POLICE COURT

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2073, 7 May 1907, Page 1

POLICE COURT

Before Mr. W. A. Barton, SM. DRUNKENNESS. An oldorl.y first offondor for drunkenness was fined ss, costs 7s, or 2-1 hours’ imprisonment. ENTERING LICENSED PREMISES. Michael Mahon was charged witli ontoring licensed premises on 4th April, during the currency of a prohibition order against him. Mr. Stock appeared for accused, and stated that he wont into the hotel to see Mr. Peryor, his employer, as lie had no money and wanted his laid to town, and whilo in the hotel the constable saw him. Ho was a linrd-j Yiorking, respectable man, and lie asked for a fight fine. His Worship said that on previous occasions accused had entered the fame (plea. The last time a prohibition order was issued against him and it was made clear that hotels must not be entered on any pretext. A fine of £3, 7s costs, on in default 7 days’ hard labor, was imposed, 7 days being allowed for payment.

REFUSING TO QUIT. Wiliam Kortagast, charged with refusing, to quit licensed premises when ordered to so, pleaded guilty. Detective Madderu explained that accused caused trouble, and a scuffle ensued in the hack yard. His Worship said it was necessary for licensees to eject inebriated persons from lisenced premises, and they w.mlJ he liablo to a heavy penalty arid an endorsement upon the licence. The hotels must bo rid of dr.uikm poisons, and a fine of £l, ‘ts costs, or in default 48 hours hard labor, wai inflicted. ALLEGED SUNDAY TRADING. Lancelot Charles Allan was charged with selling liquor on Sunday Mr. Stock appeared for acc. 2-tth March, at his hotel ,Tc Karaka, ed, and entered a plea of not guilty. Bertram Bachelor, laborer, of To Karaka, deposed that he boarded at the hotel the previous evening until the following Tuesday.. He purchased two bottles of whisky on the Sunday morning for Ills, and witness deposited them in his room. He lc' the hotel about 2 p.m. with a man named Graham. They went for a drive, taking the whisky with them. By Mr. Stock: AVlien he. bought the whisky he told the licensee that he intended taking it to their camp on the Monday morning, and that he (witness) purposed leaving before the hotelkeeper was up. The latter tohl witness not to take the whisky from the hotel that Sunday. Constable Doyle stated that when he served defendant with the summons, the latter stated that Bachelor was a lodger. The constable said that the liquor should not have been taken off the premises. Allen replied that lie was going to the bush on Monday, but did not leave till the Tuesday.

For tho defence Mr. Stock contended that it was lawful ■ to supply liquor on Sunday whether for consumption on or off the premises. Sub-section 5 of section 22 of the Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Act, 1895, says: (a) It shall not be lawful for, but not obligatory' upon, a licensee to sell liquor at any time to any' peison being really a lodger or staying in the licensed premises or a bona, fide traveller seeking refreshment on arriving from a journey [provided that the liquor so sold is personally consumed on the premises by such traveller and by no other person. Section 3S of tho amending Act of 1904 say's: Subsection 5 of section 22 of the Amendment Act of 1895 is hereby repealed so far as the same refers to travellers. It was thus lawful for the sale of liquor to a lodger living or staying at licensed' premises as the last section was struck out Under tho circumstances there was no case at all. The licensee was perfectly justified in selling liquor in any quantities on Sundays, whether it was for consumption on or off the premises. His Worship said there was nothing to prevent tlio sale of liquor to a lodger in any quantity'. He administered the law as he found it, and tho information would have to ho dismissed. It was clear that Bachelor was a lodger. ALLEGED THEFT OF A SADDLE.

