PETONE MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2622, 18 November 1915, Page 9

PETONE MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Mr. D. C 4, A. Cooper, S.M., presided at the monthly sitting of the Petone Court yesterday. Richard H. Smith was charged with riding a motor-cycle at a dangerous speed through Jac,kson Street. Defendant contended that his speed did not exceed 20 miles an hour, but evidence for the prosecution indicated_ that, he travellod at from 30 to do miles per hour. Smith, ■ for whom Mr. W. Perry appeared, was fined 205., v/ith 17s. costs. On a further charge of riding a motor-cycle without a proper distinguishing mark, defendant was lined 55., with' 76. cosis. A case in which Louisa de Lissa proceeded against Frank de Lissa on a charge of failing to comply with a maintenance order was dismissed. For 'failing to attend drill, Harold Lincoln Rule (two charges) was 'fined os., with 7a. costs, in each case, in default 24 hours' military detention; and Mervyn A. Miles was convicted and discharged. Robert Victor Lord was charged with hawking without a license. Mr. R. C. Kirk, who represented the Petone Borough Council, stated that defendaut had been hawking a metal contrivance whicli he alleged to re-.idents could be attached to a gas cooker and thus effect * saving in their gas account. Accused was convicted and! fined 205., with 7s. costs. An unusual charge was preferred against an elderly man named George Blanford—that of tampering with a gas meter, the property of the Petone Borough Council, with intent to defraud the corporation. Mr. R. C. Kirk, on behalf of the Petone Council, stated that the charge was laid under Section 267 of the Municipal Corporations Act. The gas had been cut. off at defendant's house, and it was discovered later by the gas officials that Blanford had connected it again by mcanr. of an ingenious contrivance, (produced). Defendant was liable to a fine of £50. Mr. Kirk . stated that. 3, eevaro penalty, .wan nol<

asked for, as the man had a considerable family, but it was asked that tlio seriousness of the offence should ho impressed upon defendant. Blanford, who pleaded guilty, when asked for an oxplaiin.tioii stated that he only wanted to sec if there was any gas in the pipe. He had only used it a few days, and was sorry for having committed the offence. After pointing out tho seriousness of the matter, the Magist.ete imposed a fine of £5, which, however, was, on the representations of Mr.. ICirk, reduced to £2, with 7s. costs, default being fixed at fourteen days' imprisonment.' Judgment for plaintiffs by defauffc wat given in tlio following undefended cases:—Petone Borough Council v. J. and A. Wilspn, £-15 Bs. 9d., costs 265.; Petone Borough Council v. J. Wilson, £23 Ss. 2d., .costs 265.; Boden aha Powell v. A.' Hamilton, £9 12s. 4d., costs 3s.