The following curious case came before the Resident Magistrate at Dunedin on the sth instant:— Mills, Dick, Lister, and Co., lithographers, brought an action for the recovery of £1 Is against Mr Thomas Luther Shepherd, M.P.C., for a copy of the lithographed sheet contain ing the portraits of the Provincial Councillors. S. Lister, one of the plaintiffs, stated that they published the lithograph-referred to soma time after arranging with the members that they should each pay a guinea. All of them, with three or four exceptions, put down their names to each take a copy of it when the sheet was published, Mr Shepherd being one of those who did so. The Magistrate: The object of the signa ture on this hit of paper produced seems to have been to attach to the portrait after “ Yours truly.” Witness: It is an autograph. Before Mr Shepherd signed this paper I saw him two or thi-ee times, and he said on the last occasion that he would put down his name if he would not charge him anything. I said “No, thank you. The other inembei’3 are paying a guinea, and it cannot be expected that we will do it for nothing.” I sent a copy of the litho graph to defendant by post. The Magistrate : Do I understand you aright when I say that Mr Shepherd never absolutely contracted with you? Witness: In putting down his name he did. That is the only contract I hold. It was supposed te be an honorable affair and not to be shirked. A large majority of the members looked at it in that light, and paid accordingly. Mr Shepherd : When you first spoke to mo did I nob distinctly say that I would not pay a shilling? Witness: Yes. You said, “ You can put down nay name, but I won’t pay you.” Mr Shepherd : Did you not make it known that those who did not give a guinea would be sketched ? Witness: Yes. We had to sketch Mr Seaton. Mr Shepherd : Was it not necessary for the success of your commercial undertaking that every member should be introduced into that picture ?—(Laughter.) Witness : By no means. Mr Shephord : Yet you inserted Mr Seaton, who refused to subscribe, and who even re fused to furnish his photograph. Witness : Exactly so. 