MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1025, 3 August 1911, Page 2

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

The monthly sitting of the Magistrate’s Court was held before Mr A. D. Thomson, S.M.. yesterday morning.

FOUND IN POSSESSION OF FIREARMS. Hugh McDonnell, a youth under 16 years, was charged on the information ot the police, with being found in possession of firearms. He pleaded guilty, statin-r that he would be 16 years "uf ag on Wednesday next. He had only been in possession of the pea rifle for three weeks. The Magistrate inflicted a fine of 5s and costs 7s. Walter Baker, similarly charged, also pleaded guilty, and was fined 5s and costs 7s. SUPPLYING FIREARMS TO YOUTH UNDER 16 YEARS. Henry Smith was charged on the information ot the police with supplying a youth, Hugh McDonnell, under the age of 16 years, with firearms. Defendant pleaded guilty, but stated that he never for a moment thought the boy was under age. He knew the provision of the Act, and had there been any doubt in his mind as to the age of the boy he certainly would not have supplied him. The Magistrate said he was - . surprised at anyone taking the boy for over 16 years, as he was certainly a big boy. The section of the Act dealing with the matter, however, did not make any allowance for a person being misled by appearances. There was every reason for excusing defendant under the circumstances. He would be fined 5s and costs 7s. breaches op maintenance ORDERS. William, George, and Ernest Harper, were charged with failing to comply with maintenance orders in respect to their father. The arrears were £6, £3 18s and George Harper appeared, and gave evidence, but Ernest Harper did not appear. William Harper, in evidence, stated that the reason he did not keep up his payments was because his father had been earning 7s per day for some time past. Further, his father was spending the money he was receiving in drink. George Harper stated that his father was spending money in drink, and he (witness) did not think he should be called upon to pay under the circumstances. If his father was in need he was quite prepared to pay. The complainant, James Harper, gave evidence to the effect that he was working for some time for 7s per day, but it was broken time. He had not been working for some time. He denied absolutely that he spent money on dr-mk. The only drink he had was paid for by friends. The Magistrate reduced the arrears in the case of William Harper to ,£4, and George Harper to £3, and convicted and fined them 5s each with solicitor’s fee los 6d each, and ordered them to pay arrears within 14 days. Ernest Harper’s arrears were reduced to £l, and he was convicted, fined ss, and ordered to pay the arrears within 14 days. UNDEFENDED CASES.

Judgment for plaintiffs was entered up in the following undefended civil cases :—K. Coley v. A. Small, claim £\ 4s 6d, with costs los and Dr. Adams v. Fred Walls, claim £1 10s, costs ss. In the case Johnston and Wright v. Foxton Fishing Company, claim £5 ss, judgment was entered u F against Jas. Shears and William Andresen lor the amount claimed with costs 10s. JUDGMENT SUMMONS.

In the judgment summons G. T. Woodroofe v. Fred Walls judgment debtor did not appear and was ordered to pay £5 3s 4d forthwith in default 3 days’ imprisonment in Palmerston prison. DEI-ENDED CASH. J. W. Anderson proceeded against Jas. Shears, Ernest Dudson and William Andresen, trading as the Foxton Fishing Company, to recover the sum of ,£49 17s alleged to be due to him for wages, etc. Summonses had been served on the defendants Shears and Andresen, but Dudson had not been served, and the case was heard against the two defendants who had received summonses. The plaintiff, J. W. Anderson, gave evidence in support of his claim. James Shears in evidence denied that he was a member of the company, stating that he was employed by the company, he receiving one-third of the profits. William Andresen disputed portion of the claim. He stated that Shears was a member of the firm. After hearing the evidence the Magistrate entered up judgment for £36 8s with costs £2 Bs.