MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 April 1924, Page 3

MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

THURSDAY. ABRIL 3rd. (Before W. Meldrum, Esq., S.M.) Wells Bros and Son (Mr Wells) v. B. .J, Rodden claim CIS Is 2d. Judgment for plaintiffs with costs Cl -Is. Same v. Thus. -Mills, claim C 25 Is 8d Judgment for plaintiff's with costs C 3 (Is. CYCLING AT NIGHT. F’or riding a cycle at night without a light, D. Stevenson, W. J. Gray, Robt. Gugieli were fined 5s and cost* 7,s in each ease. LICENSING ACT.

The Police charged a number of persons with being on licensed premises during prohibited hours, who were convicted as follows:—Two at Dunedin hotel, ordered to pay costs 7s each; three young men (Masonic Hotel) ordered to pay costs 7s each ; three country* residents (Pioneer Hotel), ordered to pay costs 7s each ; four local rw»ldents (Marquis of Lome Hotel) one being lined 20s and costs 7s and the other three to pay costs 7s each; four young men (Red Lion Hotel) one lor whom Mr Wells appeared and pleaded guilty, the others not appearing. Out* was ordered to pay costs 7s and three lined 20s and costs 7s each. F'our young men (Masonic Hotel) pleaded not guilty and alter hearing > ri lence the charges Mere dismsissed.

’lhe Police : lunged John Devaney, licensee of Club Hotel (Mr .Murdoch) with selling liquor after hours and with P. Devaney of supplying liquor. Five residents were also charged with being oil licensed premises alter hours unlawfully. The eases were heard toSergf King gave evidence to seeing live men ami a hoarder in the hotel, three having liquor, explanations being given lliiiL a hoarder had shouted lor three while the other two had come in to do business. Neither licensee nor sou were ])resent in tlu* room, whore the men were. In answer to counsel his \A orsliip said he did not require any evidence in regard to the two men on business which he accepted. After hearing the evidence o! the hoarder his W orsliip said he was satisfied the men were guests. The four charges against the men and the licensee and her son woti.d be dismissed.

The Police charged J. *T. Molarr-.n, licensee of Red Lion Hotel (-Mr -Murdoch) with exposing liquor and selling liquor alter hours, and J. Wallace with supplying liquor. Sergl King gave evidence that he saw in the bar parlor tuo men with liquor, the oar .slide open and J. Wallace in the bar. The licensee was in another room and .said he had just come fiom a motor drive, and did not kno" anv thing about it. The two men could “00 the contents of the bar. Wallace did not say the two men were his guests J, j’ Mclntosh gave evidence of having left Wallace in charge, and had just returned from a drive, and did not know who was in the hotel. W allace stated to the .Sergt that the men wore his guests and that he had supplied them.

J. Wallace gave evidence that he did not see the Sergt till he came into the second room, lie had thought ho had the right to treat those two men as his guests and lie told the Sergt so. AFTERNOON SITTING. The Court adjourned at 1.5 p.m. and resumed at 2 p.m. After hearing further evidence, Tils Worship said Wallace had no right to treat his personal friends. Wallace* was convicted and fined LI and costs 7s. With regard to the charge against the licensee he was satisfied there wa* no sale, and that the liquor was not, exposed for sale. The two charges against the licensee would he dismissed. DRIVING ON FOOTPATH. W. O’Brien was charged with driving « motor car oil n footpath on Gibson Quay. Fined 5s and costs ”s. DISORDERLY. The police charged four young men for whom -Mr Murdoch appeared, with disorderly conduct in Itevell Street at 1.15 a.m. on 25th March.

Constable Randall gave evidence that he heard a considerable noise in Revell Street and saw the four defendants calling out and pushing a spring cart along the road. They ran it mto Cameron’s stables. He would not say .they were drunk, but they made considerable noise. Three stopped at his call and the other cleared nut. Air -Murdoch said the matter was a very trivial one. The four young men passed along the street and saw the shafts of a trap protruding in the footpath and they picked it up and ran it down the street a little way and then had put it back before the constable came along. Evidence was given on these lines by two of the defendants. His Worship said the direct evidence was that these men hod had no liquof

that night. The matter was a trivial thing and the charges would be dismissed.