Brown v. Mullin

65 Cal. 89 | Cal. | 1884

Thornton, J.

Whether China Davine had flowing in it for more than eight years prior to the trial of this cause, a stream of natural water, is in our opinion immaterial, inasmuch as the defendant had, ever since 1865, appropriated the waters of the ravine, and had partly used it for irrigation and partly sold it to be used, up to the time of the appropriation claimed to have been made by O’Connor, the intestate of plaintiff.

This last appropriation did not take place earlier than 1873, and did not extend beyond the water which then flowed back into the ravine from the irrigation by defendant, or was suffered at that time to escape and. flow in the ravine by defendant. In other words, it only extended to the water suffered to go to waste by defendant, as above stated. It is not claimed that this water ever exceeded forty inches—sometimes during the season it was less than five inches. The court found that the defendant was not the owner, or entitled to the use of any natural water flowing down China Ravine since 1878, when the quantity thereof Avas less than forty inches, measured under a six-inch pressure, when the same was used or wanted by plaintiff; and that plaintiff Avas the owner of said forty inches.

The evidence did not sustain the finding. The right of plaintiff does not exceed what is indicated above. For this reason the order denying the new trial is reversed, and the cause remanded.

Sharpstein, J., and Myrick, J., concurred.

Hearing in Bank denied.