RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1646, 13 October 1887, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Temuka—Wednesday, Oct. 12, 1887. [Before J. S. Ueswick, Esq., R.M.] FLACrNO AN OBSTRUCTION ON THE BAIL* WAY. Peter Grant (9), Allan Davis (10). and Fredk. Davis (9), were charged with placing an obstacle on the railway near Temuka, on the 4th iust, The boy? were taken on to tho Bench beside Hie Worship, and on being asked whether they were guilty of tbe offence, the Davie's said they were guilty, but Gmt denied it. The other lads, howfver, said he was there, and that he was equally guilty. James Curtis, a lineman, deposed that on the 4th inst. he was working on the line. He saw the children on tbe line about three quarters of a mile from where he was, and as they stayed there some time he went after them to see what they were doing, They cleared out before he got np to the place, and he then found several boulders placed on each side of the line. (One of the stones, weighing Beveral pounds, was produced). Ho went after the children and caught youne; Grant. He said he didn't place the stones on the line, bat the others did. All the boys seemed to be implicated. They wre about half a mile from the nearest house. Constable Morton said that the elder Davis's statement was that he put the largest stone on tbe line, and Grant put one on the other. The R,M. sail he considered them all alike. This was a very serious offence, and was bscoming of very frequent occurrence. Children were constantly being brought up for it, and it must be put a atop to. Parents must b", held responsible for tho acts of their children in these cases. The offence was punishable with penal servitude. fn this instance the children might have cnused the death of a number of persons. He would inflict a penalty of £1 upon each parent, and they must also chastise the children severely in the presence of a constable. Mr Grant said as soon as he knew what had happened he punished bis child very severely.

Mr Davis said be did not know that his children were away from school, as they had been ssnt there. As soon as he knew of the occurrence, he went to the schoolmaster and asked him to punish them. lie bad done so, and the witness had also punished them. Mr Brvars (the Head Master of the Temuka Public School) stated that he had punished the two Davis's very severely. He thought the elder Davis led the younger ones astray.

Constable Morton corroborated Mr Grant's statement, and His Worship expressed hionsolf satisfied, with the punishment that had been inflicted.

Addressing the boys the Magistrate said : If this occurs again you will not only be punished by yonr parents ; you will be flagged by the police with the •' cat," and you will be sent to a reI forraatory. Yonr own father and mother might have been killed. Yoa can go now. DISOBEYING AN ORDER OF THE COURT. The case against William Henderson for disobeying on order ot the Court for the payment of certain contributions for tho support of his wife and child, then came up. The defendant was not present nor was he represented by counsel. Mr Wood appeared for Mrs Henderson. Constable Morton said that the Timaru police reported that Henderson was in the Timaru Hospital and it would not be nafa to bring him out before Saturday, Henderson was taken from the Wellington Hospital down here, and since the wet weather set in be had been again anwell. His Worship said Henderson could not pay if he was ill. Had be means ? He would let tbe case stand over for a j month.

Mr Wood stated that he thought it had been proved when the order was made that Henderson conld pay, Now it was a case of disobedience to the order, * - Rig Worship it was stated . k d (list that Hendersons ban i» t .. morning, and the gentleman who was bail for him had gone into Tiraarn. Constable Morton said Henderson had been evading justice in every possible manner, and if ho were given a month ho might go np north again. His Worship said the bail could be increased. After some discussion, in which it was slated that Henderson had no means, and that his wife was receiving charitable aid, His Worship said he would order that Henderson should be brought up in Timoro on Monday if he was fit, This concluded the business and the Court roie.