S.M. Court.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7918, 26 September 1904, Page 5

S.M. Court.

. PALMERSTON-HONDAY,

(Before Mr A. D. Thomson, S.M)'

UNDEBSIZED. FLOUNDERS.

George Langley was charged with taking from tidal waters, the Manawatu river, flounders under nine inches in length., ..-'■■■ : '• '.' ' .

Sergeant Stagpoole prosecuted. ■ Evidence was given by J; Carian and A- Bolstad as to. the fish being received fromI! the defendant and-'being distributed for sale m.Palmerstpri/-' ' .•■ , '

■ F. Egan, restaurantkeeper,;; daid lib purchased the fish from Bolstad and drew his attention to the undersized flounders —7} and S inches. -,Two others were thrown away. He informed the police. Defendant, said the fish'in question were, measured before they were bundled and sold. They were then of the right size, but Carian got them two days! oldarid they had shrunk. ",..'■•.

J. Tozer- said the fish were carefully measured -by him before they were 'bundled. Defendant instructed him to throw overboard any undersized fish. The S.M. considered the case proved, and inflicted a fine of 20s and costs 9s.

SUNDAY CONCERTS.

The hearing of the charge against Edmund H. Buckingham (Mr Mowlem) of charging for admission to a sacred concert at the Zealandia Hair on the 18th inst., was proceeded with, further evidence for the prosecution being tendered.

Frank lanson said he paid sixpence admission to the hall. The man at the door remarked that the price upstairs was one shilling and downstairs sixpence. pross-examined, witness said the prices for admission were not being called out by the door-keeper, but the information was given in reply to questions by the public. The person giving the information was, he understood, the custodian of the hall. . ■

Mark lanson gave corroborative cvi dence. ■

A. Bolstad said he enquired the price of admission to the hall, and was tdld one shilling each, upstairs. Witness thought no charge could be made on a Sunday night and only had threepence in his hand, but he had to pay 2s for himself arid friend.

Sergt. Stagpoole gave formal evidence as to the defendant's occupation. Before,proceeding with the defence Mr Mowlem raised the technical point that there was no evidence to prove that the offence, if any, took place in a public place, but tlie S.M. ruled against him. The first witness for the defence Was the defendant himself, who said that o"n the night of the concert, he told the doorkeepers' they were not to make any charge. People were • expected to pay something but the amount was left to their generosity. The custodian, Glubb, had nothing to dp with witness and as far as he (witness) knew, Glubb was simply there to look after the hall. Witness had his own doorkeepers employed. Witness told the constable '■ no charge was. being "made for admission and no one was refused. There Were between SOO and 1000 people present and at the former figure the average price paid for admission was 4UV The circle averaged 6d and the stalls 3d. •

- Cross-examined,' witness denied any responsibility for Glubb's action on the night of the concert.: He reiterated the instructions given to the'doorkeepers by him as to the charges, and added they were given before witness .was aware a policeman was on the premises. Further hearing of the case was adjourned till 5.15 p.m. on Wednesday.