MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 April 1926, Page 3

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

THURSDAY, APRIL Bth. (Before W. .Meldruin, Esq., S.M.) On charges ol being on licensed premises utter hours convictions and tines were recorded as unions:—Two offenders (Commercial Hotel) rats and costs 7s, two to pay costs 7s cacu; one (Railway Hotel) 20s and costs 7s. DEBT CASES. JL M. Coulson (Mr Elcoek) v. F. Forester claim £2 17s fid. Judgment for plaintiff with costs 28s (id. ,J. Crowley (Fr .Murdoch) v. .las. Richardson claim £lO 8s fid. Judgmen for plaintiff with costs £2 14s.

G. MeCallum (Air Murdoch) v. A Henderson claim £5 18s 2d. Judgmen for plaintiff with costs £1 17s fid. A. Cederinaii (Mr Elcoek) v. ll Freitas, claim £8 Bs. .judgment fo plaintiff with costs £1 4s fid.

S. J. Preston (Mr Park) v. G. Dale judgment summons £5 17s (id. Ordo made for payment of amount wit! costs 15s fid forthwith, in default sevei days. Same v. A. Dale, judgment siiininoii £8 18s fid. Order made, for paynien forthwith, with costs, in default fin days. HEAVY MOTOR TRAFFIC. Inspector of Motor Vehicles (M Park) v. Thomas Robinson jr.. < charge of using a motor lorry without a license. Mr Elcoek for defendant pleaded guilty. Similar charges were taken agaius Francis Orr. George Bansgrovc. .fame! Toolicy. ami similar pleas entered, being heard together. Mr Elcoek said that the- regulation.had led to some confusion. The defendants had taken out licenses uudei the Motor Vehicles Act, but had not taken out licenses under the Public Works Act. Mr Park agreed that there was sonic confusion in reference In the taking out of licenses, hilt there was no doubt that the lorry owners had to take out a license to use the County roads. His Worship entered a. conviction and inflicted a fine of £5. with costs 7s and counsels fee £2 2-s in each case. OPOSSI'M SKINS. The Police charged Tier lie l Goodsir with lveing illegally in possesion of fit) opossum skills, at Lake Kanieri ; further at Hokitika with having possession of 57 opossum skins. Mr Murodch appeared for defendant and pleaded guilty, and asked for leniency. Sergeant King stated the man came from Gatlin's district, Otago, in February, and went to Lake Kanieri where he commenced trapping. When caught lie was engaged stretching skins and acknowledged he had been trapping. Twenty-eight traps were also secured. Later at Hokitika, they found 57 skins, some of them being very small skins. His Worship said it was possible opossums wore becoming a nuisance as stated bv Mr Murdoch, but the law forbids the taking of opossums out of season. Defendant, would lie fined £2 and costs 7s in each ease. The skins and the traps would lie declared forfeited. UNLICENSED FIREARM. Police v. Edward O'Fee (Mr Murdoch) a charge- of carrying a revolver outside of his residence without having a license and further with having ail unregistered firearm. A plea ot guilty was entered. Sergeant King said during a search at Kanieri Lake the revolver v.as found in a hut. In reply to tho Magistrate defendant stated he brought the- revolver from France. Ilis Worship said he would not order forfeiture. A line u! 5s and eosts 7s was indicted on the first charge and a conviction with costs 7s in tin- second. assault charge.

The Police charged Arthur Greanev with having assaulted (Ring Cluing and Lee Chong. M r Murdoch for defendant and pleaded not guilty.

Lewis gave evidence that lie saw Greanev go into Quong’s shop and gelsomething and l, fining came round the counter and chased (Ireanoy out. Greanev picked up a cabbage and threw it at Quong. Then Lallv (an assistant) came out with a- stick and

based Gitaiiey out to the street

Greanev threw another cabbage at another Chinaman. Did not see Greane.v strike I,alley. The cabbage hiiQuong and went oil to tile door. Then Quong went for the- police. Quong deposed he was a fruiteiet. Greaney came in and bought tomatoes. Greaney said no good. Witness told him to go out. He went out and came hack and humbugged Lallv. 'I hen Greaney threw' a cabbage which lit

witness on leg. but not much hurt. Lallv (a. Chinaman), assistant ot Quong, gave evidence in support. ‘ Constable Randall gave evidence as to an interview with Greaney who denied any assault.

His Worship said there was no evidence of an assault on. Lull,', llicic was no evidence of Quong having been hurt, though a technical assault- may have taken place. He would dismiss both charges. LICENSING ACT. Tho Police charged Andrew Snell. license the Railway Hotel, with selling liquor after hours, with keeping open, and with exposing liquor, during .prohibited hours. George N. Gifford (barman) was also charged with supplying liquor at the same time. A charge of being on licensed premises was also made against a- resident. Air Murdoch for defendants pleaded not guilty and the charges were taken together. Sergeant King deposed at 5.80 a.in. on 21st Alnrch visited the Railway Hotel. In the private bar he saw three men in front of open bar, two slides wide open. G. N. Gilford, the barman, was behind the bar and there was sufficient light to see the contents of the bar. One man had a glass o liquor. Two lodgers were there and two other men. Did not question the men. Went outside and saw tho licensee and told him trading was going on in the house. Snell said ho knew nothing of it. To Afr A 1 urdocli: It was the morning of the fire in Batv’s Garage. Constable Dougherty gave evidence in support of Sergeant King. To Afr Afurdocli: He saw no money

change hands. Mr Murdoch said that on the morning of the fire which threatened the hotel, after the danger had been nvcienmo the licensee had invited the iremen and all workers to have relreshments. . ~ Andrew Snell deposed ho was licensee of the Railway Hotel. When Sergeant King told him that morning that trailing was going on he denied that i. had when he left the house a moment before. The fire was a dangerous one and the danger was not over when t ie police spoke, to him. V itness saw the Superintendent and told him that there would he refreshments for the men in the, hotel. There was no question ot a sale. Told Heenun who was working next door at the fire to go into tue hotel for refreshments. He considered he had the right to entertain the men who had saved his home that morning. Francis McGregor deposed he was a member of the Fire Brigade. Heenau assisted at fires occasionally and was a willing worker. Went in cluri„,r the fire and got a hammer from Snell out of the bar. He told me to tell the Brigade to come m lor retiesh“patrick Brown, deposed he resided at the Railway Hotel. He heaul the licensee invite the firemen and workers to come in. , , David Heenan deposed he gate blip in running out. the hose at the ft. • Snell told witness to go in vnth the Brigade and have a drink. He on > had one drink. Gifford supplied the drink. He was surprised wben he „ot notice of the charge against hint.

afternoon sitting. The Court adjourned at I P- ln - nm resumed at 2 p.m. Goorce N. Gifford deposed he was barman at the Railway Hotel. Snell told witness to serve the firemen or anyone assisting, whom he told to come in. Served Heenan under these instructions as a gift. Mheu •- rg King come in he said: Pull clown the slide- and witness did so. Did not say why he had the slide open, as he was not asked. His Worship said ip regard to Ravin

Heenan. he went into the hotel on the, instruction of the licensee solely for the purpose of getting a drink, and' therefore, lie must ho convicted. In the case of the barman, he suplied liquor to a person unlawfully on th' premises, and therefore he also must be convicted. In regard to the licensee, there was no proof of the sale of liquor. In regard to exposure for sale, the bar was open for the supply to two lodgers, and therefore was /not /exposed for sale. -The charges npnin®' the licensee would he dismissed Gifford would he fined £1 and costs 7s. Heenan would he fined £1 and costs 7s,