The following witnesses were then called :—: —

William Jenkins stated he was the plaintiff in this case. He was the husband of Mrs Jenkins. He was confined in the Dunedin Lunatic Asylum m 1863. He then had pro perty at Queenatown — three stores and a hotel. 1 lis wife was at Queenstown when he was sent away ; and at that time was living with him. When he was sent down to Dunedin as a lu natic, the value of the stock in these stores and hotel was between L3OOO and L4OOO. The value of his household effects would be over LIOO at least. Witness was liberated from the Asylum after consenting to take a Bea voyage. He accordingly went to Victoria, but returned in the same steamer. He then walked up to Queenstown from Dusedin. That would be in 1864. Witness found his wife living in a hotel in Queenstown. All his property was gone except the household effects which were in the Wavevly Hotel, T.hestorsfi >vere all gone, Witness got

regular, embracing the whole of the vessels and crews belonging to the Company, and being signed by the manager. The power of the manager to sign such a contract for the Com pany is not shown. The signature of the jn-'ster is also at the agreement as one of the individuals employed. The lawiequires that every agreement made with seamen shall be signed by the master before any seaman signs the same, and it is settled law that the master has fiill power, as in some sort and to some cx tentclothcd with the character of owner, both to hire and discharge the officers and seamen of the ship. lam of opinion that, unless it were proved that it Wr>,s part of the contract that the plaintiff was to look only ti the manage]- of the Company, or the Company themselves, as res ponsible for hisi wages, anil not to the mast er at _ all, then the defendant cAnnot be relieved of his responsibility as master to the plaintifF. It would be contrary to the generous spirit of modern legislation, found necessary for the protection of seamen, to per mit, obstacles or difficulties to be thrown in the way of a seaman suing the master for re covery of wages. 