STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 June 1919, Page 3

STRATFORD.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) (All communications, letter 9, etc., left with Mr H. J. HojAins, bookseller, villi receive prompt attention.) MAGISTRATE'S COURT. OFFENCE BY BILLIARD-SALOON KEEPEK. John Sanko was charged with failing to close his billiard saloon at 11 o'clock in the evening. The defendant, who pleaded not guilty, was represented by Mr. CfDea..

Sergeant Dale said the information Was laid under section 54 of the Police Offences Act. The billiard room was situated on a railway reserve and the Borough Council had no power to make by-laws for 1 its control. There was in any case no borough by-law governing billiard saloons.

Evidence was given by a police officer that when he visited the billiard room at 11.40 p.m. the men in the room had just finished playing. He had warned defendant about keeping open late on two previous occasions. Defendant had offered him a couple of pounds to keep his mouth shut. , Defendant stated that play on the day in question did not continue longer than 11.10. A match was in progress, and that was why they did not dose to time.

The magistrate said that defendant must understand his saloon must be closed at 11 o'clock, and if a game was in progress the man with the highest score at closing hour must be regarded as the winner, or the game must be completed next day. The police could not stay up all night watching these places. A fine of 10s, with costs 7s, would be imposed. CLAIM FOR A DOG. R. McMulh'an (Mr. Coleman) sued F. W. Bredow and Alice Bredow (Mr. Moss) for £35, damages for the loss of a dog alleged to have been killed as the result of negligence on the part of the defendants.

It was. stated for the plaintiff that on the evening of the 26th, when his employee (Lander) was passing through Toko with four dogs, Mr. and Miss Bredow came along from the opposite direction in a motor car. The car was travelling very quickly, and was seen to bump over one of the dogs, which was killed. Lander said the dog that was killed was worth £SO. It had won several prizes in sheep-dog trial competitions. There was nothing wrong with the dog before it was killed, though as a result of over-feeding it had been known to take a fit. Miss Bredow was always in a hurry when driving the car and always wanted the whole of the ■road. When meeting her one had to look after himself.

John Jacobs, farm assistant, stated that on the evening the dog was killed he was overtaken by Bredow's car, which was travelling fast. Subsequently he saw Lander and the dead dog. Robert McMuUian, farmer and stock agent, said that on learning that the dog had been killed he visited Mr. Bredow's place and asked him if he was aware he had killed witness' dog on April 20. Defendant said he knew they had run over a dog, but did not think it was killed. He had been offered £25. and £3O for the dog two or three times. He valued the dog at £6O. If he was driving a car at 15 miles an hour he could pull up in three or four yards.

Owen Mackeloon gave evidence as to tie value of the dog and the prizes won at various sheep trials. Allen Outhbert, stock drover, stated that on behalf of a Whangarci man he had offered £25 for the dog, but McMuUian refused to consider any offer. Witness had been commissioned to purchase a good hunt-away dog, and would have been prepared to pay McMuUian more than £25.

Edward Johnson said he followed up sheep-dog trials, and would have been prepared to pay £3O for the dog, which might have been worth £IOO.

V. W. Bredow, sheep farmer, residing at Douglas, said that on the night of April 26, accompanied by his daughter, he was motoring through Toko. He re-, tnembored seeing the dogs, and when the accident occurred they were travelling about 20 miles an hour. The dogs came towards his car, two on each side, at full speed. Only a few seconds elapsed between the time he first saw the dogs and when they reached the car. As soon as Miss Bredow saw the danger ahead she. took her foot off the accelerator. *As soon as the dogs left the light of the car he heard a bump and said to his daughter that one of the dogs must have struck the car. His explanation of the accident was that the do? had run into the car. When he heard the bump the car was travelling about 10 miles an hour.

Miss Bredow, one of the defendants. said ahe had been driving a car for five vonri air' hj.fl never met with an accident of this kind before. The remainder of her evidence was similar to that of the previous witness. •TroJirment was given 'for defendants, who were allowed two guineas solicitor's GUN CLUB. The following are the results of the shooting matches hold by the Stratford Gun Club on Thursday:— Clay championship, off 18 yards, 21 birds: A Nelson and P. Casey tied with 16 each, Baker Green being runner-up with 15. Sixteen accepted.

In a twelve-bird match with fifteen competitors, F. Whittle (20yds.) snipped eleven and won right out; J. Martin (12yds.) just failed in the last round to tie, and put up ten to his credit- Baker Green (19yds.) and S. Coleman, oi Eltham (14yds.) divided the third money. In a six-bird match, with twelve competitors, Coleman aricl Colson divided, having shot five each, and J. Jackson and F. Casey were equal for third with four each. GENERAL.

At the Magistrate's Court on Thursday Percy Lewis Ward, aged 17 (Mr. A. Paterson), who appeared on remand from New Plymouth, charged with having on May 21 at Inglewood stolen a horse cover, valued at £2 Ms, the property of John Larmer. He was further charged that on or about May 21, 1918, at Waitui, he stole a black cow hide, the property of Robert Munaby, valued at 88 Cd, also about May 27 he stole four sheep-skins valued at Bs, one calf-skin valued at 3s, an overcoat valued at 50s, a pair of trousers valued at 20s, and a tweed hat valued at 10s. After hearing the evidence, the accused was committed for trial at the August sitting of the Supreme Coutf at New Plymouth. Messrs J. W- McMillan and C. D. Sole occupied the Bench. Messrs Newton King's Stratford staff met Mr. C. Randrupp, who was formerly' a member of the staff, and has been on a brief visit to the town, and presented him with a suit case as a mark of their tttoun- Tb.« prsMßtation vu ta*d« bjr

Hie manager, Mr. H. E. Abraham, who ! spoke in glowing .terms of Mr. iianarupp's ability as a salesman and his qualities as a man, While working a chaff cutter yesterday morning, Mr. E. Chard, of Hamlet Street, had his right hand severed and his arm crushed. He was taken to ,thb hospital, where his arm was amputated just below the elbow. At present lie is in a critical condition, T. LAMASON'S WEEKLY REPORT. Last Saturday my usual weekly sale was held, but owing to the very wet day only a small line of poultry camo to hand. The demand is still good for all lines. I quote as follows: Hens 2s to 4a each, ducks 3s to 4s Gd, pullets 4s to (is each; potatoes lis per ewt., bacon (factory) Is 3d per lb; apples 3s to 8s per ease; chaff, £ll per ton. Also sold milk cans and sundries at usual auction rates.

T. Lamason's usual sale is advertised, when a number of useful lines will be submitted to auction. POSTED DIRECT FOR 2s 6d. One Good Luck Writing Pad, One Packet Envelopes, One Penholder and Nib, One H.B. Lead Pencil. The pad is a new line, and good. Send postal note or stamps.—Charles E. James, Box 21, Stratford—Advt.