ELTHAM.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 April 1919, Page 7

ELTHAM.

Eltham, Saturday. At Wednesday's sitting of the S.M. Court a fine of 10s and costs was inflicted by Mr. A. Crooke, S.M., on George Crudan, a young man, for discharging firearms in the borough. An order of 15s per week for the wife and 5s for the child was made against Pierre Kugener, at one time living at Rawhitiroa, and who was arrested at Christchurch for failing to maintain his wife and child. Defendant's plea was that he thought his wife had died as a result of influenza. Edward Wells was charged with supplying Robert H. Clarke (burnt to death in his whare) with liquor, deceased being a prohibited person. Evidence was given by Mr. E. Parrott, coroner at the inquest, and also Constable Townsend, relating to Wells' connection with the fire, and being in the whare with Collins early in the evening Wells' evidence was to the effect that he denied giving a flask of whisky to Clarke, or leaving one on his bed, and did not remember stating at the inquest that he had taken whisky to the whare, although he admitted purchasing three flasks while in Eltham that afternoon. The S.M. inflicted a fine of £5, in default one month's imprisonment. According to Mr. G. D. Gow, who keeps the records, there were 7 wet days during March, the 15th being the date during which most rain fell, the gauge showing 1.63 inches. March, 1918, had 9 damp, depressing and disagreeable days, the worst being on the 28th, when the rain registered was 4.35 inches.