MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 July 1916, Page 2

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

f& FIELD DAY. Yesterday was a field day at the Magistrate's Court, when a lengthy list of by-law and defence cases was dealt with, Mr. A. C'rooke, S.M., presiding. BOROUGH BY-LAWS. On the information of the borough inspector, John Lye was convicted and ordered to pay costs 7s for driving an express carelessly in Devon street, causing the stoppage of a tram-car. Oliver E. lloby was fined 10s and costs 7s for driving a motor-ear round the corner from Brougham street into Devon street on the wrong side 1 . Frank Bremuhl, who did not appear, was fined 10s and costs 7s for riding a motor-cycle in Devon street without having a license of efficiency. Walter Hooker, who pleaded guilty to a charge of driving a cab round a corner into Devon street at a pace faster than a walk, was fined 5s and costs 7s. COUNTY BY-LAWS. Mr. A. C. Grant, Taranaki county inspector (Mr. J. ,H. Quilliam) brought several cases against residents of the county for allowing cattle to wander. .Mr Quilliam stated that the Council did not press 'for a heavy penalty in the present cases. Edward Baker, Frank Baker, Arthur Boauchamp, A, C. Binnie and Andrew Neilsen were each convicted and .fined Is and costs 17s Od. R. Batkin, who did not appear, was charged with leaving a waggon on the Main South road at Puniho without horses attached. It was explained that the waggon had been left for three days and three nights without being lighted and with the hind wheel projecting on to the metal. He was fined 10s and costs £1 Ss. R. J. Riley (Mr. T. P. Anderson), for driving without lights at Mangaone Hill, was fined 10s and cos», 7s. DEFENCE CASES. A number of Territorials were prosecuted for failure to attend camp at Rangiotu. Regimental Quartermaster Ingham represented the Department. Avondale Gray, of Okato (Mr. A. H. Johnstone), pleaded guilty. Mr. Johnstone pleaded that he was milking from 90 to 100 cows, and owing to the labor difficulty was unable to get awav. He had written a letter to the Officer Commanding, but had not formally applied f or exemption, which under the circumstances would have been granted. The Quartermaster said the ease would not have been opposed, hut that he had three months in which to apply for exemption and had not done so. He was a regular attendant at drill. He was convicted and fined 5s and costs 7s. Ronald Gray, of Okato, also pleaded guilty. He was milking 50 cows with tlie assistance of a lad 14 years old. and fie work would have been neglected had he gone to camp. He had written to the officers, and, receiving no reply, thought it was all right. To the Magistrate: He had not noticed in the papers that others had been fined for not applying for exemption. Sergeant-Major Williamson said that most of the lads knew that the/ should apply for exemption. The Magistrate thought it would he an advantage if the men were informed on parade that after giving 14 days' notice to the commanding officer they should apply to the Magistrate for exemption. A conviction and fine of ss, with costs 7s, was recorded. Cecil Johnson (Mr. J. IT. Quilliam) also pleaded guilty. Mr. Quilliam said that he was the only partner in a business, of which his brother had gone to the front. He understood from the authorities that he was exempted, and had no wish to shirk his responsibility. A fine of 5s and costs 7s was imposed. Edmond -Michael Jones (Mr. A. H. Johnstone) was also fined similarly. He had enlisted, but was subsequently found to be unlit. Robert Kelly (Okato), who had enlisted four months ago, and only found out that morning that he was rejected a; unfit, gave as his reason that he was waiting to be called up. It was pointed out that rejection from the Expeditionary Force did not preclude service at camp, and as he was not liable to attend drills owing to distance, a fine of 10s and costs 7s was inflicted. L. O'Sullivan and Thos. Ryan, both of Okato, who -.'oub.l not attend the first camp and were awaiting advice as to the date of the next camp, were each fined 10s and costs 7s. Wm. Simpson, of Okato, stated that he had applied for exemption to the Officer Commanding, and had received no reply. It was admitted that his letter had been misplaced, but that he should have' applied to the Magistrate for exemption. He was fined 5s and costs 7s. Gordon Murray Sykes (Mr. A. 11. Johnstone) was also lined 5s and costs 7s. Frank Taunton was charged with failure to attend drill on May 20. He stated that he had been sent out into the country that morning by his employer and did not get hack in time. iSergt.-Major Williamson said he had received no notification to that effect. Defendant had only attended three drills out of six. The officers had been a bit lenient in the past, but had now made up their minds to prosecute anyone missing two successive parades. "The lads," he added, "tell the Court a good sort of tale, and that's the end of it." A fine of 5s and 7s costs was imposed.