OTOROHANGA S.M. COURT.

King Country Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 14, 1 February 1907, Page 2

OTOROHANGA S.M. COURT.

The first sitting of the S.M. Court at Otorohanga, was held on Thursday, January 24th, before Mr Northcroft. S.M. Mi' John Onusby (in the absence of the legal profession, and being one of the oldest settlers), made a few opening remarks. lie said he had been agitating for some time (assisted by the residents in the district), fo have a periodical sitting of the ("ourt held in Otorohanga, as, when it was decided to hold the ('ourt in various townships in the King Country, he thought that Otorohanga should not have been left out of the circuit, it being one of the oldest settlements in the King Country. lie said a long' felt want was at last supplied, and one that would prove a great benefit to litigants and persons concerned in these 111atiers, by saving' a great deaf of time and expense. Mr Northeroft, in reply, said that when the Government decided to hold S.M. Courts in the King Country, be recommended that ( Xorohanga should be included in the circuit, and did not know why they did not do so. These matters required a great deal of agitation and it was mainly due to Mr John Ormsby's correspondence in the matter, that the ('ourt was here now. The business of the Court was (lien proceeded with. John Ryan, charged with selling two bottles of beer, was convicted and lined £lO and costs, /s ; in default one month's imprisonment. On a further charge of selling one bottle of whiskey the same person was sentenced to two month's hard labour.

James Garrioch, charged willi supplyingliquorto a Maori who was under (he influence of liquor, was convicted and fined £l 10s 6s and costs, i'l Is Bd. A further charge of supplying liquor to a Maori for consumption off the premises was dismissed. For supply in, l ; liquor to Maoris for consumption off the premises, Charles Hadden and I'aora were both convicted and fined £l and costs, £l ]2s.