MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 December 1917, Page 2

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

YESTERDAY'S SITTING. (Before Mr. A. Crooke, S.M.). by-law Cases. Herbert L. Jury was charged with mi the 13th December, within the Borough of New Plymouth, driving a motor car at an excessive speed. Thte Borough inspector stated that the offence took place at Fitzroy corner, and the speed at which defendant was travelling was between 30 and 35 miles on hour. Defendant very narrowly escaped collision with a tram car at the time. Defendant pleaded guilty and stated that he was going to Waitara with passengers, and had an engagement to keep later and was in a hurry to fulfil his appointment. A fine of £-2 (costs 9s) waß inflicted. For carrying a passenger on a motor cycle otherwise than in a side car, Waka Kakapa was fined 10s, and costs 12s. D. L. Morgan, for riding a motor cycle at an excessive speed, was fined 10s and costs 7a. For failing to notify the change, of ownership of a motor cycle, P. R. Wright was lined 5s (costs 7b). AN ERRING RESERVIST. F. W. Harrison was charged with failing to notify the Government Statistician of his change of address as required under the Military Service Act. The evidence of the police was to the effect that defendant had resided at Lincoln road, Ponsonby, Auckland, but in July last had come to New Plymouth to work. On being questioned he failed to give a satisfactory answer as to the notification of his changed address. He said he had told the Defence authorities in Auckland that he was coming to Taranaki. Defendant pleaded not guilty and his evidence stated that as he had since become over the age for military service he did not think it mattered about notifying his change of address. He produced his birth certificate showing that he was 45 on Juno 1, He said his wife and children had been left in Auckland and after lie came down to New Plymouth his wife had been ill in the Auckland Hospital, and the children had been boarded out. When his wife recovered she went to reside at a new address of which witness was aware. To Sub-Inspector Hutton: Had moved twice since leaving Lincoln road, Ponsonby, and had not on either occasion notified the Government Statistician. Tie had written to the Government Statistician after the police had warned him of the seriousness of hia offence. He wrote notifying that he had become over age for military service but had h"4 no reply, and thought he was clear of the whole business. He pleaded ignorance of the fact that his enrolment notice i-nntained instructions regarding the duly of reservists who changed their places of abode. Defendant was convicted and fined. £1 and *osts 7s, fourteen d.i.vs being allowed to pay the fine.

LIQUOR IN PROCLAIMED AREA. Richard Granville, who did not appiar, was charged that on or about the oth day of April, 11)17, he did at Kawhia unlawfully take two cases containing liquor into a proclaimed area without a Statement in writing of the nature and quantity of the said liquor being securely attached to the package containing such liquor. Mr. Quilliam appeared for accused, and pleaded not guilty. Sub-Inspector Hutton, in outlining the facts, said t.haft accused, who was a storekeeper at Marakapo, had purchased a quantity of liquor in New Plymouth which he asked should be re-paeked and sent to him at Waitara. Joseph F. Startup, part proprietor of a launch, had taken on board two cases for accused. The weather had been stormy, and the boat had been compelled to put into "Kawhia, instead of going to Marakopa. The constable at Kawhia, acting on information received, had searched the launch, and in accused's cargo had found the liquor in question. There was nothing on the cases to show that they contained whiskey, and the goods had therefore been seizen by the constable. At the time of the occurrence the accused could not be found but he was later discovered in camp at Featherston. Constable Smith, stationed at Kawhia, gave evidence on the lines set out by Sub-Inspector Hutton. 'He produced a copy of the manifest of the launch, iu his own handwriting, to the admission of which, however, Mr. Quilliam objected and his Worship upheld tho objection. Abraham Goldwater, wine and spirit merchant, said he remembered receiving an order from accused on or about the 30t.h march last for a quantity of liquor. The order was repacked at accused's request,, and sent by rail to Waitara. He did not know whether the cases were specially marked. He wought the order was re-packed into beer cases, in which case it would be easily distinguished as liquor. Mr. Quilliam, for the defendant, said it vas impossible for accused to appear at Court. He had understood that the case was to be struck out. He felt, however, that if his Worship thought there was sufficient evidence on which to coni vict a small fine would meet the case.

His Worship convicted accused, and in fiicted a fine of £1 with witnesses' expenses £4.

An order was made that the liquor should be sent to the New Plymouth Hospital.