POLICE COURT.—Wednesday.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 11, 30 August 1871, Page 2

POLICE COURT.—Wednesday.

[Before Thomas Beckham,. Esq., Resident Magistrate, and His Worship the Mayor. 1 Deunkenness.—One person was fined 20s and costs, with the alternative of forty-eight hours imprisonment; and .Tessie Bell was sent to gaol for seven days for a third offence. Laecenjt. ..— Catherine Reynolds alias Elizabeth More, charged with stealing wearing apparel valued at 32s from John Olive, pleaded guilty, but said she had intended to return them.—John Olive stated, that on the 28th inst. lie left his house unprotected, and on his return missed a number of articles (produced.) —Detcctivo Ternahan deposed, that when he arrested prisoner she was weaving the clothes, respecting which she gave conflicting accounts. —Ueing an old offender, she was sentenced to three months imprisonment with hard labor. Beeaoh or Mtjnicipai, Poiice Act.—Franz Scherffwas charged with placing two large cases on the footpath of Forts-treet.—Mr. Beyeridge appeared for defendant, and explained that the cases were very heavy, and had been delivered late at night when it was impossible to have them removed. —Moreover the street was a very retired one, and there was literally no thoroughfare at night.—The Bench thought it matter for congratulation that the retired streets were receiving the attention of the police.—ln future they would not deal leniently in such cases.—ln the present, defendant was fined five shillings and costs. Beeach of City Boaed Act, 1863.— Christopher Greenway was summoned for city rates, amounting to £7 ss. 6d.—Mr. Reos applied for an adjournment as he was obliged to attend the Supreme Court.— Postponed accordingly until Thursday, 14th September, or any subsequent day which might be convenient to Mr. Rees and Mr. J. B. Russell.—Frederick Williams was summoned for non-payment of city rates, to the amount of £6 18s. 9d.—Mr. J. 13. Russell for plaintiff, and Mr. McCormick for defence. —J. W. Diddums, collector of rates, produced the register of rates, and deposed that defendant was indebted in the above amount for ground in Queen-street.—Mr. McCormick objected to the reception of tho rate-book as evidence.—Mr. Russell replied, and a long argument ensued between counsel, which resulted in its being tuken. In crossexamination, witness said that he was valuer as well as collector. The last valuation was u.ade by him in 1864, and he made the requisite declaration. The annual value of property has fluctuated since that time. An estimate of the rate for 1871 was made in accordance with tho 43rd section of the Act, and was based on the vuluation for 1864. Some of the rates were increased without a fresh valuation having been made. Witness bad in individual cases rated property at a higher value than in 1861, without making a renewed declaration. The property for which rates urtv-now demanded is a building in Qucn-sw-eci.. Witness was not certain that it had btspp erected since 1864. If there was no house th-3 land would have bv^vated. Mr. MeCormiok sirgued thtU*-* ifesh valuation ought to be ma^'vvwy yaar, in consequence of the fWuatiou of the ftiluo of property. Jet Eusseli replied, pointing out that a mere trifling alteration would thus impose a heavy eXBOU^fi nr, tl.n JWd. and that t.here w«j. „n necessity imposed by the Btatute fo> doing so. If so, this was the wrong Court to go to, and defendant should have appealed to the Supremo Court.—Judgment was reserved, until after Crrcenway's case had been heard, and a similar esse against Robert Huy wood, for £22 10a, was also put off.