COURT NEWS

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 22, 11 April 1938, Page 2

COURT NEWS

LITTLE BOY ASSAULTED TRAFFIC OFFENCES g The monthly sitting of the Opotiki Magistrate’s Court was held this morning before' Mr. E. L. Walton, S. m. ( y ■ • INTOXICATED CAR DRIVER A charge of being intoxicated while in charge of a ear- was brought against V. Peterson, sharmilker, employed by Mr G. S. Moody. The accused pleaded guilty. Sergeant Isbistcr, who proseuted, stated that at about 6.30 p.m. on Saturday night, 9th. April, the driver of a taxi coming from Waiawa, as lie approached a corner about a mile from Opotiki, saw. a car conic around the corner oji its proper side. When about a* chain past the corner the approaching ear went to the wrong side. The taxi drew as far over as possible to the left but the car came on and collided with the taxi. Considerable damage was done to the running boards of noth cars but no one was injured. As a result of the accident, the police were communicated with and the accused was taken to Dr. A. J. Brass, who was of the opinion that accused was intoxicated. Not satisfied with this examination, the accused asked to be examined by Dr H. Mail who was of the same opinion as the first doctor. Sergeant lsbister suggested to the Court that accused be prohibited. The accused was prepared to consent to the order.

Mr G. B. Murray, who appeared for accused, said that lie was a good citizen and had been in his present employment for over 17 years. He was married man with four children, and in view of tlie fact that lie would have to meet the cost of repairs to two cars, 31 r. Murray asked for consideration.

The Magistrate imposed a fine of £ls and costs £1 Is. and in view of the fact that lie would take out a probibiton order against himself, his license would he cancelled for six months instead of twelve months. CHARGE OF ASSAULT AA’hatui Parekura, a Maori youth, was charged that at Oniaiu he assaulted by kicking a small boy. A second charge of causing unnecessary* suffering ro a horse by wounding it with a sheath knife was also brought against accused. Parekura Huritu, lather of the accused Parekura., was charged with assaulting the boy by striking him with a dog chain. Both accused was represented by 31r Hoi. Sergeant J. .lsbister, who prosecuted, stated that Parekura and the small boy were endeavouring to catch a horse in, a paddock and being unsuccessful deckled to drive it into a nearby cowshed. The horse broke away and when it was passing Parekura, he threw cr pushed a- sheath knite into it. Parekura. then warned the little hoy not to tell anybody of his act. The boy told his father who informed the owner of the horse. Next day Parekura stopped the hoy on his way to school and gave him a thrashing for telling. Further on the boy was waylaid by Pareklira’s father, who gave him Hits around the h'gs with a. dog chain. When the boy arrived at school the bruises and wounds were noticed by the headmaster who enquired into the circumstances and wrote to Huritu. Huritu went to the headmaster and apologised for his act. M'r liei, who appeared for both accused, said that Huritu’s wife was the hoy’s aunt and l .Huritu thought lief had a right to chat’ tise the hoy. .The hoy on both occasions had used a terrible swear-word, more terrible than any English swearword and the assaults were made under provocation. He asked that a lenient view lie taken. 'AA ith regard to son, lie just kicked the hoy with his hare feet. As for the wounds on the horse, Mr Hei did not agree with the* information. The wound was a shallow one about six inches long at. the slumldet^Sfcifri-niilk had been spilled by th^J^||^^a ml .Parekura had warned to move the horse to ‘anotli|fefiSpck. The knife had been thrown ju rage. Parekura was fined ££f:and;s&sts on the assault costs on the charge H bounding the horse. Huritu was fined £^|p|^^ts. TRAFFIC! OFFICES itpulii Basil Watson that in the iWaimana Gorge Hi'. January lie failed to keep possible 7: Siwi

to tlio Jeft of the roadway. Sergeant Isbister stated that he went to Rotorua in a motor-ear which he was ■driving at between 25 to 30 m.p.h. On the first corner in the gorge a ear came straight towards him. Sergeant Isbistcr swerved into the bank, the other ear striking him -and continuing, for a few yards. There was room lor another ear to pass outside defendant’s where the collision took place. A fine of £1 with 10s costs was imposed . A charge of driving a ear at Taiieatua at night without sufficient lights 1 was brought by Inspector Delves against Jack Coleman. The offence took place on Kobruary 25, when Wirth’s Circus was visiting Taneatua and the street was crowded with ears. The ear had no tail light and only one head light. .A fine of £1 with £1 costs was imposed. Cecil Roan, a traveller, was charged with exceeding 30 m.p.h. ml the Opotiki Borough. Inspector Delves who prosecuted, said that at 6.04 p.m. on. Show Day he saw a car travelling towards the Waioeka bridge, tie followed it along Bridge Street and had. to do 45 m.p.h. to keep up with it. He increase! his speed to 50 m.p.h. further on and was only, keeping up with the car. The magistrate read an affidavit from the defendant, in which lie stated he did not drive at a. greater speed than 30 m.p.h. He also said that the inspector appeared to be guessing at the speech'as "lie did not see him in his mirror at any stage. Defendant , was convicted, andi fined £3 with costs 10s. i \ Robert Merriman charged by Inspector Morell witli/z-iding a. bicycle at night without a light. A fine of: * 5s with 10s costs was imposed. Walter Jennings was charged by In- * spector Morell with r iding a motorcycle without an efficient silencer. Defendant was fined 10s and costs. *