COURTS.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 212, 13 June 1872, Page 3

COURTS.

POLICE COURT.— Wednesday. (Before W. FRASER, Esq., R.M.) SUNDAY TRADING. William Joseph Constant was charged with unlawfully suffering alcoholic liquor to he drunk in his licensed premises, the Camden Hotel, Shorthand, on Sunday last. Mr Macdonald appeared for defendant, and pleaded guilty on behalf of his client, stating that the liquor had been supplied by defendant’s servant, at the urgent request of a woman, and without payment. It might appear that Mr Constant has done this in the face of the prosecutions, and warning afforded by the eases which were dealt with on Saturday, but he had not been aware of the prosecutions having been instituted. Mr Bui leu said a woman named Jane Goldsmith had been convicted on Monday morning of being drunk and disorderly on the previous day. This was the person supplied by the defendant. The R-.M. said he was determined to increase the penalties iu these cases gradually until the maximum penalty was reached, and if the publicans could stand that, then they must be doing a better business tlun he thought they were. He would fine defendant 40s and costs. BREACH OF MUNICIPAL POLICE ACT. B. Chiunick was charged with a breach of the above Act, by being at such a distance fretn his cart as not to have full control of the horse drawing the same, at Parawai, on the 7th instant. Defendant pleaded not guilty. Henry Stillwell, Inspector under the Parawai Road Board, proved the offence, and that, to the best of his belief, the corse and cart were left on this road for an hour and a half. Defendant said Mr Stillwell had a spite against him, and had brought this case against him in consequence. Defendant was fined Is and costs. WARDEN’S COURT.—Y esterday. (Before W. FRASER, Esq., Warden.) W. THOMAS AND OTHERS V. BRIGHT SMILE G.M.C. This long pending case against the Bright Smile G.M.C., for encroachment, was agaiu called on. The Warden asked if there was any arrangement made with regard to a further adjournment. Mr Tyler, who appeared for the defendants, said there was an action now pending in the Supreme Court, which included the cause of action in the present ease. There wore ,in point of fact, two actions. He did not wish to make any application which would prejudice plaintiffs in their absence. The prohibition case was still proceeding. The Warden said it would be the safest plan to adjourn to a fixed date, and to give notice that if the parties did not then appear the case would he struck out. The case was adjourned until the 10th July. The Warden said he would give notice that if there was no appearance on the part of plaintiff on that day the case would be struck out.

J. D. WICKHAM V. I>. KELLY. This was a complaint for encroachment upon the Last of the Supers claim (late Pukchinau.) Mr Tyler for complainant, Mr Macdonald for defendant. Mr Tyler said there had been an arrangement arrived at between the parties in this ease, and that it would be unnecessary to proceed with the action —Wickham and Kelly having amalgamated He would, therefore, apply to have the case withdrawn. Case withdrawn accordingly. C. s. BROWN AND ANOTHER V. M. BRITT AND OTHERS. This was an application for forfeiture for non-working the Golden 1\ ey claim, on the Moanataiari. On the application of Mr Tyler the case was withdrawn, notice of discontinuance of action having been given. 11. MCILIIONE V. HUGH MAWHINEY. Mr Macdonald for plaintiff. This was a complaint by the Inspector of Miners’ Rights against defendant for occupying a residence site near the Tararu without being the holder of a miner’s right. The defendant admitted the right charge, but said he was about to leave the place, and did not think it worth while to take out a right. In reply to the Warden defendant said, he had been in occupation of the site in question about two months. He had found it very difficult to obtain work lately, and had also been in ill-health and not very well able to work even if he could get it. Mr Macdonald said he understood that defendant had been engaged in teaching the right way to get to the next world, but lie would leave the matter in the hands of the Court as Mr Mcllhone did not mean to press the case. The Warden said defendant ought to be very much obliged to the solicitor and to the Inspector for not pressing the charge, and he (the Warden) would let him off for ss, the nominal penalty, and costs of Court, 13s. He hoped defendant when teaching people the right way to get to the next world, he would impress upon them the necessity of being honest in this world. No man had any right to occupy any portion of the goldfield without a miner’s right, as it was defrauding the natives, to whom the land belonged. The defendant asked if a poor man had not got £l, what was he to do ? The Warden said whether a man had a pound or not he had no right to live on the goldfield, because the law did not allow it, unless he took out a miner’s right. The defendant, who said he thought this law very oppressive to the poor, then left the Court under the impression evidently that his was a very hard case indeed. ! Mr Mcllhone said lie would not press the man to pay the fine all at once, but would give him time.