RANGITIKEI

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 245, 14 September 1929, Page 12

RANGITIKEI

(From Our Own Correspondent.) MARTON, Sept. 12. The Marton Jockey Club, it is stated, made no profit on its race meeting last week; a slight loss is expected when accounts are fully prepared. The gate takings on the second day represented an attendance of only 500. Of course, there wa6 no doubt a largo free list. The Marton boxer, Jim Adams, put up a splendid fight in his bout with A. Thurston (Taihape) at the Bulls tournament last night. Adams had 101 b. advantage in weight and outboxed Thurston, who, by the way, took the Wanganui district heavyweight title fnbm Adams at the recent championship tournament. At 'a meeting of the Marton District High School Committee, it was reported that there was £64 to the committee’s credit in the bank. It was decided to write to the school caretaker and thank him for his good work. The Marton Ladies’ Golf Club played a match for Miss Howard’s trophy, tho winner being Mrs Christensen whose score was 102—29 —73, tho next best being Mrs Anderson with 95—19—76. Mrs FullertonSmith, with 74, had the best C grade score. The wedding was solemnised at the Presbyterian Church, Hunterville, last week of Grace, eldest daughter of Mr and the late Mrs James Ross, “Tho Mains,” Hunterville, and William, only son of Mr and the late Mrs Duncan, of Ohingaiti. Rev. R. H. Catherwood officiated and Mrs A. D. Hunter presided at the organ. The bride wore an ivory georgette dress, trimmed with silk lace. She had an embroidered veil, held in place with orange blossom, and carried a sheaf of arum lilies. Her sister, Miss Mary Ross, was bridesmaid, and Mr M. Ross was best man. A number of friends was later entertained at “Tho Mains,” Mrs J. Milne, of Auckland, acting as hostess. Dr W. Pettit, of Auckland, gave an address on evolution in tlio Marton Town Hall last night. A ball promoted by the Rangitikei Rugb.y Union in aid of the sports queen in the Marton carnival proved very popular. Music was rendered by tho Blue Revellers’ ladies’ orchestra, and the following committee had the arrangements well in hand: —Mcsdames C. E. Gibbons, G. Morris, A. Mclndoe, D. Thomson, B. Parkes, A. Watt, Misses D. Parkes (sports queen), G. Barrington and A. Thomson. Deliberate breaking of ■ the school windows was reported at a meeting of Marton District High School Committee, it being said that tho cost was fairly heavy. The matter has been reported to the police as the case has the appearance of being more serious than ordinary mischief. Described as the football “find” in the Wanganui district this season, Ken Gibbons, a 16-year-old Marton boy at present attending tho New Plymouth High School, gave a sterling exhibition of Rugby at Wanganui yesterday when playing first fiveeighths. Gibbons won round after round of applause for his work and was materially responsible for the good work leading to two of the tries scored by Wanganui. His brother Clarence was among the Wanganui forwards, and other players from this district in tho team were McLennan (Taihape), Beilis (Taihape), Leahy (Taihape) and Hcise (Taihape). Otago won the match by 22 points, to 20. In tho third qualifying round of the Taihape Gold Club championships, the following scores were registered:—Senior: J. Evans 80—9—71, J. P. Mortland 91 —4 —77, h. Reece 93—16—77, A. C. Joblin 95 —16 —79, IC. Joblin 98—12—76, R. Marsh 101— 18 — 73. Intermediate: 'L. Shcrriff 96—19 77, A. I>. Smith 97—21—76, I. Parkes 98— 19— A. James 100-22—78, S. E. Addis 102-22-80, J. E. Harnill 102—22—80, 11. Hintz 105—23—82, J. Mortland 105—23—82, H. Eaton’ 111 —26 —85. Juniors: F. Richards 107—31—76, J. W. Benson 109—33 76, D. O’Neill 109-33-76, K. F. Kenney 112—36—76, J. Coutts 112—28—84. The following have qualified for tho championship's Senior: J. P. Mortland, J. Evans, W.' Crawford, F. Reece, R. McClure, T. V.’ Auld, A. C. Joblin, T. C- Kincaid. Intermediate: I. Parkes, A. P. Smith, J. Mortland, J. E. Harnill, L. Sherritf, S. E. Addis, A. James, H. Hintz. Junior: F. Richards, J. Coutts, J. Benson, D. O’Neill, R. Hislop, K. Kenney, W. McKnight. Tho senior Shcrgold Cup was won by F. Reece, and the junior cup by F. Richards. A junior seven-aside Rugby football tournament was held in Marton yesterday, the trophy being retained by Old Boys A team, consisting of Barry, Wilkie, Homes, Atkinson, Dobbs, McDonald arid Duncan. In the first round Ilalcombc A beat Athletic 6-0, Old Boys A beat Rata 3-0, Hunterville beat Halcombc 3-0 and Old Boys B beat Rata B 3-0. In tho second round Old Boys A beat Halcombe A 3-0, Hunterville beat Old Boys B 3-0. In the final Old Boys A beat Hunterville 9-0. Old Boys A havo now won the tournament four years in succession.