Robert Austin, charged with stealing a gent’s saddle on or about April 7tli, at Blenheim, valued £4, the property of Frank Dillon, pleaded guilty. Mr. Coleman, .in accused’s behalf, said that the saddle in question was the property of Mr. Dillon. The hands on Mr. Tescliemaker’s property (a relative) looked on Mr. Dillon’s property the same as their own Accused bought a liorse, and took one of the saddles to and as ho was on a fortnight’s holiday lie came on to Gisborne, having no place to leave it. While here lie had. an accident, and wrote to Mr. Dillon to the effect that he was here but did not return the saddle. There was no fraudulent intent; it was through thoughtlessness and liis illness. Counsel applied for tlic provisions of the First Offenders Act to bo applied. His Worship said that the excuse was a very lame one. ■ Detective Madilern said that the story of -tlic letter was untrue. Accused was remanded until this morning for the probation officer’s report, an applicaLion for bail being refused, AN UNLICENSED HAWKER.

A charge was brought against H. G. Kilner of hawking without a license. Mr. T. Alston Coleman, for accuseil, explained that the new bylaws ctuno into force the same day, and it w-as made clear that that sort of thing coukl not continue. Defendant had since taken out a license. Counsel asked that the charge be withdrawn, and tins course was adopted. BREAKING AND ENTERING.

A sitting of the Juvenile Court w-as conducted yesterday afternoon by the Magistrate, Mr. Barton, when a youth aged 15 was charged with breaking and entering Stewart liastie’s saddler’s shop on 20th April, and stealing a pair of leggings, three bundles of whip cord, five spurs, four pairs of straps, twentyeight spur rollers, two knives, and eighteen pairs of laces, valued at £1 18s 4d, anil with breaking the shop of James Fisher, with intent to commit a crime. Mr. Nolan entered a plea of guilty on behalf of accused. His Worship remarked that the lad seemed to treat the affair rather as a jdkc; he did not seem to realise the position. Mr. Nolan stated that the boy was an orphan—liis father w-as killed by an explosion, anil liis mother died shortly afterwards, and he was brought up by a trustee. A birching by a powerful policeman would bo beneficial, but that would mean that the' boy would be branded for the rest of his life. He hoped His Worship would order him to come up for sentenee when called upon, without recording a conviction against him. If lie w-ere sent to gaol, herding with criminals, he might go to the dogs, but put under good influences, his life might be moulded for good. He could go under tlic custody of Adjutant Dickens, of the

Salvation Army—ho must not remain at largo, it was a pity to send him to (ho industrial school if thoro was a chance of reform.

His Worship said that not long ago the hoy was before him‘in a semi-official manner, accused of stealing a watch, the property of a farmer. He then gave a promise not to let it occur again. Detective Maddern stated that thc boy went about the operation systematically, collecting key's, etc. He also read detective tales, and similar light literature.

Tlio lad was bound over for a bond of CIO, and ordered to appear' for sentence when called upon. ' He was to do as the Adjutant of the Salvation Army bade him. The latter" took the boy meantime with the view of getting him on a station.

MEAT FOR THE ARMY.

T ress Association.

WELLINGTON, yesterday. Major Long, wlio lias toured, the colony inspecting the various' freezing and preserving works in the interests of the British War Office, has terminated his tour. He is greatly impressed by the well organised, perfect system of government inspection of freezing and meat preserving works, all of which lie had visited. The Government and the companies had afforded him every facility in carrying out his mission, and he had received valuable assist-

ance from Mr. Reakes, acting-Cliiof Government Veterinarian, who had accompanied the visitor throughout the tour. The colony had a fine supply of real good meat, and if it .should secure orders from the War Office there should be a big demand for our preserved meats in other directions. There was one suggestion the visitor had to make. When asked if there was any room for improving an important trade. Major liong said lie was not impresser

with what was known as the boned moat phase of the industry. Although the Government insjJection guaranteed that nothing but pure and absolutely clean meat was exported, still, it was lean, and when defrosted in London it often presented an anything but nice appearnacc. Under the terms of the Slaughtering and .Inspection Act, lie. found the Government officers could not condemn such meat as long as it was freo from disease.. At the same time tho colony was taking a risk of having its best trade seriously affected by continuing to send Home boned meat, for such goods would prejudice the best quality' of meat, and he recognised that it had sprung up in response to a demand for that class

of moat. At the same time it wa; hardly a business upon which New Zealand exporters could pride themselves. The Major was informed that the CliidT Veterinarian (Mr C»ilrutli) had spoken in a similar strain some months ago, and uttered a similar word of warning. “Well,” concluded the Major, “1 make these remarks to you in the best interests of the meat trade, and especially because all the other meat exported from New Zealand is of such particularly high quality.” Major Long leaves at the end of next week to continue his mission in Australia.

