RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT, HAMILTON.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1630, 14 December 1882, Page 3

R ESID ENT MA GIST R A TE'S COURT, HAMILTON.

Ykstmiday. —(Before Mr 11. W. Northcroft, R.M., and Mr J. B. Whytc, J.P) Breaches of the Licensing Act. i Gk.o. Mvson pleaded guilty to hn\ inp; supplied onu K. Browning, a prohibited person, with liquor, and wub Imod 30s», w ith co&ts 7s. Fruokrk; Ci.uniN, liccns.ee of the Wdikato Hotel, was oliaruocl with keeping open his billiard-room iiftcr 10 p.m. Mr O'Neill appeared for the defence. The offence having been proved by Constable Murray, defendant, through his counsel, said the case was .\ test case. The billiard-room was not on the premises leased by him, though he admitted that access could be obtained from the hotel without going into the street. — The Bench thought the defendant should have taken a legal opinion on the subject before rendering himself liable, and imposed a fine of 20s, with costs.

Liability of Inn-keepers. MkKCKRAMjM UiSHAI-L D.E.SIMMEI,HA(J, claim £3 16s, for damage done to a buggy pole while in charge of defendant, who is landlord of the Delta Hotel, Ngaruawahia. Mr Hay for plaintiffs, and Mr O'Neill for defendant.— lt appeared from tho evidence that plaintiffs avrived at defendant's hotel on the Ist October, and put their horses and buggy in chaige of the groom, and that when the latter was yoking the horses up they got restive and broke the pole. Plaintiffs contended that the damage was caused by tho act of defendant's servant, who did not know how to do his work, while the defence argued that the whole affair was the result of an accident. The horses while being hitched up were frightened by boino boys liding by, and swened, so breaking the pole. — t The learned counsel on both sides cited authoiities, and the Bench, after a short adjournment, gave judgment for the plaintiffs, for £3, vuth costs C 3 0-3 6<h They hold that necessary diligence was not "used by defendant's servant, and that theietore he was liable.

The Newcastle Run. M. FIT/fiUUIiD Y. K. C. SIIKPHhKD. — Claim, -CG 2s 3d, expenses mum red and damages sustained through the defendant's action in unlawfully impounding n cow, the property of plaintiff. Mr tiay ,uid Mr O'Neill appeared tor plaintiff, and defendant, who complained that the other side had monopolized all the legal talent, conducted hisowucasc—"Witnessewere examined by plaintift to show that the beast in question had been duly irgisteicd by defendant, who i& ranger of the Newcastle tun, and who, notwithstanding, impounded the said cow. It was fuither contended by counsel that defendant had no right to impound cattle ofl the Crown lauds" as the Crown Lands UoaL-d alone had the power to appoint a i anger therefor. For the defence, witnesses ■were c;illcd to show that Mr Shepherd was duly appointed ranger by the Newcastle Road Board, and that he ,d-.o had authonty tv impound cattle off the public loads. Jt was contended that the cattle impounded on tne day named, the 13th of November, were driven o(I a load. Defendant further said the cow described had not been so desciibcd when registered, and he (defendant) could uot tie expected to know a beast of winch no iccm.ite description had been given. ~ \h 'fay replied, contending that defendant had no status as a ranger, and that hio memorandum of his appointment con \ lamed no reference to pounding cattle off ' the loads.— The Bench held that the ' load board ijad power to impound cattle oil tho public i odd s, and that the cow in i question had been .so impounded. They ! therefore ga\c judgment for defendant without costs, but would grant a relieaiing, to 1 c taken before two new justices.

Auctions.