MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 9, 29 May 1914, Page 6

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Mr. A. Crooke, S.M., presided over a brief sitting of the Magistrate's Court, N; '.•■ Plymouth, yesterday. CHARGE OF CRUELTY. A. J. Thompson pleaded guilty to having ill-treated a hor.se by driving it wh.,lf it was suffering from sore shoulders.

James Wallace, of New Plymouth, said that the horse's shoulder was in a bad stale whore the collar touched. The shoulder had the appearance of having partially healed. He could see no 'attempt to ease the collar. The wound was about two inches long, and very rau'. There was matter on the collar. JinVndant said that he had by mistuic- put Hip wrong collar on the horse. .It waj the first time he. had worked it. | Tiic shoulders were quite 'healed when lie pult the collar on. It waa fln old wound and had been completely 'healed. I His groom could prove the (ruth of this, but he was at Okalo. William McAllum slated that he had driven the horse every day for eight mouths. On April 17 he became ill and ! handed over the horse to defendant. Witness bad had a specially shaped collar to keep pressure from the wounds, but defendant evidently used the wrong one. The skin was completely healed, but the. hair had not grown. There had been two 'sores, one on each shoulder. After discussing the ease with Mr. Weston (who appeared for the inspector of S.P.C.A.), Mr. Crooke said that it appeared 'to, .have been an accident. He allowed defendant to withdraw his plea of guilty, and dismissed; the information.

I BOROUGH BY-LAWS. Richard E. Walsh, for failing to register a dog over the age of six months, was convicted and ordered to pay costs, 7s. David Chartcris, who did not appear, was for a similar offence fined 10s and costs 7s. Charles Reynolds, for footpath cycling, was fined 10s and 7s. Mr. 11. Tippins, Borough Inspector, prosecuted in all cases. INFORMATION" DISMISSED. A brief and amusing dialogue ensued during the hearing of the ease in which Harris Ford (Mr. F. E. Wilson) pleaded not guMty to baying failed to connect his premises with tho sewer. Mr. Tippins deposed to having served defendant with notices to connect on June 10, 1913, and November 4, 1913. He had not complied with these requirements.

Mr Wilson: He has been already fined for that offence, Mr. Tippins?—Yes. What are the steps which it is necessary he should take to comply with your notices? —He could see that from the notice.

But t want you to tell the Court what they are. He has paid the connection fee if—Yes.

And not being a plumber he could not do the work himself, but would have to get a plumber to do the work?—l have spoken to (he man he has engaged, who

said he was too busy to do the work iii'iv, but would do it in a few weeks, ton have seen a letter which the Borough Council received from the eon: tractor*?—l heard it read at the meeting.

And in that Copping and'Prestney say that they have had the order-, but owing to broken weather they have not been abie to execute it yet?— Yes, and the Council refused to grant any extension of time.

Then, in point of fact, Mr. Ford has done all that he could do in the matter?

- He has not put in a plan of the proposed work. There is nothing in the by-laws to compel him to do so. He cannot draw a plan of it. —But my notice tells him to. He has done all lie can. ft looks like persecution, although, of course, I ira not imputing anything against you. The Inspector continued to insist that his notices told the defendant what to do, and that they had long been disregarded. Mr. Crooke, S.M., pointed out that unless the notices were in accordance with the by-laws, they were valueless. Moreover, the defendant had already been fined, and since then no fresh notice had been served on him. He dismissed the information.