CONTROL OF OYSTER BEDS.

Press Association AUCKLAND, yesterday. A deputation of oystek-pickers waited upon the Minister for Marine on Saturday. They stated that there were practically no oysters worth picking on ltangitoto, and very few on Motutapu. Oil the other hand, Waiheke and Pohui islands were thick with them, yet- these latter islands had been closed for seven years. Unless something were done, the oysters now ready to pick would die, and in dying would retard the growth of the younger ones. It was suggested that the Auckland fisheries 'be divided into four largo sections, one of such sections to be thrown open annually. It was stated that unless Waiheke were opened the price of oysters would be probably over 15s a bag, but if it were opened the bivalves could be sold at 9s per bag. The Minister, in reply, stated that whilst being anxious to further the oystermen’s object in eVery possible way, it was also his duty to the colony to see that the beds were not ruthlessly depleted. It did not matter to him whether Jieople in New South Wales were supplied or not. What he had to do was to see that |he people of New Zealand were supplied. Pie was informed by Mr. L. F. Ayson, Chief Inspector of Fisheries, that whilst the beds at Cabbage Hay and Hanpitot o had been stripped off the soft reck, the oysters on the hard rock were left unpicked. Mr. Ayson did not favor opening Waiheke or Pohui at the same time as the other beds, as they would be stripped clean in ono season. If Pohui and Waiheke wore opened oysters would be cheap for one year and dear the following year. He would consider the proposal to divide the district into sections, and would have a look at the beds during the coining week.

As the result of their interview with the .'Minister of Marine, the oyster pickers are now taking out licenses. The Customs Department are exercising special care to ensure that the boats licensed are well equipped and seqworthy.

“THE LAST POST.”

IMPRESSIVE NAVA I, FUNERAL AT LYTTELTON, The funeral of Herbert Richards, late gunroom steward on H.M.S. Powerful, who was found dead in bed on April 2St.li. took place on the following morning nt Lyttelton, the body being interred with full naval honors, deceased having been over IS years in the service. The large funeral party, numbering over a hundred, landed at the wharf about 9.30 a.m., and inarched to the Morgue, at the west end of Norwich Quay. The party included Flag-Captain Lionel Halsey, five officers, several ' midshipmen, detachments of bluejackets and marines, a firing party of 28 bluejackets, the fine hand of H.M.S. Powerful, and a number of the domestic staff, every branch of the ship’s company being represented. The body was conveyed from the Morgue, and placed oil a gun carriage, which was drawn by a party of bluejackets. A’ number of beautiful wreaths were placed on the coffin, which was covered with a Union Jack, while other wreaths and crosses were carried by members of tiie party. The funeral cortege proceeded by way of Dublin, “Winchester, and Canterbury streets, to {he Church, of England cemetery. The firing party, with arms reversed, and the ship’s hand lined up on each side of the entrance, the latter play i ng Beethoven’s ‘•Funeral March,'’- as the procession passed through the gate. The fiinerai service at the graveside was conducted by file chaplain of H.M.S. Powerful, tile Rev. Francis W. R. Metcalf, M.A., ami the scene was a most impressive one, the glittering gold lace and cocked hats of the officers’ uniforms, the red jackets of the marines, and the uniforms of the bluejackets making a brave

show in tlio bright morning sunlight. Alter tho coffin was lowered into the grave, the firing party of 28 bluejackets fired three volleys, and (lie bugler sounded the ‘‘Last Post.” The service over, the party formed up again, and, headed by tho ship’ band, marched down to the wharf, and returned to the Powerful ill their boats.