COURT NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 December 1931, Page 6

COURT NEWS.

NEGLIGENT DRIVING CHARGE.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association) WELLINGTON, December 16. A charge of negligently driving a motor lorry on the Ngahauranga Gorge road on October 3, so as to cause the death of James Gilmbur, is proceeding iii the Magistrate/ Court, against Cecil Champion Mextecl. There is a further charge of. operating a motor lorry not equipped with brakes, or complying with the requirements of the motor vehicles regulations. DAMAGES CLAIM FAILS. * • CHRISTCHURCH, December 15. Harry Clement Harley, of Christchurch, was the defendant in a claim before Mr H. A. Young, S.M., for £292 14/- damages arising from a collision on the night of July 27. Plaintiff was John George Carey Cross, accountant, of Christchurch. The statement of claim set out that on July 27 plaintiff was going west along Bealey Avenue when a motorcar, driven by defendant, was so unskilfully anj negligently driven that it ran down tile plaintiff, thereby causing him grave injury, pain and loss. It was alleged that the negligence of defendant consisted in failure to keep ■,? proper look-out, failure to keep his | car under proper care and control, and failure to give warning of his approach. Judgment was given for the defendant, the Magistrate- stating that the accident was due solely to the. negligence of the plaintiff. DIVORCE LAW* ■1 AUCKLAND, December 16. In dealing with a divorce petition to-day, Justice lleid, directed that one party, who had never been in New eZaland, should be informed of the provisions of the New Zealand di-‘ vorce laws. Leoeadia Maria Pigott, was petitioning for a divorce from Ernest Richard Pemberton Pigott, on the ground of desertion.

The Judge made an order for personal service in India upon respondent, who is required to answer within 90 days of service. The Judge directed that respondent be warned that although the law enabling a wife to acquire independent domicile is perfectly good in New Zealand, it may not be so outside New Zealand, and therefore before respondent contracts another marriage he should obtain legal advice in the country where he proposes to re-marry, as to whether he is legally entitled to do so. CHARGED WITH FRAUD. SIX MONTHS GAOL. CHRISTCHURCH, Dec. 17 “This man has been living on his wits fortthe last six months,” said the Chief Detective, when Henry Stewart Roulston, thirty, a linesman, of Darfield appeared before Mr Mosley S.M., charged with obtaining credit by fraud from Catherine Kane.'’ Roulston, added the Chief Detective had been securing board on representation that he was an engineering student, and had taken a Wellington family down for £2OO. Accused was sentenced to lour months imprisonment.