MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Chronicle (Levin), 12 December 1946, Page 2

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

MONTHLY SITTING AT OTAKI The monthly sitting of the Magistrate's Court at Otaki was held yesterday before Mr. A. M. Gouldmg, S.M. The following cases were dealt with: — Exceeding the speed limit of 40 m.p.h. at Manakau cost B. Davia Bookman £3, with 10s costs. It was stated that he drove at 50 -m.p.h. for a considerable distance and there was a good deal of traffic on ffie road at the time. Henry John Ernest Rate was fined 15s for having no warrant of fitness and £1 for driving without a iicense, there being 10s costs on each charge. Dangerous Driving Charge . William Garre^t Fiuzgeraiu appeared on a charge of driving in a dangerous mamier, and pleaded not guilty. For the Transport DepsCrtment it was stated that at Paraparaumu defendant had travelled at" a speed dangerous to the public, and when there was a line of traffic, including a horse float. There were five passengers in his car. Fitzgerald maintained that he had not driven fri a dangerous manner, but had taken all precautions. There were certainly other cars on the road, but when stopped by the inspector he had wondered at the reason for it. He had been driving since 1921. The magistrate said he was satisfied of the danger of Fitzgerald's driving in view of the fact that therq were' other cars in the line of traffic. A fine of £3, with 10s costs, was imposed. Unlawful Possession In the case of the Biackmore Estate (Mr. C. F. Atmore) proceeding against H. H. Cutting, it was pointed out that the defendant had taken possession of a cottage without authority, and that he had been warned against continuing in occupation. Cu^ing admitted that he had entered the cottage, stating that he was obliged to do so as he had nowhere else to go. _.He had tried to get accommodation at all the hotels in the town, but had been unsuccessful. With his wife and j one child he had taken possession j of the cottage. He was 67 years of ■ age and a pensioner. He had endeavoured three years ago to get a State house, but had failed, neither could he get a place to store his furniture. He would be only too willing to vacate the cottage if he had a place to go into. The magistraite gave judgment for £8 rent and ordered the defendant to vacate the premises within 21 days. Costs of £2 ls were alloweo. i the plaintiff. Civil Cases Judgment by defauit was entered in the following civil cases: J. E. ; Southgate (Mr. B. H. Rhodes) v. G. A. Croft £5 13s 9d, costs £1 18s 6d* . Lindsay and Browne (Mr. Rhodes) v. J. Downing £21 9s lld, costs! £4 ls 6d. G. A. Croft was ordered to pay J. ' Harvey (Mr. Rhodes) the sum of ! £17 3s 6d forthwith, in defauit 18 days' imprisonment.