MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Hokitika Guardian, 11 April 1929, Page 6

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

THURSDAY, APRIL lltli

(Before W. Mcldrum, Esq., S.M.)

CHILDREN’S COURT

At a sitting of'the Children’s Court four hoys o.haYgefl with entering a dwelling and theft of tobacco valued at 4s were severely admonished by the Magistrate and discharged. DEPOSITING SAWDUST.

The Police charged D. P. Stuart (Mr Murdoch) with having allowed sawdust and sawmill refuse to flow into Hokitika river, in which trout had been liberated. A plea of guilty was made. Sergt. King stated when he visited the mill, the sawdust was being allowed to escape into the river in full swing. The river was in flood at the time and the sawdust was being swept out to sea.

Mr Murdoch said the river had encroached in the freehold, and was now running over a portion of it. Since last prosecution hundreds of tons of sawdust have been carried by the tram away into tlu* bush. He protested that this was the only mill that was being charged whereas other mills were sending their sawdust into the river and were not being prosecuted, while sawdust was being deposited into the river. On this particular day an employee let the sawdust go down the river as it was in high Hood. His \\’’orship entered a conviction and inflicted a fine of £3 and costs 10s. DEFENCE ACT. On charges of failure to attend parade. Cyril J. Schroder was fined 5s and costs 10s; R. Stopforth’s explanation was accepted and a conviction was recorded without line. DI SOR.DER LY CON DUCT.

The Police charged Victor Coburn, Thomas Currie, jnr., and Peter Zande, with disorderly conduct in Tailored Street on 17th March. Defendants did not appear. Sergt. King stated that these three young men came from Greymouth in a motor-ear. They appeared to be under the influence o ! l liquor. They chased a number of fowls belonging to Mrs Morgan. Young Morgan came out and remonstrated with them when Currie struck Morgan and a set to followed in which Currie got a hiding. These young men had since been interviewed by the police and had admitted being there and taking part in the disturbances. Leslie Morgan gave evidence that hearing a noise he went into 1 a norod otreet and found three young men •basing his mother’s fowls. Ibo) * topped when witness came along. Afterwards witness was struck by Currie and they hail a fight in which (-nine got the worst ol it. Two other lads gave evidence of seeing the men chasing the fowls, one having its leg broken. two having since been missing. The three men were fined 5s ana costs 10s each. In answer to Sergt. King for a request to include the cost of the fowls, His "Worship stated that was a matter for a civil action. LICENSING ACT.

Charges of being on licensed premises unlawfully after hours were dealt with as follows:

For being on Pioneer Hotel, one was ordered to pay costs 10s and two others 20s and costs 10s each. Dunedin Hotel, two were ordered to pay cots 10s each; one was fined 40s and costs 10s, and one 10s and costs l()s.

On Commercial Hotel, three were ordered to pay costs l()s each, and two fined 20s and costs 10s each. DEFENDED CASES

Police charged Win. Hall, licensee of Dunedin Hotel (Mr Murdoch) with keeping open, exposing, and selling liquor alter hours. A plea of not guilty \vki,s entered. Constable Best gave evidence of visiting the hotel, finding the slide ‘open, two glasses of liquor on the slide, the licensee being in the bar. 1 hree uen were in the room, one being a hoarder. Cochrane. The licensee said Cochrane ordered the drinks. RadomsKi said Cochrane had asked him to have a drink. When first asked Cochrane said' he had nothing to do with the drinks, hut when the licensee said they wore ordered by Cochrane, the latter said yes that was right, they were his. The licensee let the slide down and took the drinks into the liar. The licensee then came out and said the drinks were for two board■rs in another room.

William Hall, the licensee gave evidence that two boarders were in the •ecornl back room when one shouted. He went into the bar, and got two drinks and put them on the slide. Then was changing a cheque when he saw the two outsiders and the con.■tab',o in the room. Witness took the drinks into the other room where the two hoarders were who had ordered them. They had them and went out. Did not know the other two men were in the front room till he saw the Constable there.

His "Worship stated there wn« suspicion. but the case was imt- proved. The charges were dismissed.

ANOTHER CHARGE. Police v. John J. Morgan, licensee of .Masonic Hotel, charged with keeping open, exposing and .selling liquor nftei gjionrs. B. Biddnlnh was charged with not being the licensee lie supplied liquor after hours. Mr Murdoch appeared for

defendants who nb'cded not guilty. A person charged with being unlaw full'

on the premises also pleaded not guilty. Sergt King gave evidence of visiting the .Masonic Hotel. In a sitting room saw the licensee alone. Passed through two rooms and there found two men and B. Biddelph in the act of coming out of the bar. The two slides were open, with three drinks on them, which were taken by the three men. Ihe licensee was called and stated that Biddelph was his barman and authorised to sell on his behalf. The bar was open to view of those in the room. John J. .Morgan, the licensee, gave evidence* that when he left the front, all was locked up and there were only two boarders in one room. Biddelph’s duties as barman finished at li p.m. Was in the kitchen when the sergeant came in. Then Biddelph came for him and he went to the front where lie saw (lillooly for the lirst time. He did not know who supplied any drinks. He. had given Biddelph a week’s notice after the Sergeant had left. Thomas Gillooly, jnr.. gave evidence that he went to the Masonic Hotel to see Biddelph to settle up for a boxing class. Paid the money. He had a drink of sarsparilla and lemonade. That was his only drink. Biddelph shouted. Benjamin Biddelph "ave evidence that lie was a physical instructor. Was in the bar writing a receipt for Oillook- and then asked (lilloolv and n boarder to have a drink. Witness paid for the drinks. There were two sarsparilla and lemonade and one beer. His Worship said there certainly "’as no case against Morgan. Those charges would he dismissed. In regard to Gillooly. lie was entitled to be on the premises for his business, but was not • entitled to have a drink. Ordered to pay costs 10s. Biddelph was not entitled to supply drinks. Convicted and fined 20s and costs 10s.