MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 February 1918, Page 2

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

YESTERDAY'S PROCEEDINGS. (Before Mr. A. Crooke, S.M.) Mr. A. Crooke, S.M., presided at yesterday's sitting of the Magistrate's Court at New Plymouth when the following cases were dealt with. BREACHES OF BY-LAWS. On the information of the Borough Inspector ( Mr. R. Day)— R. Honeyfield was charged with riding a motor cycle along St. Aubyn street on December 29, 1917, at a speed greater than 20 miles an hour. A fine of £l, costs 7s was imposed. F. Loesch was charged with riding a bicycle on the footpath in Autere street on January 21. A fine of 10s, costs 7s, was inflicted. Robert Emmerton for a similar offence in King street on January 31 was fined 6s, costs 7s. Roy Gilbert was charged with failing to keep on the left-hand side of the street while driving a motor-car and turning from Devon street into Brougham street. Mr. H. R. Billing entered a plea of guilty on behalf of defendant who lived at Hurworth and was not acquainted with the Borough by-law. A fine of 20s, costs 12s, was inflicted.

F. O. Jones, Koru, was charged with riding a motor cycle in Devon street on January 19 at an excessive speed, and was fined 10s, costs 19s. John Copeland was charged with riding a bicycle without a light after sunset on January 28 in Devon street, Fitzroy, and was fined 5s and costs 7s. H. Simmonds, Morley street, for a similar offence on February 5, was fined 5s, costs 7s.

Albert Prestney was charged with carrying a passenger on a motor cycle, otherwise than in a side car, in Devon street on February 1, and was fined £1 costs 7s. H. Kasper for a similar offence in St. Aubyn street on January 25 was fined £l, costs 11s. Alfred H. Goss, Mangorei road, was charged wtih leaving a motor car standing in the street on January 20, after sunset, without having a light on it. Defendant did not appear and a fine of 10s, costs 7s, was imposed. A. R. Davis, farmer, Pukearuhe, was charged with driving a motor car past a tram car on the near side on January 30, while the car was stopped for picking up passengers. Defendant pleaded guilty and explained he had brought a friend into town who had sustained an accident and was returning home in the evening. He was not aware of the bylaw, and at the time of the offence he was travelling alongside the car which came to a standstill. He was going very slowly. The conductor called out something to defendant and he understood it to mean that he should go on. He could easily have stopped. Inspector Day said ho did not press for a heavy fine. All he wanted was that people should be made acquainted with the fact that they could not drive past a tram car which was picking up passengers without infringing the by-law. They were entitled to pass on the right side so long as there was no other traffic to prevent them, but in doing that they, of course, took certain risks. He. wished to impress upon country people particularly the necessity for observing the borough by-laws. A fine of 5s, costs 7s, was imposed. The case against A. W. Ogle, for dangerous driving in Devon street, which was partly heard on January 31, was, on the application of defendant's counsel (Mr. A. H. Johnstone), further adjourned till February 21.

Darcy Herbert Bishop, on the information of the police, was charged with riding a motor cycle in Devon street, Fitzroy, on December 18, 1917, without a light after sunset. Defendant was fined 10s, costs 7s. On the information of the Taranaki County inspector— Albert Oliver was charged with allowing cattle to wander on the Mangorei road on January 5. He pleaded guilty. Mr. Quilliam appeared for the County Council and said that the practice of allowing cattle to wander on the county roads was very prevalent and the Council was determined to suppress the habit of using the roads for grazing cattle. The offence was the first committed by defendant and a fine of 5s, costs £1 15s, was inflicted.

Reginald Lett was charged with riding a cycle on Devon road, Waiwakaiho, at 10.45 p.m. on January 19, without a light. The defendant did not appear, and a fine of 5s, costs £1 8s, was imposed. VEHICLE IN PUKEKURA PARK. Albert Hardgrave pleaded guilty to a charge of driving a vehicle on a footpath in Pukekura Park on January 3. Mr. Quilliam, who appeared for the Park Board in the matter said the object of the proceedings was to give publicity to. the fact that vehicles were not permitted on the paths in the Park. Defendant had carted some soft drinks up to the tea kiosk in the course of his business. He was quite satisfied the offence would not be repeated and thought a conviction would meet the case. Defendant was convicted and ordered to pay costs 7s. BREACH OP THE PEACE. Leonard Francis Laurent was charged with committing a breach of the peace at the Bell Block public hall on November 14, 1917. Norman D. Day, school teacher, New Plymouth, said he went to a school concert at Bell Block on November 14. Defendant was in charge of the doors.. Witness was coming into New Plymouth on his motor cycle, and on seeing lights in the hall went in to see what was happening. It was just about supper time and he had supper with a friend of his named Goodwin. Defendant came up to them and some hasty words were exchanged which culminated in defendant striking Goodwin, and a fight ensued. It was dark, and witness separated the two men. Hughie Mace, farmer. Bell Block, said he was at the Bell Block hall on the night in question. He corroborated the evidence of the previous witness as to the fight between defendant and Goodwin. His Worship asked why the other party to the breach did not appear in the case, as it was not usual a deal with one without the other-Sub-Inspector Hutton said a charge had been laid but Goodwin had not been served The Magistrate said it appeared to him that very little harm had been done. The occurrence took place in the dark outside the hall and in the presence of men only. He imposed a fine of 10s, costs 11s. VARIATION OF AN ORDER. Application was made by the police for the variation of a maintenance order against Thomas Martin for the support of his three children who were inmates

of the Mt. Albert Industrial School. Under the previous order he had to pay 4s per week for each child, to his wife. Since that time the children had been taken from the wife and placed in the Industrial School and the Education Board asked for the order to be increased to 5s per week for each child. After hearing the evidence of defendant, who admitted spending money on smoking, drinking and racing, the Magistrate said that he thought a man who spent his money in that way and apparently did not stint himself could well afford the extra shilling per week, and made an order accordingly. WARRANT FOR ARRESTMary Sweeney was charged with using indecent language in a public place, to wit St. Aubyn street, on January 20. She was also charged with, on the same date, assaulting Edgar Loweridge ; and on the same date with assaulting Lilian Hutcchins, of Stratford. Accused did not appear. The sub-in-spector of police said she had understood clearly, that she had to appear at 10.30 that day, and as there was no appearance although the case had been held back he asked that a warrant be issued for her arrest. The Magistrate granted the application.