LEVIN MAGISTRATES COURT.

Shannon News, 19 January 1923, Page 3

LEVIN MAGISTRATES COURT.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 1923 (Before Mr J. L. Stout, S.M.) UNREGISTERED FIREARM.

On the information of the police, a native named Topi Mark was charged with having an unregistered firearm in his possession. Defendant did not appear.

Constable Bagrie said that the defendant was deaf and dumb. On December 11 a disturbance took place among .the natives at Poroutawhao, and witness and Constable Greggan went out there. Some of the natives mentioned that Mark had a gun, and they were a bit afraid of him. He inquired if the gun was registered, and the natives said they did not think so. Inquiries were made, and it was found the gun was not registered. Constable Bagrie said he did not bring the charge with the view ol inflicting a heavy fine on defendant, but he contended that Mark was not a fit person to be in possession of a firearm. His Worship convicted and fined defendant 10/, with 7/ costs, the firearm to be confiscated. LETTING OFF FIREWORKS.

A charge of letting off fireworks was preferred by the police against. Buku Wilson, the offence taking place in Oxford street, Levin, on December 3(1. Constable Greggan gave evidence that he was on duty in Oxford street on New Year’s Eve. Defendant threw a large firework into the street just as a number of people were driving away home and there was a stampede of horses and vehicles and an accident was narrowly averted. Defendant was preparing to light another when witness knocked it out of his hand.

Defendant, who did not appear, was convicted and fined 10/, with 7/ costs. Constable Bagrie: Fix a default, sir, as he is pretty long-winded. His Worship: The default will be seven days’ imprisonment. INJURY TO HEIFER. R. Locke, drover, Levin (Mr Park) claimed from E. Briggs, Manakau, the sum of £3 4/9, damages for injury caused a heifer by defendant’s careless and negligent driving of a motor car on June 20, 1922, the heifer being struck by the car and injured.

Plaintiff said that on June 20 he bought some Jersey cross heifers at the Levin sale, giving £5 per head lor them. He was taking them along ihe road to a paddock when a car came along and injured one. He called out to the man in the car but he took no notice. He saw defendant later, when file asked witness to sell the heifer and f he would make up the difference between what witness got and what he paid lor it. The heifer! was sold lor £2, less commission. The other heifers which were bought at the same time realised £5 17/, less commission and ; he was claiming £3 14/9, the difference ; between what he got for the injured I heifer and what he realised for the I others.

Under cross-examination by defendant, witness denied saying he did not see witness knock the heifer over. He considered the car was going 30 or 40 miles an hour. He took the heifer to Tararua road after being knocked over. He admitted he could not keep ■an appointment with defendant to go ■and see the heifer as he had some business tO' attend to. Appointments were also made that defendant did not keep.

Constable Bagrie said he saw the defendant in connection with the injured heifer and he admitted he had knocked a heifer over and witness advised him to get the matter fixed up. He afterwards saw the injured heil'er sold and she realised £2, which was .her full value in the condition she was

Defendant stated in evidence that be was passing the stock when the fast ■one in the mob got in front of the car and it was struck. Under cross-examination, defendant said he had 15 years’ experience driving motor cars and he considered lie was a cai'efui driver. The mudguard of the car was slightly damaged by the collision. The Magistrate held that defendant was not exercising the care he should when he. struck the heifer and he should pay the difference In value which plantin' was suing lor, £3 14/9, with costs, £2 2/. :

CIVIL CLAIMS. Judgment for plaintiffs was given in the following undefended civil cases: Levin Borough Council v. J. Edwards, ' claim £1 17/6, costs £1 4/; A. E. Prime v. C. N. Carmont, claim £3O, costs £4 3/6; C. I\ Kendall v. Tokomaru Sawmilling Go., Ltd., claim £33 1/6, costs £4 3/6; K. Aitken v. D. Patuaka, claim £5 7/, costs £1 15/6; same v. Mrs B. Moore, claim £3 18/6, costs £1 10/6; J. Krivan v. W. Kiriona, claim £3 2/8, costs £1 8/6; A. Thorne v. J. Howard, claim £27 8/, costs £3 1/; Henry Leger v. James and Annie Groom, claim £7 10/, costs £2 10/6; M. J. Suhan v. Walter Winiata, claim £2l 4/4, costs £3 7/; same v. Tumiki Wehipeihana, claim £2, costs £1 8/6; same v.,A. Royal, claim £2 10/8, costs £1 S/6; same v. Ngahe Hohia, claim £l7 18/4, costs £2 [ 19/; same y. J. Collis, claim* £7 5/, costs

£1 10/6; same v. Mrs Heron, claim £5 ' 19/9, costs £1 10/6. j JUDGMENT SUMMONSES. j B. Kiriona was ordered to pay Messrs Park and Best the sunt of £4 17/ forthwith in default seven days. 11. Moorev hud an order made against him for the payment to C. 11. Martin of the sum of £46 11/6 in weekly instalments of £l, default being two months’ imprisonment.