SUPREME COURT.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12398, 20 December 1909, Page 7

SUPREME COURT.

AT WESTPORT.

(Per Press Association.)

WESTPORT, December 18. The Supreme Court concluded its Westport sitting to-day. In the divorce suit King v. King and Bottom, co-respondent, husband's petition, a decree nisi was granted. In the civil action Henry Case v. William Morris, a claim for £203 for alleged wrongful imprisonment, judgment was reserved. Plaintiff is the father-hi-law of the. defendant, who, believing plaintiff to be leaving Westport for Wellington, and was abandoning a daughter staying with defendant, for whom plaintiff had agreed to pay 12s 6d weekly, had the latter arrested at Wellington and brought back to Westport. Plaintiff admitted being seven weeks in arrears with payments to the defendant, that be had numerous creditors in the district, and that he. when searched by the police, had a belt containing £30 in notes, and also carried looso cash, and l^oz. in gold, but said ho had taken out a return ticket, and intended to return to Westport; in a fortnight's time, and had informed his daughter to that effect. The money was placed in the belt merely for safety while travelling.

The coal-mining case in which J. W. Mason appealed from the judgment of Warden Rawson that pegging was necessary before the filing of an application for lease of what is known as Cook's coal lease was also heard.

Mr Hannan appeared for the Westport Coal Company. Objections were raised on the preliminary point that there was no provision under the Coal Mine Act for appeal from the Warden's decision. He admitted that the Legislature intended to make the provision, but failed to supply the machinery.

His Honor Judge Cooper reserved judgment on the point, also on the main question whether pegging was necessary before the filing of an application.