MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 940, 12 January 1911, Page 3

MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

j The monthly sitting of the ! Magistrate’s Court was held before j Mr A. D. Thomson, S.M., yester- | day. j breaches ok licensing ACT. | James Hurley, Michael Lenii ban, and Edward D. Webb were : charged with being found in the Post Office Hotel on Sunday, De- ! cember 25th. There was no api pearance of defendants, j Constable Woods said he found I the three defendants sitting in the j bar parlour of the hotel at about | 10.30 o’clock in the morning, i When asked what right they had I on the premises they said they I had no excuse to offer. The i licensee was absent at the time, and the wife of the licensee, who was in the kitchen, said she did not know the men were on the premises. The Magistrate inflicted fines of 1 os, costs 7s in each case. Robert Coley, 19 years of age, i was charged with falsely swearing he was over the age ot 21 years for the purpose of obtaining liquor. Mr Moore appeared for defeudant and pleaded not guilty. He said that it was Coley’s first offence and he apparently did not know the provisions of the new Act. The barman had certainly told him he could not obtain liquor unless he was 21 years ot age, but the defendant did not take him seriously. He asked for leniency, stating the boy had already been severely dealt with over the matter. Sub Inspector O’Donovan said the circumstances of the case were that Coley, in company with several others, went into Whyte’s Hotel and called for liquor, and upon the barman challenging his age Coley said he was 23. The Magistrate said the provision in the Act referring to. supplying liquor to anyone under the age of 21 years was a very good one and he intended as far as possible to see that it was obeyed both by the licensees and the young men themselves. This was the first case of the kind in Foxton, but Coley knew the provisions of the Act, as he stated he was 23 when the barman asked his age. He would be fined 20s and costs 7s. breaches of the peace. Frank Williams and Harry Harrison were charged with committing a breach of the peace in Main Street, on the night of December 31st. Williams, who did not appear, had informed the Clerk ot the Court that he would plead guilty, and Harrison pleaded not guilty. Constable Woods stated that the two defendants were lighting in Main Street and he separated them. Harrison stated that Williams chased him up the street and started the light,and Williams said Harrison commenced it. After hearing Harrison’s evidence the Magistrate convicted and fined each defeudant 10s with costs against Williams of 12s and Harrison 9s 6d. MAINTENANCE CASE. In the claim for maintenance E. Charles v. F. Charles, an order was made by consent for 5s per week, to be payable fortnightly, first payment to be made on the 21st instant. CIVIL CASES. Judgment for plaintiffs was entered up in the following undefended civil cases ;—M. H. Walker v. T. P. Graham, claim ,£8 14s 3d, costs 25s 6d ; same v. Potaka Polaroid, ,£9 9s, costs 30s 6d ; J. Armstrong v. John Stott. £2 9s 6d, costs 5s ; Foxton Borough Council v. S. Saville, £1 os 7d, costs ss. JUDGMENT SUMMONSES. In the judgment summons case Percy M. Page v. Wong Lee, a claim of ,£l6, the judgment debtor was examined by Mr Moore, who appeared tor plaintiff. He said he was at present employed as cook at the Manavvatu Hotel at ,£5 per month and had been there for four months. Previous to that he had been employed by Mr Hadfield for nearly three mouths at the same rate of wages. Previous to that he had done practically no work for mouths past. He had a sick daughter in Wanganui to whom he had been sending money at different times during the past twelve mouths. The last money seut was £5 at Christmas time. Questioned by the Magistrate Wong Lee could not give any particulars about his daughter, further than that she was in Wanganui. The Magistrate said he was not satisfied with Wong Lee’s statement, and made an order for the payment of the amount forthwith, order to be suspended if instalments of £2 los per month are paid, in default 14 days in Wanganui prison. Fred Robinson, who did not appear, was ordered to pay Hankins and Loughuan £5 5s yd forthwith, in default seven days’ imprisonment in Wanganui prison. In the case J. H. Neil v. William Love judgment debtor was ordered to pay the amount, £2 js id forthwith, in default seven days’ imprisonment in Wanganui prison. CLAIM FOR WAGES. F, Bryant proceeded against GT. Woodroofe to recover the sum of £r alleged to be due for two day’s work done by plaintiff on November 2nd and 3rd. The plaintiff conducted his own case and Mr Moore appeared for defendant. The case for the plaintiff was that when defendant purchased the butchery business previously carried ou by M r Howan, he employed plaintiff for two days to show hjm the rounds and general working of the business.

The defeudant admitted that plaintiff worked on the two days in question, but contended the wages due should he paid by Mr Howan as per agreement with defendant. After hearing the evidence the Magistrate entered up judgment for plaintiff for the amount claimed with costs 6s.