RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT THIS DAY.

Thames Star, Volume VI, Issue 1783, 19 September 1874, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT THIS DAY.

(Before W. Fbaskb, Esq., R.M.) . _ _ , DBTJNKENNESS. William Harper was charged with having been drunk and incapable in Pollen-street, Shortland, on the 18th instant. Defendant pleaded guilty. EOGUE AND VAGEANT. - The same person was charged with having committed a breach of the Vagrant Act, by having been previously convicted as an idle and disorderly pergon. Defendant could not say he was a rogue. Mr. Sullen said there had been so many convictions against defendant that he appeared to be quite incorrigible. He had only just come out of gaol after performing a sentence of two months ; and had been several times convicted of being an idle and disorderly person. Defendant asked for one more chance, and he would not touch liquor again. His "Worship said that was about the tenth time he had been up before the Court. Mr. Bullen said the defendant had always made promises of amendment, and had never been condemned to the full extent allowed by the Act. For the first offence defendant was fined 10s or 24 hours' imprisonment; and for the second six months' imprisonment with hard labor. . LOOSE CATTLE. George Wilson was charged with'having unlawfully allowed three cows to" wander at large in Grey-street, Shortland (impounded). A lad in the employ of defendant appeared, and pleaded guilty. Fined half-a-crown for each cow, amounting to 7s 6d and costs. ANQTHEB CASE. William Davis was charged with permitting one cow to wander at large in Clarence-street, Shortland. (Impounded.) Defendant pleaded guilty, and was fined 2s 6d, and costs. \ ;'. ALLOWING A CHIMNEY TO TIKE FIXE. William Davy was charged with allowing the chimney of the house occupiel by him in Abraham-street, Grahamstown, to take fire. ■ ■ <. : Defendant pleaded guilty. Mr. Bullen said this was the first case brought under the Municipal Bye-laws. The defendant was a new arrival, and had gone into the house immediately on arriving at the Thames. Having neglected -to see to the chimney, it had taken fire. Defendant said he had been in the house, five weeks. ' His Worship said if the defendant had only endangered his own property, he might be excused, but by neglecting to take the simple precautions necessary he had endangered the property of others. He would, however, take into consideration defendant's being a new arrival, and impose the mitigated penalty of 5s and costs. AN OBSTRUCTIONIST. Kichard Lediard was charged with committing a breach of section 2#, Part 1 of Bye-law No. 1 of Borough of Thames by laying building material on footway in Abraham-street, Thames. Defendant said the obstruction had arisen by reason of verandah supports being placed on the path. He had gone to Mr. Dean for permission, but that gentleman had told him he only had power to grant permission for the erection of new verandahs. The verandah would have fallou down had he not supported it, and would have endangered peoples' lives. Sergeant Elliott said on Tuesday last he sawa man working opposite defendant's house, and also a sawing-horse, timber, and other obstructions. He spoke to Mr. Lediard, who said several Councillors and the Town Clerk had seen it. In answer to His Worship, defendant said it was impossible to do the work •without obstructing the footpath. ' " His Worship referred to the bye-l^w, and said ; I see there is no getting out of a penalty of ss, and I must support the bye-law. A fine of 5s and costs was imposed. Defendant said: I think | had better take it out. . ;f) His Worship : I should be willing to let ycu sojourn for a while in the station ; but I see there is no alternative: you will have to pay, as the Act does not allow you the option of a brief residence with Mr. Bullen.