MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1238, 21 September 1911, Page 3

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

4 (Before Dr. Al'Arlhur, S.M.) STAND OR COME DOWN? THE CITY CORPORATION AND A LAAIUTON (JI.'AY SHOP. The case in which the A\ ellington City Council applied for an order requiring a building on Lanibhm Quay, owned by Hamilton Gilmer, ami once occupied ny Warnuck and Adkin, to ho pulled down was proceeded with at the Magistrates Court yesterday. Air. O'Shea appeared for the City Council, and Air. T. \Y. .Ilislop for the - defendant. At the previous hearing evidence had been ealled in support of the City Council's application to pull down, and, yesterday, Dr. Hector was brought as an additional witness. Dr. Hector's evidence was that the building was unsafe, weak, and liable to come down. Air. Ilislop then stated that he did not propose to call evidence lor the other side. In addressing the Court, Mr. O'Shea claimed that the opinion of tho Health officers was the highest that, could be produced. The contest was one of public good as against private gain. His Worship objected to this. He remarked that Air. O'Shea\s observation tended to put him into a position which ho had no wish to be placed in. Air. O'Shea replied that he certainly did not seek to place his AYorshin in a position which he (his Worship) did not wish Id lie placed in. "Yon have done so," remarked his Worship. Air. O'Shea: The newspapers need not report it. Jlis Worship: The reporters can report what they please. I welcome them. At a later stage a reference was made to the occasion when the case had been before the Supreme Court, and his Worship observed that Mr. O'Shea had adopted llio right procedure under the available information. Air. Ilislop then addressed tho Court. He contended that, unless the municipal authorities adopted the ordinary procedure, any defendant in such an action was in a difficult position. It would cost about .£!0f)0 to rebuild in wcod, and much more to build in brick, and yet the loosest kind of procedure had been taken. There had been an agreement to pull down the building, but he hoped tluat, in face of the opinion of the Judges, his Worship would not place much reliance oil it. The Department wore merely determined not to be beaten, but it was questionable if there was a tittle of evidence which would justify their drastic proposal. No property was safe if it could be destroyed oil such unsatisfactory evidence. Decision is to be delivered at half-past ten on Tuesday. ELEVEN CHARGES OF THEFT. (Before Air. AV. G. Riddel], S.M.) A grey-haired man, named Frederick List, said to bo 45 years of age, pleaded guilty to eleven charges of theft at tlio Magistrate's Court yesterday -morning. The arficles had been taken from different places, and comprised seven overcoats, three shirts, nine pairs of socks, and a surgical instrument. In the majority of instances the goods had been disposed of to sscond-hand dealers for small sums of money. Chief-Detective Broberg stated that there were three previous convictions for theft against the accused, lie had come ' out of gaol at Auckland on July 11, and had obtained a ticket to Wellington from the Charitable Aid Board. The only work which he had done since arrival - hero was a couple of hours' scrubbing at the hospital, and, incidentally, he took i Dr. Ewart's overcoat, which contained a - surgical instrument in 'one of tho pockets. ■ Other thefts had been committed on steamers at the wharf and at hotels, . while List had also appropriated gcods ; from outside shop windows, and had, in fact, been in the act of committing such a theft when Detective Masou arrested him. lie had then JGI Its. in his possession. Some of. the stolen goods had since been recovered. A sentence of six months' imprisonment was imposed on the most, serious charge, and three mouths on each of the otlier charges, the sentences to by concurrent. An order was made that .£1 I=. out of List's money should be paid to various second-hand dealers to whom he had sold somo of the goods.

ALLEGED FORGERY. 1 A Native, named Keliu Ringamau, who arrived in Wellington on bail yesterday afternoon, appeared at the Magistrate's Court a little latei', charged: (1) That on September 20, at-AYellington, he forged the name of Wharekoka llono to a voucher, as having received tho sum of .£55 10s. lid., and uttered t.he same to Geo. Chesterman, intending that it should bo acted upon as genuine; (2) that he personated AVharekoka Hone with intent to fraudulently obtain tho sum of .£55 10s. Gd. Air. C. B. Aforison appeared for tho accused, who pleaded not guilty. On tho application of Chief-Detective Broberg, a remand was granted until Wednesday next. Bail was allowed in | the sum of ,£IOO and one surety of -£100. UNSOBER. William Colson pleaded guilty to a charge of drunkenness,,and was convicted and discharged on the understanding that lie returned to his work in tile country.