TEMUKA.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, 13 May 1925, Page 7

TEMUKA.

(From Our Own Correspondent),

MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M., presided over a short sitting of the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. JUVENILE ESCAPADE. Two.boys were charged with stealing two rabbit traps valued at 10s. Sergeant Dwan outlined the facts of the case, and Mr Cumming, Probation Officer, stated that the parents of the boys were very respectable. After being severely admonished by the Magistrate, the boys were discharged. SPEEDING. Basil Muller was charged with driving a motor-car at an excessive speed. Ho pleaded guilty. Sergeant Dwan stated that the car was travelling at the rate of 40 miles an hour, and had crossed at least one intersection at that speed. In answer to the Magistrate, defendant stated that he had a license, but he could not produce it. Defendant said that he was travelling at 25 miles an hour. It was a new car, and he had only done 200 miles with it, so it is unlikely that he would travel at the rate of 40 miles an hour. Tho Magistrate said that he would not endorse defendant’s license on this occasion, but if such a thing occurred again ho would cancel the license altogether. Defendant would be convicted and fined £3 and costs. ON LICENSED PREMISES. Gus Scanned was charged with being found on licensed premises during prohibited hours, and pleaded guilty. Sergeant Dwan said that Constable O’Connor saw defendant entering the hotel on Sunday morning, and on following him found him knocking at the bar. On being questioned defendant said he was inquiring for a boarder. “Personally,” continued the Sergeant, “I know that the boarder mentioned lives in the hotel, but not in the bar.” (Laughter). Defendant stated that he had gone into tho hotel to see a man on businesn. Defendant was convicted and fined 20s and costs. MAXIMUM PENALTY. James McDonald (Mr Aspinall) was charged with exposing liquor lor sale during prohibiten hours, and also wit a selling liquor to a person who was not entitled to be supplied'. He pleaded guilty. Mr Aspinall said that at last Court day the barman had been fined. Defendant was responsible lor tho acts of his servants. The hotel was well conducted, and care would be taken to see- that it would not occur again. Tho Magistrate said that there was a certain amount of looseness in tho management of this hotel. Probably the license© was innocent, but he was responsible for tho acts of his servants, and if the looseness did not stop,' the license would be endorsed, and perhaps tho Licensing Committee would deal moro drastically with it. On this 'Occasion he was going to inflict tho maximum penalty. On the first charge defendant would be convicted and fined £lO and costs, and convicted and discharged on the second. THEFT. Henry. Gordon (Mr F. J. Smith) pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing a bicycle lamp valued at 17s Gd. J. E. Green, farmer, Hilton, stated that accused had been in his employment for one week and left of his own accord. Accused had gone to Temuka on a Sunday, and returned on Monday for his cheque. Witness had a bicycle lamp in a cupboard in the wharo which accused occupied, and later on it could not bo found. He reported the matter to the police. Constable .Southwark gave evidence of having got accused with the lamp on his bicycle. Accused made a stato- ; ment, which was read. Accused, in evidence, said that one day in the paddock ho had asked Mr Green for the loan of the lamp as ho was going to town that night. He had taken the lamp, but found that it required repairing. He got it repaired but by that time he had got work elsewhere.

.. The Magistrate said i)'nt he was mute satisfied that accused had unlawfully deprived Green of the lamp, and that was tantamount to theft. Defendant would he convicted and fined 20s and costs, in default seven days’ imprisonment.