MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Hokitika Guardian, 4 March 1930, Page 6

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

TUESDAY, MARCH 4th. (Before W. Meldrum, Esq., S.M.) DEBT OASES. Judgment for plaintiff was given in the following oases:— W. J. M. Hayward (Mr Murdoch) v. E. P. R.. Ferguson, claim £5 18s fid, with coAs 30s 6d. LICENSING ACT, Charges of being found unlawfully on licensed premises were dealt with as follows: An offender (Masonic Hotel) ordered to pay costs 10s Two offenders (Pioneer Hotel), one fined 20s and costs .10s, and the other 40s and costs 10s. DISiCHARGING FIREARMS. Two young women for whom Mr Murdoch appeared, pleaded guilty to discharging a firearm (a pea rifle) and causing damage Sergeant King stated the girls were aged 18 and .1.0 year. On 4th January they got hold of a pea rifle belonging to a boarder in an hotel. From an upstairs window they fired a number 4 shots across the backyard, and six windows in a nearby house were broken while two bullets hit a nearby boat shod. Mr Murdoch appealed for leuicm. and suppression of their names; His Worship said there was no doubt that the parties had acted quite thoughtlessly in firing the rifle. It was a. thoughtless and dangerous action, without apparently any intention to do serious damage. He would not enter a conviction, but would order them to pay for the damage done, and gave a warning as to action in the future. Suppression of their names was ordered.

BOROUGH BYE-LAWS

Borough Inspector (Air Park) v. AY. J. Webb, a charge of cycling on footpath. Fined 5s and costs 20s fid. Same v. J. Selby, fined 5s and costs 20s fid.

Same v. A. Singer, failing to keep rule of road at corner on motor cycle. Fined 5s and costs 20s fid. Same v. J.H. McGeorge, leaving car in wrong position. Fined 5s and costs 20s 6d.

Same v. J. Marshall, failure to keep rule of road. Fined 5s and costs 22s fid.

Same v. J. Cameron, allowing horses to wander. His Worship accepted the explanation of defendant and dismissed the charge. RESERVED' JUDGMENT.

Percy Olson (Mr Hannan) v. Dr. Buchanan (Mr Murdoch) .claim for £95 3s lOd damages as the result of i collision.

FI is Worship gave his reserved judgement, finding for plaintiff for the Tull amount claimed with , costs.

alleged theft. Police v. Arthur Muir (Mr Murdpoh), a charge of theft of various motor cycle tools, etc., of a value of £5, the property of Win. Antonio Boyd. Defendant pleaded not guilty and. elected to be dealt with summarily. William Antonio Boyd gave evi deuce that he was an employee of the ttimu Dredge. He was the owner of an A.J.S. motor cycle. On the evening of December 31st last, about 7 o'clock, he left his cycle in a horse box of the Railway Hotel yaid. I lie tools were in the cycle box. After niidiught when he went to the cycle found the tool bag had been opened and all the tools were gone. On 3th February came to town again, and placed the cycle there again. Saw another cycle there and examined the tool bag and found some of bis tools there. He swore to several of the rods as being his own, one being specially marked. To Mr Murdoch: There were 32 articles. The hag wa s burst similarly to his'own. The pliers were his own. It was not an A.J.S. part. ITo absolutely identified the chainless remover. He heard defendant admit his cycle was. in the yard on 2.=t December. He did not see the defendant, when.he (witness) recovered some of the tools. Albert David George Muir gave evidence that he resided at Arahura aiid was a brother of defendant. He owned- an Indian and his brother an A.J.S. motor cycle On Bth February he came in on his- brother’s motor hike. There were no tools in it when lie left home. He borrowed a spanner at. Toohey’s to take home. He; left it at the Railway Hotel, but when he went for it it was gone. To Mr Murdoch: Knew his brother used to borrow tools from Mills. On Bth February used his brother’s cycle. His brother was at Paroa the whole day. There were no tools in the bag. Constable Drummond gave evidence that on 9th February, he interviewed defendant who stated he had ridden the cycle on 31st December, and left it in the Railway Hotel yard. Defendant stated He had no idea how the tools came on the cycle, So wean t King gave, evidence that on Bth February. Boyd reported having discovered tools lie had lost in 11 motor cycle at the Railway Hot'l yard. His Worship said there was no evidence before him to prove the defendant was guilty of theft. It was proved the tool bag was. empty in tlie morning and that defendant was at Paroa all that clay. The chai go would be dismissed.