MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 September 1915, Page 3

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

SITTING AT NEW PLYMOUTH. A sitting of the New 'Plymouth Magistrate's Court yesterday was presided over by Mr. A. Crooke, S.M. For riding a bicycle on the footpath, S. Mane was fined 10s and 7s costs.

R. J. Deare was charged with failing to close his chop by 9 o'clock on a Saturday night. In evidence, the inspector (Mr. J. F. Arnold) said that lie called at the defendant's shop at 9.25 p.m. on August 29, and found the door open, and the defendant was just finishing serving two customers. The defendant stated that on account of customers coming in continuously after 8.45, lie did not have the opportunity to close by 9 o'clock.—The Magistrate imposed a'fine of £1 and costs 7s.

Blanche Rosalind Leech pleaded not guilty to a similar charge, saying she was ignorant of the regulation. Mr. Arnold said he called at the defendant's shop on August 20 at 9.20 p.m., and found the defendant in the shop, also Mr, Bransgrove, who previously liad the business, and several customers. Bransgrove said to Mrs. Leech, "You should have closed at 9 o'clock, but I forgot to tell you." Mrs, Leech then gave evidence that she understood the closing time was 9.20, and the customers whom She was serving when the inspector entered had come in before 9 o'clock.—A fine of £1 and 7s costs was inflicted.