MAGISTERIAL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2504, 30 March 1881, Page 2

MAGISTERIAL.

TIMARU—THIS DAY. (Before R. Beetham, Esq. R.M., T. W. Hall, H. Belfield,and E. Elworthy, Esqs. J.P.’s.) BREACH OF LICENSING- ACT. A. 0. Gr. Stone, licensee of the Commercial Hotel, appeared on remand, charged with serving a glass of beer on Sunday, March 13, during prohibited hours, to a person other than a hona fido traveller or boarder. Eliza Johnson, barmaid, deposed to receiving instructions from Mr Stone early on the Sunday morning not to serve any liquors. The defendant said that he had given strict orders that no liqunors were to be served on Sundays, but the girl had got the keys of the bar on the Sunday morning in question to clean the bar and the beer was served then. In reply to the Bench, Inspector Pender said the house was very well conducted and this was the first time a case of this kind had occurred in connection with it. The Bench said that under the circumstances they would dismiss the case, but warned the defendant to be careful for the future. UNREGISTERED DOGS. Edward Wakefield was charged with having an unregistered dog in his possession. Mr Wakefield said he resided in the County of Geraldine, and that he owned a number of dogs which he had always hitherto registered. This year be was desirious of paying the registration fee to the proper person in order that it might go to the Geraldine County, but there was no registry office nearer than Temuka. There was however a travelling Registrar of dogs, and making sure that he would see this person in the course of a few days he waited until he should meet him. Before he came round he (Mr Wakefield) was summoned to Christchurch on urgent business and during his absence, his dog got awaj', wandered into the town and was seized as unregistered. Directly the matter became known, a member of his family paid the registration fee and a further sura of 2s 6d, which, so far as he knew, was demanded illegally, and thus he imagined, the matter had ended. Two months or nearly tv/o months after the registration fee was paid and the law complied with, a summons was served upon him for having an unregistered dog in his possession and this he could only characterise as an act of malice, and upon public grounds and in the interests of thousands of other respectable people, he would ask that the present information be dismissed with costs.

Mr Lough, town clerk, and registrar of dogs, explained that the fee of 2s 6d, referred to by Mr Wakefield was charged for the maintenance of the impounded dog. His Worship commented severely on the delay in the serving of the summons, complained of by Mr Wakefield, and said it was monstrous, and that he would take good care that it did not occur again. His Worship added that if an information was applied for on any day it was the duty of the clerk of the court, and if necessary his (Mr Beetham’s) own duty to sit in the office all night in order to facilitate the work. In any case where negligence was proved it would be his duty to suspend any officer concerned, without a moment’s hesitation. He would take

care to have the matter fully invests gated. His Worship considering the case proved inflicted a fine of ss. G. Atkinson, H. Coxhead, S. R, McMeekan, and J. McLeish were each fined 5s for possessing unregistered dogs.

FAILING TO COMPLY WITH AN OHDEE OF THE COUET,

John Bull appeared to answer the charge of failing to comply with an order of the Court that he should contribute towards the support of his wife Mary Jane Bull.

Mr Tosswill appeared for Mrs Bull, and Mr Hamersley for the defendant. Mr Hamersley said he was prepared to produce evidence to show that the defendant’s wife was leading a disreputable life in Christchurch and he would therefore ask for an adjournment so that he might apply for an order suspending or varying the order granted to the wife for maintenance. Mr Tosswill asked that the money in arrear should be paid to the Clerk of the Court pending the settlement of the case.

The Bench said it had no power to grant the request. The case was adjourned until April 27.