MARTON COURT NEWS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 33, 9 February 1939, Page 10

MARTON COURT NEWS

ALLE(i E D AI TER-HOI R TRADING INFORMATION DISMISSED MARTON, Feb. 8. A visit by Sergeant T. F. Brenchley and Constable W. T. Paget to the Marton White Hart Hotel on the evening of December 29 at 8.25 o’clock, led to the appearance in the .Marton Court on Wednesday morning, before Mr. R. M. Watson, S.M., of the licensee, Keith Chapman Scott, the barman Euwin Barfoot, and three men alleged to have been unlawfully on the premises, to answer several charges. Mr. K. A. Williams appeared for the defendants and pleaded not guilty 1 to all charges. The case was conducted by Sergeant Brenchley. After hearing the evidence, the j magistrate dismissed the case with a warning to the licensee. The licensee faced the following charges:—(l) Did expose liquor for sale during which time the licensed premises are directed to be closed. (2) Did sell liquor to Maurice Bevan. Owen Barnard and Thomas Davis. The magistrate, in dismissing the information, said he had to use discretion. “However,” said the magistrate. in addressing the licensee, “the evidence does not entirely satisfy me that the house is being run as it should be. particularly in the following directions: the practice of allowing boarders to serve in the bar should be discontinued, and the bar upstairs should be abolished and kept abolished. You have all day to serve liquor and you should keep it at that. At night you are not to turn it into a drink-house and be mixed up with it. If you persist in bringing outsiders into the house the Court will have to take the view that the conduct of the house is .not as it should be.” Remarking that he had exercised leniency, the magistrate asked the nolice to maintain surveillance of the house. ALLEGED SEXI AL OFFENCES A remand to February 16 was granted by the magistrate, Mr. R. M. Watson, in the Marton Court on Wednesday morning, when R. Ashforth, a native, appeared on a charge of carnal knowledge of a girl aged 14. at Ratana. on or about January 20. Bail was allowed, on own recognisance of £lOO. On a similar charge concerning the same girl. W. Ihaira was also remanded to February 16 and was ordered to be placed in custody until I the police had made suitable bail ar- | rangements. I Both accused will appear at a special sitting at Marton. I j CONVICTED FOR DRUNKENNESS Charles Raurangi appeared in the Marton Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday morning on a charge of drunkenness at Ratana on February 4. Raurangi was further charged with throwing glass in a public place. He pleaded guilty to both charges. The magistrate, Mr. R. M. Watson, ordered accused to take out a prohibition order and entered a conviction on the first charge, costs 10s, and a fine of £1 on the second charge.