RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4793, 2 August 1876, Page 3

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

♦ Tuesday, August 1. (Pefore J. C. Crawford, Esq., R.M.) DRUNKENNESS. Three persons were punished in the usual way for having been found in different stages of intoxication. BREACHES OF MUNICIPAL POLICE ACT. John Putter was charged as above, his particular offence being that he had not exhibited in his licensed hackney carriage the usual scale of fares. It appeared that defendant's carriage was one of those which can be made close or open at will. When the carriage was closed the card was visible, but when not closed it was invisible. Defendant regarded this apparently more in the light of a misfortune than a fault. The Magistrate said there appeared to be some difficulty iu this case, but defendant would have to get over it and comply with the law. In the meantime he would dismiss the case. Jamos McCall, for a similar offence, was fined ss. and costs. James Jones, who had allowed his pigsty to become a nuisance, was fined 10s. and costs, his Worship warning him that on the next occasion, should he be called to answer another charge, a heavier fine would be inflicted. AFFILIATION. An application was made by Martha Pitt for a maintenance order against Robert William Ind Carver, who as alleged was the father of an illegitimate male child, of which applicant was the mother. Mr. Buller appeared for plaintiff; Mr. Moorhouse for defendant. It appeared from the evidence for plaintiff that Martha Pitt was seventeen years of age ; that she was the daughter of Harry Pitt, boatman to the Customs ; that she had been in the service of Mr. Carver froili April last year (1875) until September in the same year, when she left; that while she was in_ such service Mr. Carver had been improperly intimate with her, and that a child was born in May of 1876, which she declared to be his. A little girl named Alice Keid, who had enjoyed the confidence of plaintiff at one time, as also plaintiff's mother and father, gave evidence. The defence consisted iu a denial of the paternity, and the defendant denied in toto every statement prejudicial to his moral character which had been made by the plaintiff. It was contended that there had been produced no corroborative evidence of intimacy at a time dating less than twelve months before the child was born. Counsel on either side having addressed the Court at considerable length, His Worship said he must hold the case proved, and would therefore make an order for the payment of 7s. 6d. per week by the defendant towards the support of the child, and to pay all costs.