TERRITORIAL CASES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 34, 8 February 1913, Page 7

TERRITORIAL CASES.

ONE FIXE OF £3. Several Territorial cases were sot down for hearing at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning, before Mr Kenrick, S.M. ~ Charles Pearce, charged with failing to attend the annual camp, stated that he had received no notices, and did not know whether he had been passed by the doctors. Sergt.-Major Bonner said that defendant’s notices had been sent out, and had not been returned to the Department. His Worship hold that defendant had not excused himself from attending either drills or camps. The whole trouble was simply “want of enquiry.” In answer to a question, defendant said lie was a jockey, Mr Kenrick remarking, “You jockeys have been giving us a lot of trouble!” Defendant was fined £3 and costs 7s. Several other cases were adjourned, the Department’s explanation being, “Can’t find them, your Worship.” z A case against Cyril L. Jones, charged with failing to attend parades, was adjourned, it being stated that defendant had been pronounced “medically unfit,” His Worship requiring the certificate to be produced. THE SELLARS AGAIN FIXED, At the Patea Court on Thursday, before Mr Kenrick, S.M., there were several cases for breaches of the J)efence Act, of which the following will lie read with more than ordinary intrest as the defendants have become notorious throughout the Dominion owing to the publicity given to their cases when before the Court on a previous occasion :

Frederick Sellars was charged with being a person who being required to bo registered under Part VI. of the Defence Act, 1909, did fail to register within the time and the manner described. Constable Armour said he had received a letter from the father of the youths to the effect that the defendant with his brothers had left the Dominion.

His Worship said the defendant seemed to forget the main tiling was that the drill only lasted one hour a weok. Ho could not understand anyone objecting to this. He had his doubts as to the defendant having left New Zealand they said on the last occasion they were before the Court that they were leaving the country. In this case he would again fine the defendant £5 with court costs 7s, in default 14 days’ military custody. Captain Stevens said that ho had communicated with the authorities at Wellington who had promised to meet yesterday’s mail train and keep an eye on the defendants. His Worship said in that fase the police could arrest them at any time without any warrant. There was special provision in the Defence Act for this. Bergt.-Major Bell said he had seen the boys leave by the mail train yesterday. A wire was received during the proceedings to the effect that no one answering the description of the Sellars had left the mail train between Turakina and Wellington. His Worship said the authorities under the circumstances would take immediate steps to trace the defendants. Henry and William Sellar were also charged with failing to register. His Worship said the defendants would he convicted and fined the former £4 and the latter £1 with costs 7s in each case, in default 7 days’ detention in military custody, GREYMOUTH CASES. Many and varied were the excuses given by Territorials at the Magistrate’s Court, on Monday, for not having attended parades. Some Hunauga lads said that they objected to attending as it was against their religious and conscientious beliefs and right on top of the excuse one youth assured His Worship that he belonged to po church. Another lad felt so hurt because ho was not given a bugle to blow that he stayed away; one more made the excuse that lie heard tho “boys” from Runanga ’’spouting” on the corner and accordingly did not attend. A big youth of about six feet in height said that he felt out of,place drilling among small hoys among whom ho was placed. Some offered excuses and when asked straight out if they intended to attend parades in the future answered emphatically “no.”