MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 March 1926, Page 3

MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

THURSDAY, MARCH 25,. (Before AA\ Meldrum, Esq., S.M.) LICENSING ACT. The Police charged an offender with being on licensed premises (Commercial Hotel; .liter hours. Ordered to pay costs 7s. Three residents were similarly charged (.Kolcatahi Hotel). Ordered to pav costs, two of I7s, and one of 11s. R. P. AA’illctts, a prohibited person, was charged with procuring liquor and did not appear. Fined 20s and costs BOROUGH BYE-LAWS. Borough Inspector (Mr Park) y. A. Kavanagh, a charge of allowing a cow to wander. Fined 5s and costs 17s 6d. Same v. O. J. Nightingale, 1 cow. Fined 5s and costs 17s 6d. Same v. ,1. Lock, 2 cows. Fined 5s and costs 17s fid. Same v. H. Kearns, 2 horses. Fined 5s and costs 17s fid.

Same v. AV. Cunningham, charged with riding a bicycle on the footpath. Fined 5s and costs 17s fid. DEBT CASES.

Perry and Co (Mr Murdoch) v. .Alary E. -Maher, claim for £l2 7s. Judgment for plaintiff with costs £2 14s.

Ross Bros (Mr Pilkington) v. A. G Hothersall, claim for £ll 2s fid. Juilg liient for amount with costs £2 14s.

H. M. Coulson (Mr Pilkington) v P. H. Cross, claim £3 11s. Judgmen for plaintilf with costs 18s fid. A CHARGE DISMISSED.

The Police charged S. AY. Ford and .), B. Baird (Mr Murdoch) with driving motor ears in Weld Street at a spend dangerous to the public. Constable Best gave, evidence that defendants about .5 p.m. on Sunday. February 21st, were driving their motor ctir.s down AVehl Street, travelling west at a speed of .30 to *lO miles an hour, apparently racing abreast. They crossed the intersection of AVcld and Sewell Streets at this pace. To Air Murdoch—There was no ono else in tho street at the time. They the railway line and turned into Tailored Street.

Constables Dooherly and Spence corborrated, their attention having been called to the, cars by children in tho cars calling out and the hum of tho ears. Dr Baird gave cvidenco ho turned into AA'eld Street by Cass Square and Air Ford bv way of Fitzhorbert Street. At the railway crossing witness was 20 yards behind Mr Ford, going 9 to 10 miles an hour in a 10 h.p. Fiat ear. The children in the hack of the car were laughing, there was no screaming. Tttey were calling from ono car to another. It, was absolutely impossible to have been going 30 to 30 miles an hour. The pace was not more than 20 miles an hour. They were not travelling at a. speed dangerous to the public.

S. AY. Ford gave evidence that lie was not travelling at an excessive speed, lie crossed the railway crossing at 9 to 10 miles an hour in front of Dr Baird. Accelerated a little, hut not much. Could not turn into Tailored Street at over 20 miles an hour. Thought lie blew his horn when opposite Berry’s shop. There was no suggestion of a race between the two cars. Consider his pace at the clock crossing was a safe one.

His AVorship said there was no evidence of reckless driving, hut there was a conflict of evidence as to pace. The curs were both under control. He belli the charges had not been proved. The cases would he dismissed. FAILURE TO REPORT.

Police v. Ed ward Senile (Mr Eleoek) charge of negligent driving and further with failure to report an accident to his lorry. The first charge was withdrawn and he pleaded guilty to failure to report. Convicted and ordered to pav costs 30s. SERVING UNDER AGE.

Police v. Amos Dowell (Mr -Murdoch) a charge of supplying liquor at the A. and P. Show, to one. *K. Aitken. under the age ol 21 years. John Cutbush was also charged with serving. A plea of not guilty was entered to both charges.

Constable Kennedy gave evidence that he saw Aitken with a glass id liquor in his hand in the booth. He said John Cutbush had supplied. Cuthush said he hail asked a number of young men who came in if Ihey were over 21 and tliev said yes. 'I old the licensee about Aitken being served. a „d Dowell took the glass away and ordered him out of the booth. Sergl. King corroborated the evidence of Constable Kennedy and produced the birth certificate of Aitken: aged 19 years. John K. Aitken gave evidence that, he went into the booth to have n. ,1,-iuk. Ho called for ginger ale. hut what was given was shandy. He. did not drink any. He was sitting on a seat against the wall. John Cutbush deposed he was working for Mr Dowell at the A. and V. Show booth. Cummings called for four shandies and witness supplied them. Did not see Aitken till Constable Kennedy drew Hiis attention to him. Amos Dowell deposed he was licensee of the booth. AY hen he saw Constable Kennedy the latter told him Aitken had been served. When Aitken said he was under age took the glass from him and ordered him out of the booth. His AVorship said in the ease of Cutbush he was satisfied lie did supply liquor: that Aitken looked under 21 and that Cuthusli ought to have taken more precautions than he did. He would be fined 20s and costs 14s. In the case of Dowell he did not consider he was responsible, hut there was a. question of law as to -whether he was responsible for the act of liis servant and he would reserve his deci-

sion on this point till next court day. ASSESSMENT COURT. THURSDAY, MARCH 25. (Before AVavden Meldrum, Assessor.) The valuations of the AVestlnnd County mining properties came up for revision. Mr Park appearing for the County A'aluer (Air J. Peake) stated that the objections raised had been settled and withdrawn. The Valuation Roll was then signed as settled.