RAGLAN. (From our Own Corhk3fonde}.t )

Waikato Times, Volume VII, Issue 381, 22 October 1874, Page 2

RAGLAN. (From our Own Correspondent )

The brigantine, Elizabeth Curle, is still here ; she, like ourselves, is short of provisions, hence she must needs await the arrival of our local trader, which was expected to put in an appearance this morning but has not done so yet ; under any circumstances, our visitor could not get into Waitara until the spring tides, she therefore is much safer inside our harbour than she would be outside at the mercy of the rolling deep. Several of the residents of the district have been compelled to visit both Whatawhata and Karakariki for flour, some of which has been sold at prices varying from 32s to 40s per 100lbs — the usual price being 17s; this, however, is not too dear when the delightful mountain and road are considered. The usual sitting of the R. M. Court took place on Friday last, when the following cases were disposed of: — Sutton v. Hamilton; claim, £l5 for loss of horse Plaintiff alleged that defendant, who is the mail contractor, had ordered one of his mail boys to ride his horse ; this the boy did, and bogged the horse in a swampy creek, where it died. Plaintiff produced voluminous evidence in support of his allegation. The defendant, through his counsel, Mr Madden, pleaded not indebted — denied ever having told his mail boys to use plaintiff's horse. The learned gentleman urged that masters were not liable for the acts of their servants when they acted on their own responsibility and without their employers knowledge. His worship reserved judgment until the 30th inst. Ketene v. Charlton ; claim £12 ; another horsey case. Plaintiff stated he hired his horse to defendant for 30s, to go to Ngaruawahia and back, the horse to be properly treated and returned to him. The horse had not been returned — it was dead. Had been offered £12 for it. Mr Madden again appeared for the defence, and pleaded not indebted, contending that the horse had been properly cared for, and had not died through neglect on the part of his client ; he quoted authorities in support of his views. The defendant having offered another horse in payment for the one in question, the Bench considered he had acknowledged his liability, and judgment was accorded to plaintiff for £5, each party to pay their own costs. The other three cases were settled out of Court. To-day has been the first day of spring, and puts one in mind of the nonsense verse : The sun, being at its perpendicular height, Was. illuming the depths of the sea ; The fishes, beginning to sweat, Cried out — d— — it, how hot we shall be. — Eighteen hundred and seventy-four has been anything but a propitious year for Raglan ; let us hope that Parcoe will decree otherwise for eighteen hundred and seventy-five.