RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.—GISBORNE.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1128, 23 August 1882, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.—GISBORNE.

This Day. [Before M. Price, Esq., R.M.] Police v. S. M. Wilson. The defendant was charged with furious riding on the 15th of August, at Waerenga-a-hika. Pleaded not guilty.' Constable Pcglar deposed : I was standing at Buniand’s Hotel. 1 saw the defendant with his man, they passed me at a walk, and when about 150 yards from me, they both started racing. I called Mr Burn and’s attention to it. There was Mr Te Kani and another person with Mr Burnand. The defendant went towards Makaraka. They were furiously riding. The defendant was urging his horse. The horse was going as hard as he could gallop, and was urged on by the defendant, who was not using a whip. R. Little was with defendant.

G. Burnand, sworn, deposed : I reside at Waerenga-a-hika. I know the defendant. I remember seeing him at Waerenga-a-hika on the date mentioned. I saw thd. constable there. Messrs Te Kani, Jackson, and Geo. Rowley were also present. The defendant was riding towards town. He was accompanied by a mon in his employ. They started ruling at a furious pace after they had passed ÜB, but passed us at a walking pace. There was a deal of difference between the pace they were riding at and a hand-gallop. The defendant declined to cross-examine, but eventually asked sundry questions relative to the witness’s memory, and called Te Kani Pere, who deposed : I saw defendant at Waerenga-a-hika. I was sitting on the form at the hotel; the defendant passed by. Noon after they got past they started cantering. I could not see them after that, as Colebrook’s store was opposite to where I was sitting. I could not see down the road. When the constable called Burnand’s attention to tljeir riding, I looked and saw thorn cantering. I did not see him use any means to urge his horse along. The pace he was going at could be ridden on any road. I could not say that they were going as fast as they could. W. Cooper deposed : I reside at Waerenga-a-hika. I remember the day in question. The defendant called at my place. He left again shortly, but I did not take much notice how he was riding. Robt. Little deposed : I am in the employ of the defendant. I was riding with the defendant on the 15th. I started cantering for about 300 yards, and Mr Wilson followed, I coidd have gone much harder if I had liked. We passed the hotel at a walk, ami then started cantering, The pace we were going at was nothing like a gallop, I reckon eight miles an hour a good pace. N. M. Wilson deposed : I went to the pa<l<lock for the pnipose of lytistering my stock,

After passing the hotel we started cantering, and did not use any means to urge our horses on. I believe eight miles an hour to be a good steady pace. I swear I was not galloping. We went about 300 yards at the utmost, and then hauled up on account of the mud. His Worship said, taking the evidence on both sides into consideration, he did not think a case of furious riding could be made out, and therefore would dismiss the case.

CARDEN V. EGAN. Mr Brassey appeared for the plaintiff, and said that as the defendant had broken his leg and was unable to appear, he would withdraw the case till the recovery of the defendant, when the information would be again laid. Case withdrawn. POLICE V. MACKAY. Charged with stealing £2 3s. Mr J. Maynard was called, and stated that yesterday, about 12.30 he was in the back room of his shop. “ I stopped the machine and came into the shop for some seasoning, when I saw the accused behind the desk. I asked him what was doing there, and he said, ‘ ‘ Nothing. ” I told him to go away. He went out and crossed the road. A young man outside said “ You had better see if you have lost anything; I see he has put something in his pockei.” I looked in the cashbox, and missed two £1 notes and some silver. I followed the boy across into Thelwall’s shop. I told him to give me the money, and he said he had none. I caught hold of him, and he threw the two pounds behind a cask, which he was standing near. After I got the notes I asked him for the silver, and he gave me a 2s-piece and Is. ” Mr McDougall, who appeared on behalf of the father, asked that he might be examined, which His Worship consented to, and stated that’the boy was employed by Mr McDougall. Mr Downe had spoken about the boy taking a bottle of lemonade out of a cart. “ lam able to control him. Ido not allow him out at night. He goes out sometimes of a night but not often. The boy is subject to fits. He had them first about two years ago. ”

His Worshih, after a severe lecture, sentenced the accused to 14 days in the Gisborne Gaol, and after that to be sent to the Reformatory for 1 year.