wife desertion, Mr Bunny for Informant, Mr Board for defendant. Mr Beard stated that the summons had only been served to his client on Saturday last. Mr Bunny, in opening the case, stated fhat the parties were married 23 years ago an| fet .there pjjjkjrenborn to 'them,' Sjx years ago defendant ieft his wife, Five of the children still depended on their mother for support. Defendant loft his home at Hokitika in order to seek employment. From January to April in 1879 the defendant forwarded small sums to support his wife but since then he had contributed nothing towards her maintenance. Mr Beard put in to Court at this stage an onjer of twenty weekly made in favor of the Hokitika on December 22nd 1879, ' Mr Bunny intimated his intentions of requiring formal proof of this ordet. • " The Court considered that" it would be a waste of time to go into the case ; before forma) ptppfpf the order was' forthcoming.' '.'•■''

' Mr BjUnny contended that it was within the 'power of the 'Court to 'make'd' second order. ' The deferidant was" how' in a

hotter position to assist his wife as he was 1 ill receipt of twenty pounds a month, The Court considered that the ppwei' under the.Act was exhausted when an order was made, and that a supplementary one could not be issued.

Mr Bunny submitted that if the wages of the defendant had increased from 30s to £4los, he should be called upon to pay an increased maintenance.

Mr Beard said the statement of £2O a month was absolutely false. Mr Bunny said his friend would admit that defendant received at least £lB 10s,

Mr Beard: My friend will prove his case next,

Mr Bunny then argued that the order of the Hokitika Court was incomplete. The Court at this stage adjourned the case till the afternoon sitting. A, It, Bunny v Henry Lee.—Judgement summons £2 lis. Defendant stated that he had.been in work since tho judgement was given. Ho got £7 103 for six montlis stumping in Cole street and sold firewocd to the amount of £l3.

The Court made an order for payment within fourteen days or 14 days imprisonment.

Eapp and Hare v Richard Allen,— debt £4l3s 4d, Judgment for amount and costs.

T. Wyattv Clark.—Debt £1319 a for 187 hours.

This was a dispute as to the number of hours on which plaintiff had worked for defendant on a sub-contract let by Messrs Doivnes and Hendersen. Mr Bunny for plaintiff. • • Judgment ! for amount and costs. .W. L. Dorset y Clark.—Debt; £lO -7s rent •of .cottage and horse'hire, Mr Bunny for plaintiff.. Defendant disputed rent for 27 jdays at the rate of six shillings per week.''- '• ;'The case was adjourned. This concluded the civil list, '

Police v Charles Meir and Louis Meir. —Stealing and earring away a lamb valued Bs, the property of 0. E. Cockburn Hood.

The charge was interpreted by Mr A, S. Dreyer and the prisoners pleaded nol guity.

John Ross deposed that ho was a shepherd in the employ of Mr C. Hood. On the Gth inst. he mustered the sheep on the boundary fence of Mr Hood and the German, He saw the younger of the accused on that day directing some person. He then heard a gun go off and the two went in the direction of the sound into the bush, witness followed them into the scrub and found tho two accused in the act of skinning a lamb, the forepart was partly skinned and the throat was cut. The mother was alongside the lamb bleating. Witness knew the lamb having docked and oarmarked it but a month before. He examined the oar and found the Glendonald earmark thereon, The mother was also marked and branded with the Glendonald brand. Witness lifted the head of the lamb and saw a gun shot mark on the shoulder where it had been nearly skinned, Witness said "Good morning, more dead sheep," and proceeded to the station and fetched Mr Walker, who returned to him to the Germans' property where they met the two accused going towards their own home, the father was-carrying the lamb in a bag on his back and had the skin in the other hand. Mr Walker asked for the skin which they gavo him minus tho head and ears, They then looked for the head which they could not find.

In answer to the Court, witness said there was no reward offered at the station for the discovery of such irregularities. John Cockbum Walker deposed that on the day named he went in company with tho last witnofjs and met the elder accused carrying a bag q'n his shqulder and a skin in his l}and, the ijon being with him, Witness spoke to them in German and asked wero the wild dogs there again, and accused replied in the affirmative. The son said there were two black dogs. Witness demanded the skin and the elder accused gave it to him and said he did not know where the head was, perhaps the dogs had eat it. He did not see tlm qoiitonts, qf tlio bag carried by accused. They Ijad i\q gun with them. Witneps then searched. the place where the sheep had been killed in company with Ross, but coujd find nothing but the fresh blood and footmarks, The 'skin was a fresh, warm, lamb skin.

(The skin was produced in Court showing the bullet hole, but was quickly carried out, the already close atmosphere of the Court not being improved by the effluvia arising from the skin). After t}}e eylfkngo gf the arresting constable had been taken, His Worship instructed the interpreter tq ask accused whether they would prefer to haye the case heard before a jury In Wellington, or dealt with by His Worship,

The accused asked lialf-an-ltQUr to consider, and the Court adjourned the case for that purpose, (Left Sittmci.) ■