MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1821, 22 December 1879, Page 2

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

OHEISTOHIJEOH. Monday, Decbmhee 22nd. [Before G. L. Me)Hah, R.M.] Lunacy.—Richard Sweet and Geo. Cunningham, charged with lunacy through drink, were remanded for a week to Lyttelton Gaol for medical treatment. Dhunk andDisobdeely.—A first offender was fined 5s and another drunkard 20s. Bbeach o? Railway By-laws.—H. O'Meara was summontd for defacing a i£-’V-way ticket. Mr Cowlishaw appeared for the defendant. Mr Inspector Hickson said that, as Mr Cowlishaw intended to contest the bylaw under which the information was laid, he would ask for an adjournment of the case that the railway authorities might be communicated with. Mr Cowlishaw said that the defendant had paid the fare, and was only charged with tearing the ticket and rendering the date illegible. Mr Mellish said he would adjourn the case pro forma, for one week, that the railway authorities might be consulted. Negligent Dbiting. Fred. Dillon, charged with negligent driving, was fined 10s. M. Goodyer was summoned for not being near his cab. There was no appearance of the defendant, and Mr Hickson stated that the defendant had told him ha should not be able to appear, as be had been previously engaged,

He believed ho had a sort of defence, but could not say of wbafc nature. A cabman named Horner stated that on the Bth instant, the date contained in the information, tho defendant b horse bolted, the driver not being near the cab at the time. Another witneae. named Jones, saw the horse running away unattended. The defendant was not fined, but ordered to pay 10s, the expenses of the two witnesses, who made a donation of the money to the Burnham Industrial School. Wandeeing Cattle and Hobbes.—The following persons were fined the usual penalties : —O. O'Connor, Michael Doyle, and Joseph Waite. Deivtno ok the Footpath. —William Horwell and John Spring were informed against for driving across the asphaltj footpath in Gloucester street. The defendant said the asphalte was put down over a right of way to his own paddock. Ho was building a stack on this ground, and thoro was no other way to get to it with the hay but over the footpath. He had received permission to go that way. His Worship said the defendant had a perfect right to an ingress to the paddock, but he must not damage the footpath ; and he thought there was a little overstraining of the by-law in laying the information. The only consideration in his mind was the amount of damage, if any, that waa done to the asphalte. The case was adjourned for a week.

Miscellaneous. —W. Taylor was fined 20» for having in his possession un unregistered dog. A. Mole was summoned for neglecting to comply with the terms of a notice served on him by the Inspector of Nuisances to abate a nuisance on his premises in Harman street,. Sydenham. A fine of 20s was inflicted. J. 8. Buxton was similarly informed against, but his Worship said there was nothing whatever to show what the Borough Council required, and, as the defendant said he was willing to pay the costs of the summons, he would disclose of the case on that condition. William Holly was summoned for allowing a gorse fence, on the boundary of his property at the' intersection of Opawa and Wilson’s road, to encroach on a public road. The ranger said he would not press for a penalty, as the defendant had promised to have He hedge cut immediately. Ordered to pay 7s costs. J. E. Ingle was summoned for neglecting to keep his slaughter-house and premises in a proper state of cleanliness. After hearing the evidence of the inspector of nuisances and a number of witnesses called by the defendant, the Bench said it was evident a nuisance had existed, which had since been remedied. As the case was not a flagrant, one itjwould be dismissed. J. jW. Eountree was similarly informed against, and the Bench considered on the merits of the case that it had been proved. Mr Neck submitted that the by-law did not empower the Council to enforce a penalty, but the defendant was willing to pay the cost of the summons, and would undertake to do what the inspector required towards keeping the promises in proper cleanliness for the future. Ordered to pay the costs of the summons. The Court adjourned at 2 p.m., and subsequently a number of private cates for assaults and abusive and threatening language were heard and disposed of.