MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10220, 22 April 1911, Page 5

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

MASTERTON—FRIDAY. (Before Messrs W. Beetham and T. Wagg, J.P.'s.) BREACHES OF THE BY-LAWS. George West, of Clareville, was charged with having ridden a bicycle without a light within the Borough between the hours of sunset and sunrise. He was fined .5s and costs 7s. William Petherick, Masterton, was charged that he did drive a motor car across the intersection of a public street at a pace faster than a walking pace. Mr Pragnell appeared for accused. Constable Dumphy stated he had seen defendant driving at the rate of about twelve or fourteen miles an hour. By Mr Pragnell: Witness would not say that defendant did not have the car under control.

Mr Pragnell asked for a dismissal, on the ground that the by-law had not been produced. He contended that the original by-lay must be produced before the charge could be sustained. The Bench considered that the copy of the by-law produced was in order. Mr Pragnell stated that w:th his client's consent lie woul l appeal against the ruling. He then raked the objection that the p.Mice hod no power to proceed on a charge of this kind under the by-lawo, as they had been passed in the year 1904. while a Motor-Regulation Act had been passed in the year 1906, under which the information should have b«m la.d. Evidence was given by defendant, who denied that he was travelling to<: fast.

Sergeant Miller stated that the police were taking action with a view to preventing accidents. The Bench considered that the police had power to regulate the traffic, and that defendant had been driving at too fa-t. a. pace. A fine of 10s, with costs 7s, was imposed. Arthur Tunnicliffe was charged with having ridden a bicycle within the Borough between the hours of sunset and sunriso without a light. He was fined 5s and 7s.

Arthur Cowper was charged with having ridden a motor-cycle round tho corner of a street at a pace faster than a walk. A fine of 10s and 7s costs was imnosed.

Reginald Miller was charged with having ridden, a bicycle on the footpath in Pine Street. He was convicted and discharged.

TRUANCY PROSECUTIONS. Richard Jackron was charged that ho did fail to send two children to school. John Dineen, Truant Inspector, stated that defendant was the guardian of the children in oue.stion. who hacl not attended school fc several months. He bf>d called at Mr Jackson's place nrt'Vhiy'' ocl-fd b : ri tn send the children Him], noinfing out that; h*> wn~. +n r> twisty' for refusiriar tr> Defendant, however had refused to do a n . requested. Mrs Thompson appeared and stated that one of the children wns hers p"d that he was not allowed to go to the Masterton school, and she r i:i "ot want him to go to the Fefnridgo school. The Inspector stated that there was no room, whereas there was ample room in the Fernridge school. Mr Dineen stated that he .had been instructed to ask for a substantial penalty as the children had rot attended school since la?t year. A fine of 5s with costs was imposed in each case. A charge against Duncan McLaehlan of failing to send his child to school was dismissed. , One against Mrs Frederick Lee was adjourned. On a similar charge, Alexander Annan was fined 2s. and costs, 7s.