RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT, OTAKI.

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 30, 5 December 1879, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT, OTAKI.

— » Tuesday, December 2, 1879. (Before R. Ward, Esq., R.M., and .1. J. Ha ifield, Esq., J.P.) Mr Baker, Clerk of the Court, handed to his Worship a letter he had received from T. Dodds, who had been ordered by the Court to pupporfc his aged mother, in which he asked chat a warrant taken out against him for neglecting to comply with an order of the Court might be delayed, as he was at present suffering from ill-health, and had for some time been out of employment. The Ooutt did nut deal with the matter. BREACH OF SHEEP ACT. A charge laid against Robert Ranafield by Janv.'H Bevan, jun., of a breaoh of tho Sheep Act, was adjourned, as uso was a civil case arising out of the same matter, UU.EACII Of THE PEACE. Samuel Wilson and Moses, two native youths, wore charged with having used obscene language and committed a broach of tho peace in the streets of Otaki. Defendants admitted the offence. Constable Coyle said the youths were generally well-behaved. Fined 5s oaoh and oosts, 7s, in default 21 hours' imprisonment. The same parties were then charged with using obscene language. Constable Coyle proved the offence, and defendants were fined 10s each and costs, in default 43 hours' imprisoument. His Worship allowed defendants two hours in which to find the money. The fines were paid. GAMBLING CASE. Wm. Greenough w?s charged with having allowed gambling iv his hotel, 4)eing the possessor of a publican's license. Sub-Inspector tfoodall prosecuted, and Mr Greeuough coud'ictod his own caso. Alfred Knocks deposed— l was in the Telegraph Hotel on Oct. 8. and saw Jus. O'Donnell and Mr Bennett throwing dice for drinks; Miller, the barman, was present; I did nob see Mr Greenough there whilst the dice were thrown j I saw O'Dopnoil drink braudy ; he laid a shilling on the counter ; I did not see Miller take it up j I hea»'d O'Donnell say that was his last shilling. By Mr Greonough — I caunot say if I saw you in tue hotel the same night or next day ; lam not in the habit of carrying dice ; I did not see Mrs Greenough iv the bar ; I am not in the habit of taking dice in my pocket, and throwing it on your counter ; I did not send a Maori named Royal to your house one Sunday afternoon ; I did once scud a boy to your hotel to get liquor — I told him it was for a sick person. James O'Donuell, a half caste residing at Otaki, deposed— l remember being at Mr Greenwich's hotel on the day mentioned ; Bennett and Knocks were there ; we were shaking dioe for two drinks ; the dice were on a shelf, and Bennett got them down ; I lost the drinks ; Ido not remember whether Mr Greenough was fch3re ; Bennett supplied me wnh drinks. By Mr Greenongh -I don't remember you coining into the room after the due were thrown ; I saw you the following day. George Bennett, a man working on survey, was called, but he denied remembering anything of what the previous witnesses had deposed to. He said— l have not had a drink with O'Donnell for two months. John Miller, barman, deposed —I know fie parties whose names have been men tioned ; I have nut seen them throwing dice for the last thr .c mo at ha ; it is more than that since I did away with them ; I deny . the statements of Knock? and O'Donnell. By the Court —The dicewere put away before your last visit ; I burned the dice ; Knocks' statement is false ; I have no doubt in my mind of the truth of what I have said ; there never was any other box of dice kept in the house but the one I burned. The Court said no further evidence need be offered as they were determined to dismiss the case. Case dismissed. MALICIOUS INJURY. TO PftOPERTV. Kara tiana and Royal, two natives, were charged with malicious injury to tho property of Wm. Langley, by breaking three windows and a lamp globe. Walter Langley, a labourer, deposed The property destroyed is my father's ; on the day in question I saw defendants be tween half-post five and six o'clock. I saw Royal make a blow at a native, who fell back and broke the lamp, and smashed the window; Karailiana was trying to push Uoyal in ; the lamp globe is worth ss, and the glass 7s eaoh pane ; three panes were broken. By Karaitiana— lt was the day after Prince of Wales? Birthday ; I do not know the people were gathering up the fragments after the picnio, and enjoying themselves. Alfred Knocks deposed— l remember injury being done to the property ; Lauyloy was putting Koyal out when the window was broken ; the windows were part- of the door ; I did not see Boyal break the lamp. By the Court— Royal was the worso of liquor. Wm. Webher deposed— On the day mentioned we wjre playing cridkot in the schoblgronnds ; when we heard there was a fight on wh ran over, and I saw Karaitiana running into the hotel after the man he had been fighting 1 ; Langley tried to stop him, but in trying to get him out the window was broken. The charge against Karaitiana was dismissed, and Royal was find os and oosts, 12s, and ordered to pay the amount of the damages, 255. CIVIL CALEB. J. A. Knocks, collector of Otaki Highways Board, v. Hastwell and Maaara Claim £ I 9s 3d, for rates. No appearance of defendants. His Worship remarked that the affidavit of service bad not been sworn to. Judgment ex parte for amount and costs, 13s, subject to proof of service. Jf»hn Harper v. Wm. Fly ger.— Claim A'l los, for meat suppliod. His Worship said he bad just received a telegram from defendant, oikiag him to adjourn the oaie, ac

he had missed (he train. Plaintiff said ho was agreeable. Case adjourned, defendant to pay plaintiff 10s costs, and Is Court fee. M. Carkeek v. Letties Wilson— Claim £10 10b, upon a dishonored P.N. Plaintiff produced the note, which "had been returned by the Bank endorsed, "No account." He also produced a telegram received from defendant admitting the debt Judgment ex par to for amount and costs, 16s. Wm. Greenough v. Thompson — Claim £24 173 6d. No appearance of defendant. Plaintiff Baid the claim was for election, expenses, Thompson having acted as agmt for Mr Halcombs. His lawyer had advised him that Mr Halcombe was responsible. Case v/ithdrawn. Kei Parewhenake v. G. Bell-Claim £7, for destroying corn plnnted on two occasions. It appeared defendant's fowls had scratched up some maize sowed by plaintiff; it was about an acre, and uone of the corn came up. Plaintiff said he repeatedly complained of the damage done to' his maize by defondant's fowls. A native named David supported plaintiff's case; Hene, wife of Rei, also gave evidence in support of th claim. Mr Jenkins, for the defendant, said he had inspected the fiald ; it was not an acve — not half an acre ; three-fourths of the corn was now growing; the woodhens aho hare destroyed a quantity of maize in the district; the slugs had eaten his (witness 1 ), and no doubt had taken Rei's ; the part of the field near the creek was the worst, as thai was nearest to the place whpi'ft the wekas were. Thomas Bills also gave evidence corrob^ra'ing Mr Jenkins' statements ; he thought there would be a good crop, but that damage to the extent of 15s had been done. Judgment for 10* in etch case, and cojts, lss. P. Anderson v. P. G. Abel— Claim £1 Os 6d, for bread supplied. Defendant admitted the claim, and promised to pay the amount in a mouth. Judgment to that effect was given.