MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 July 1922, Page 6

MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

NEW PLYMOUTH SITTING. A sitting of the New Plymouth Magistrate’s Court was held yesterday morning, before Mr. A. M, Mowlem, S.M. IDLE AND DISORDERLY. Jack Pollock appeared on remand on a charge of being an idle and disorderly person, in that he had insufficient lawful visible means of support .Senior Sergeant McCrorie stated that inquiries had revealed that Pollock had been an inmate of the Weraroa Training Farm, and that he was awaiting further communications from the manager, He accordingly asked for a remand till tomorrow, but later in the day the police received a telegram from Weraroa in response to their inquiries, and Pollock was again brought before the magistrate, and ordered to be sent back to the training farm, whence he came originally.

UNREGISTERED FIREARM. Joseph Leslie Williams \/au charged with being in possession of a revolver for a period longer than, six days Without being the registered owner. Defendant pleaded not guilty. Sergeant Martin gave evidence that defendant had reported to the police station t$ notify his change of address in connection with the weapon, but could not produce the certificate of registration. Questioned, Williams had stated that he had registered the weapon at Upper Hutt, along with a German automatic, when the Arms Act came into force, both registrations being made on the one form. Senior Sfergeant McCrorie said that inquiries had been made of the constable stationed at the’Hutt, and he had not borne out defendant’s statement that the registration of both weapons had been accepted on the one form. A separate form was required for each weapon, but as the police had handled thousands of such applications the constable would hardly remember this particular case, more especially as it had occurred such a long time ago. As the weapon was not registered the police had to take action. Giving evidence, defendant stated that he had experienced difficulty in obtaining the forms when the Act came, into force, and that, when he did receive one, he registered both the weapons on the one form. The automatic had been banded in, and he had received compensation from the Government for it. Prior to going to Hanmer he had seen the constable, with whom he had registered the weapons, several times, and no mention had been made of the fact that two forms were required, or that xthe revolver in question had not been properly registered. The revolver was a war souvenir, and he desired to retain it. The Magistrate said there was no doubt that the weapon was not registered. Under the circumstances he would not order confiscation, but would merely enter a conviction and order defendant to pay costs. The revolver was to be registered immediately.

MAINTENANCE. ’i John McDowell was charged with seeking to avoid paying maintenance for the support of hie wife. Accused had been in custody for five days. On the application of complainant, Jane McDowell, the case was withdrawn, with the consent of the Court, accused being ordered to pay costs. The case of Theresa Hoffman v. Louis Ernest Hoffman, claim for separation and maintenance orders on the grounds of habitual drunkenness and failure to maintain, was adjourned for a week. The case of Blanche Penwarden v. Aylmer Roland Penwarden, application for orders of separation, maintenance, and guardianship, on the grounds of persistent cruelty and failure to maintain, was also adjourned for a week. BREACHES OF BY-LAWS. For riding bicycles on Carrington Road without lights, Claude Revell, Cecil George Tunbridge, and Stanley Phipps, were each fined £1 and coats 7s, while Francis Magnusson was fined 10s and coats 7s for riding a bicycle on the footpath in Eliot Street. For driving unligted vehicles, Chas. Haskell, Stanley Blackball, Joseph Bond and William Pratt were each mulcted in the sum of £l, with costs 7s. Charged with allowing his motor to stand unlighted in Courtenay Street, Henry Jeffery was fined 10s and costs 7s. Alice Sophia Gunson was fined £1 find costs 7s for allowing two of her cows to wander. Inspector King stated that defendant had been repeatedly warned about her cows, but without result. CIVIL CASES. Judgment was given for plaintiffs by default in the following undefended cases:—W. P. Nicoll v. W. Jenkins, claim. £9 5s 2d, costs £1 15s 6d; Robert Barlow v. W. Standish, claim £3O 4s, costs £2 10s; Carpenters’ and Joiners’ Union v A. Yardley, claim £2 Bs, costs £1 3s fid; Jessie Noble v. G. T. Woodward, claim £7 Is 9d, costs £2 4s 6d. RENT AND POSSESSION. Ann Goodin (Mr. Billing) claimed fj’om Dolores Elfine Berge the sum of £8 3s for rent owing, also possession of her house. Mr. Billing stated that possession had been given, and asked for judgment for the rent. Judgment was entered accordingly, with costs. NON-SUITED. John William Brayshaw claimed from Frederic Harrison Buckthought the sum i of fis 9d, being interest for 55 days on rent overdue. Plaintiff conducted his own case, and proceeded to quote a law of William IV. in support of his claim, and also read extracts from voluminous correspondence concerning a cheque forwarded by defendant for rent of a farm leased to him by plaintiff. It appeared that defendant had leased the farm with a compulsory purchasing clause, and that on April 20 certain payments had become duv. Defendant’s cheque had been returned twi<& £$ not in w-Jita.

it had been honored, fifty-five days had elapsed as from the date when the payment had become due. Plaintiff alleged that Buekthought had deliberately shuffled in the matter of payment, and accordingly asked for on the money. Defendant had refused to pay, hence the proceedings. Defendant gave evidence concerning the forwarding of the cheque, arid the Magistrate said that while the Statute quoted by plaintiff, might be English law, it was not New Zealand lay, and he would be non-suited. In any case it was a trivial matter.