R.M. COURT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2892, 7 May 1888, Page 2

R.M. COURT.

MABTERTON,-MONDAY, (Befoie S, Yon Sturm, E.M) DRUNKENNESS. A first offender was fined ss, or in default 8 hours imprisonment, tor drunkenness. AFOUL OHIJISEY. \V. Darvill was fined 5s with 2s costs for allowing a chimney on his premises to take lire. R. A. Butcher for a similar offence was.also fined 5s and costs 2s. THE LITIGATING EDITOR. John Ludford v Charles G. Beckett, This was a case in which the plaintifl sued for the sum of £39, damages for alleged wrongful dismissal fromhisposition on the staff of the Wairarapa Observer, and in which the evidence had been taken at Carterton on last Court day. The plaintiff, it may be mentioned, had demanded tbree months notice as an editor.

Mr Beard appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr Pownall for the defendant. His Warship, in giving judgment, said that the evidence bad failed to show that the plaintiff occupied the position of editor, it rather showed that be had been a general hand. Therefcr 1 , he was not entitled to the legal privileges of that p.silion as bearing 011 his engagement and discharge. It had also been proved that a written notice of one month had been given to pi iint'll' by defendant. Had the defendant allowed the plaintiff to remain for this terra he would have been secure, but upon the latter's declining to accept that notice he was at once dismissed witli the tender of one week's wages which he refused. The imputation that the plaintiff was incompetent was disallowed. The Bench, therefore, would give judgment for one month's wages, viz,, £l2, also for £2 which had boon paid into Court, and for costs J62 Is. Defendant's solioitoi* (Mr Pownall) gave notice of appeal on the ground that (he fact of a month's notice having been given debarred the plaintiff from claiming or being awarded a month's wages,

C. Lennox v. C. McKillop—Claim, £27105, (less £6 admitted as a set oil), wages for fencing, logging up, burning, etc., at Wangaehu, fencing at Manaia, etc, Mr Skipper for plaintiff; Mr Buijny for defendant. The plaintiff testified as to his having been instructed by defendant to do fencing at Manaia, logging and burning at Wangaehu, and other work, and he produced a diary made at the time, showed the number of hours worked. He started logging up on Monday, 14th March, 1887. After farther evidence had been taken, plaintiff was nonsuited, with Court oosts, 39s and counsel's fee, 425.