MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4371, 27 January 1922, Page 2

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

YESTERDAY’S SITTING. The monthly sitting of the Paeroa S.M. Court was held yesterday, conducted, by Mr J. H. Salmon, S.'Ml The proceedings were unusually lengthy. ARMS ACT CASE. George William Taylor was charged by the Police with having been in possession of an automatic singlebarrelled shotgun for a longer period than one month without having registered same. Constable J'- McClinchy (Paeroa station) stated that the accused had come along, to register the gun, stating that as, the weapon Had been for several months at the, gunsmith’s he had been unable to register it at the proper time.—Fined £1 and* cour-. costs. FURIOUS RIDING. Inspector Pennell (Paeroa Borough Council) took action against C. H. Rolton and W. Burnell, on a charge of furious riding. The Council’s solicitor, Mr J. L. Hanna, appeared for the prosecution and Mr J. F. Montague for defendants.

Mr loanna said the case was the first of its kind brought up under the present by-laws, and he wished His Worship to use it more as a warning than as a penalty.

Mr Montague said the defendants pleaded guilty, with the extenuating circumstance that one horse bolted and the other followed, but that one was pulled up gs soon as! the inspector called out.—Convicted and ordered to pay costs, ,17s 1 6d. ALLEGED ASSAULT. In the above case Mr ( s Clarice Higgins, Waikino, sued David Hughes, of the same for alleged assault by pushing her aside when going through a gate after some horses that had trespassed. Mr Hanna appeared for plaintiff and Mr Porritt for defendant. Questioned by Mr Hanna, Mrs Higgins gave the, details, stating that she wanted £2 damages from defendant, who refused, and pushed her on one side and then took ibis horses but.

To Mr Porritt witness admitted that Hughes did not hurt ihef. Gordon Mason, a lad of! 14 years, asserted that he had seen the pushing incident; lhe 'did not see any rough handling.

johnny Higgins, 13, corroborated, adding that defendant agreed to sigh a paper to the effect that he would pay £2 damages, but when witness went to get a pen'cil for the signature defendant opened the gate and took the horses out, shoving his mother to one side. “He was not exactly violent, but seemed a bit rough.” (The lad. gave his evidence with such clearness as would shame most elder .witnesses.)' David Hughes, defendant in the action, said he told Mrs Higgins the price of £2 was too high. He would see Mr Higgins. 'The horses ought to have been impounded and not left starving in the yard. Mrs Higgins had her hand on the gate, and. went back with it when he opened it, but there was no force or roughness used. To Mr Hanna, defendant asseverated that he did hot touch Mrs Higgins. His Worship said defendant was guilty of a technical offence.' He would be ordered t.o pay the costs of the proceedings, and discharged uni der section 92 of the Justices’ off the Peace Act.—Costs £1 iOs 4d. /