NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 45, 16 November 1907, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

[dt telegraph.—press association.] ' — —* ■■. . . SENTENCES ON BOOKMAKERS. PETITION TO PARLIAMENT. ' : . ' . Christchureh, November 15. ■Uio following petition, bearing on the recent sentences imposed on bookmakers for trespassing on the Biccarton racecourse during tho C.J.C. Metropolitan meeting, is. now being circulated, and is being largelysigned:— To members of tho. House of Representatives in Parliament assembled. The petition ot the undersigned men and women of Canterbury showeth: That on the thirteenth day pf November, 1907. at the Police Court Christchureh,'Mr. Day, S.M.,' sen-' tenced Lovelock, Bates, Butlor, Campbell, Üburn, Courtney, Isaacs, Norman, Luby, Ryan. Shackel, Tuckey, and Varcoe to two months imprisonment, and Noel, Duval,' Jones, Robinson, and Saunders to one month s imprisonment on a charge of'wilful trespass on the Christchureh Public Racecourse Reserve. That the . so-called wilful trespass was not the ordinary offence so termed, but in reality a breach of a bylaw framed by tho trustees of Christchureh Public Racecourse Reserve, prohibiting betting except by means of the totalisator. The prosecutions wore initiated and carried on-by the"Canterbury Jockey Club with the sole ' object of protecting the revenue, of the totalisator, and were not authorised or countenanced by the Police Department. In addition to the above terms of imprisonment, the magistrate stated that he was determined that tho costs of the club should be paid by the accused persons, or in default, an additional twenty days' imprisonment would be inHicted—an unprecedented action. Your petitioners are firmly of the opinion' that the above sentences are unjustifiable, excessive, and not commensurate with the offence with winch the men wore charged. Your petitioners believe that the accused' have been sent to prison, not for act of'trespass, but for being rivals for public favour in competition with the-totalisator. Yonr petitioners therefore humbly ask that yonr honourable House will-take such steps as are necessary to commute the above sentences of imprisonment, or grant such other' relief as to your honourable House may seem fit, and your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray. t, , ,r •. •"vereM'em, November 13. Peter Mornssey, Michael Morrissey, and I ernandes Pobar, bookmakers, were charged Wl ™trespassing on the Winton Racecourse el November 9.. The Morrisseys were sent to gaol for two months and Pobar was fined £5 and £2 6s. costs.

4 BREEZE JN COURT. : .■/,.- SOLICITOR AND MAGISTRATE. .' Auckland, November 15, During a controversy between counsel m i,' case in the Magistrate's' Court; .Mr.-Kettle S.M., intervened, and drew from Mr. Singer, solicitor for plaintiff,- who was somewhat heated, the remark: "Your Worship is wilfully attempting to distort facts." • Mr. Kettle said he would call,.on Mr. Singer at the adjournment to show reasbn why ho should not bo committed for contempt of Court. Mr.. Singer immediately withdrew his remark, and apologised. ; ' . ■ Mr. Kettle, referring to.the matter later, said he could understand that counsel in the heat of debate might , sometimes go further than tliey intended, but Mr. .Singer had. gone • too far. Ho could not allow counsel 1 to insult the Bench. . .\ : - .■■',-

Mr. Singer again expressed bisregret,Vandi assured the Magistrate that he/had-nb'iii' tention of insulting, the Bench, ' ■'■ , ■''.' ( . The matter then dropped. \ .■■"'■! • THE 'STAMP. : ACT.; „' • ''. ;■,': ' AN INTERESTING LEGAL POINT.-■ ' ' Auckjand, November 15.' A charge was preferred at the Police Court, to-3ay against Henry B: Coles,' ; a commission agent; of having signed' a. re;, coipt for £2 onAugust 9 last withoet. "duly l stamping it. Coles explained that'.he'was'an agent for an'insurance company,"and 6n the date in question received the sum as an advance in regard to commission*■'•• to- be' : earned. Mr. Pullau, who appeared.'. *.for him, drew attention to the caso of Barclay and Co. v. Earles at Home; where, under the' Truck Act, it was • hold that commissions were wages' varying ■in amount according to conditions, but were. none . the less wages. Under the Act, wages wero' exempt from the requirements of the Stamp Act, and he argued therefore that bis client had : not transgressed the law. His Worship reserved his decision.

A SERIOUS. CHARGE/ ;.; ■•."•.. Auckland, "November 15;. Following on the exhumation , of the.bodj of a young woman, ; Sarah Miza Skelton; ac elderly woman, ■ was charged at .the Police Court with having used , an instrument unlawfully upon deceased. She was remanded for eight days, bail being fixed, at■ "£IOGLj-;. . CHRISTCHURCH ■ TRAMWAYS. ;■. I Chrlstchurch, November 15. ■ During the \recent C.J.C. meeting.3l,ol9 passengers were carried by the ChrisfchurcL trams to the racecourse,. as .against; 27,552 last year. The show and trotting meeting traffic totalled 41,981 passengers, as against 42,080 last year.;- .■ ' '. ;■ • :--f • • ;:. AUCKLAND A. AND P. SHOW.. . , Auckland, November 15. The complete entries; for the Auckland A. and P. Association's annual show on No» vember 29 and 30 have not yet been totalled up, but the horse section • has: closed, with 600 entries, which is. a record. The classes, for draught horses are particularly weUi 'represented, 135 entries.having been received. . A GUN ACCIDENT. .:.,: ' / . Auckland, November 15. A man named Charles Boguc met with ,a gun accident while shooting at Wairoa South yesterdny. The hreech-block of his gun'blew, out and struck him over the eye, and tKe powder burnt his face very severely. .Some years ago he lost an eye in n 'similar accident, and-now" the other'.eye'is .in' danger.: Ho is undergoing treatment at the Auckland Hospital. , ' ' . . '■..-,■■•■: suicide. . : , --; v ■■ . .' Oamaru, November 15. The police received word to-night that, a man named Joseph M'Lennaghan,' living .at Waikaura, had committed suicide by shooting himself. No particulars are given. DIVORCE..CASE. ; .;.':..:. Dunedln, November 15., ; ' At the Supremo Court to-day John Hodson petitioned for the dissolution of his marriage with Elizabeth Hodson on. the ground of adultery with Thomas Barber (corespondent). Tho case was defended up, to ti certain point, when Mr. Hanlon, for the respondent, admitted that it was usoless to continue tho defence any longer. A decree' nisi was granta'd. . . TEACHERS' SUPERANNUATION. ':' Dunedin, November 15. State" School teachers: throughout • Otago e.vprcss disappointment at not being - included in tlio Public Service Superannuation Dill. They ask that a clause similar . to ! Clause 37 in last year's Civil , Sorvico Superannuation Bill be inserted in tho 8i11,.i1l order to proridc for their inclusion. ! AN APPEAL. ■■■ ; ; . Dunedln, November. 15. Tho proprietors of Book Gift tea haye lodged security for appeal against the magisterial conviction of their agent at Gisborno for issuing coupons in connection with Book Gift tea. in this case a fine of 10s. and costs was imposed. ......