MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 393, 24 March 1908, Page 3

MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

The monthly sitting of the above Court was held yesterday before ; Mr A. D. Thomson, S.M. The following parents were fined 2S without costs for keeping their children away from school without obtaining exemption certificates from the headmaster: —Andrew Wynd, Reese Baker, W. J. Whyte Arthur Reeves, and W. Knapp. The parents were present, except the last named, to defend their actions, and Mr W. E. Barnard j appeared on behalf of Mrs Wynd. j The Magistiale pointed out that it was the duly of parents to obtain exemption certificates] for their children's absence. Sending notes to the teachers was not sufficient excuse. If the headmaster refused to grant a certificate then the statute empowered the Chairman of Committee to do so, failing that, parents could carry their case to the Board. But they must produce a certificate of exemption. If parents sent their children to other schools then the headmaster must be apprised of the fact in writing, and certificates must be produced by parents in proof that their children were attending another school, before the headmaster removed pupils names from the roll. Judgment was given for plaintiffs in the following cases : A. R. Osborne v. W. Howie claim 24s 6d, costs los ; Watchoru Stiles and Company (W. K. Barnard) v. John Currie, claim £1 13s gd, costs 3s; F. W. Hopper v. F. Ward claim 3s 8d and 10s 6d, costs £3 is; official assignee (Lye Moon’s estate) v. J. Walls claim Bs, costs 5s ; it was pointed out that defendant had a contra account against the estate but as he did not put in an appearance judgment was entered against him. In the defended civil cases,Thos. Rimmer (W. K. Barnard) sought to recover the sum of 19s 6d from A. E. Shad bolt (L. E. Reade). It appeared that a certain quantity of oilcloth and paint had been purchased from plaintiff by a boarder at defendant’s hotel, named Lawrence, on behalf of defendant. Defendant was under the impression that the goods so purchased were to be paid for by Lawrence, and deducted from his board money, a portion of which was still owing. Lawrence denied any such arrangement. Judgment was given for amount claimed with costs, £1 os 6J. The Magistrate said defendant had his remedy for recovering the sum owing to him by Lawrence. George Gray so.ughl to recover the sum ot £g 13s 6d from T. Andrews for board and lodging of defendant’s groom. Defendant paid a certain sum into Court and disputed the difference- Evidence was given by defendant’s groom to the effect that he had arranged with plaintiff to put up at his hotel while travelling through the district with a stud horse provided plaintiff made the charge 1/- all round. Plaintiff informed witness that the price, of living had increased, and the tariff would have to be raised to r/6. Witness stated that plaintiff said he would not argue about the odd sixpence, and he was under the impression that the tariff was 1/-, and he informed his employer to that effect. Defendant stated that he never paid more than 1/- all round at any of the hotels in the district through which his horse travelled. In fact, hotelkeepers had solicited his patronage because it brought them a certain amount of business. Defendant had previously put up his groom with plaintiff who had never charged more than one shilling all round. He would never have consented to allow his groom to stop at plaintiff’s hotel if he thought the charge would have exceeded the amount stated, especially as his groom could have put up at an hotel opposite for is all round.

Plaintiff stated that he mentioned that the tariff would be is all round. He .had made no exceptions. The Magistrate entered up judgment for plaintiff for amount claimed, less amount paid into court, costs Bs. J. T. Ray (Mr Moore) v. J. V. Burr claim £5 2s 4d. The Magistrate said that as there was no appearance of debtor or cause for absence he would be ordered to pay the amount claimed forthwith in default five days imprisonment. Charles Dransfield was charged by the police with creating a breach of the Borough by-laws through leaving a horse and trap unattended and was fined 5s and costs 7s. James Wilson was charged by the police,with being on licensed premises after hours and fined xos and costs 7s.