The secretary o£ Marton centre for the Trinity College of Music examinations* has received advice of the following local successes as a result of the examinations held on June 8 last: —Senior division: Thelma B. Comrie (Miss Sherriff, L.T.C.L.), 77, pass. Intermediate division: Brenda E. Hunt (Miss Sherriff) 87, lions.; Eleanor K. Low (Miss Sherriff) 83, lions. Junior division: Winifred A. McElwaine (Miss Mountfort) 94, lions. Preparatory division: Patricia M. Galpin (Miss Mountfort) 85, pass; Margaret Strawbridge (Miss Sherriff) 83, pass; Jean M. Adkins (Mrs Bo wick, A.T.C.L.) 80, pass. CLAIM AND COUNTER-CLAIM. (From Our Own Correspondent.) MARTON, Sept. 11. In the Magistrate’s Court here to-day, Mr R. M. Watson, S.M., heard a case in which Mr C. E. Dempsy, D.0.A., Palmerston North (in the estate of E. R. L. Hocking, bankrupt builder, of Palmerston North) sued H. J. Matthews, farmer, of Crofton, near Marton, for the sum of £lO3 10s, being the balance allegedly due . in payment for the erection of a dwelling and extra work, at Crofton. Defendant coun-ter-claimed for the sum of £l5B 19s, alleging that the building was incomplete and that the delay he had suffered had caused him loss of money and inconvenience. Part of the counter-claim also included a fewminor items such as board for workmen and work done. Mr J. M. Gordon (Palmerston North) appeared for plaintiff, and Mr Hill (Feilding) for defendant. E. R. L. Hocking, in evidence, deposed that, after several conferences with defendant and the inspection of a dwelling he (plaintiff) had erected at Stanway, defendant had said that Hocking could havd the job of erecting defendant’s house, the promise being made that the work would be as good as that put into the Stanway house. That would be about the beginning of April, 1928. The price was to bo £855. The work was started on April 20, 1928, the erection of a motor shed being the first undertaking. A contract for the whole job was signed in May, after the job had started, the implied condition being that the work would be completed within a reasonable time; no definite date was stated. Matthews desired to be in the house before the lambing season started on the farm — about August. Matthews had written to witness on April 17 stating that the work should be pushed on, otherwise the contract would be given, to some other builder. Witness said that ho had started the work on 20th April and claimed that it was satisfactorily completed.by August 25,1928. He considered that he was entitled to payment in full 30 days after completion,- with a margin of 30 days for maintenance. Defendant, he said, had obtained possession on July 25. Witness was longer on the job than ho expected owing to the delay in obtaining timber supplies (the order had been misplaced) and delay in getting plaster work. Cross-examined by Mr Hill, witness said that the delay in obtaining timber supplies was not due to his non-payment of a previous order. Witness claimed that the actual work on the house proper had not commenced until May, and that defendant had obtained full possession on August 25. Defendant’s case was that the house was not yet completed, that he had suffered loss and inconvenience through its non-comple-tion within a reasonable time, and that the part of the building erected before the delay occurred had depreciated in value owing to the delay. Evidence was given by Benjamin Burdell, of. Palmerston North, who stated that the woodwork erected before the delay would not deteriorate; rather would it become

more seasoned and would improve, if anything, were ordinary precautions taken. Voluminous correspondence was being dealt with in the case, and several minor points in the counter-claim were likely to occupy tho attention of tho court for some time, when His Worship suggested that during the luncheon adjournment the parties might arrive at a basis of settlement on these. This was clone and the ciaitn was amended to £B9 8s 5d and the counterclaim was slightly adjusted. Evidence was taken further on the points in dispute, testimony being given by T. J. Mcllwaine and defendant. The latter said that he had to travel four miles daily to the farm and rent a house while tho new house was being built. After legal argument had been heard, His Worship held that, as there was no stipulated time, mentioned in the contract for the completion of the work, it would be assumed in law that a reasonable time was intended. He accepted defendant’s statement that he was inconvenienced by the delay, and held that Mr Hocking had not completed the work within a reasonable time. Several items in the counterclaim, however, were disproportionato and out of reason. He allowed tho amended claim as agreed upon by counsel for £B9 8s sd, and awarded defendant the sum of , £6O on the counter-claim, the latter cover- j ing rent incurred, transport, certain labour, and including the sum of £lO 7s 6d as damages.