MAGISTRATES' COURT.

•Before Mr T. A. B. Bailey, S-M.)

DRUNKENNESS.

Threo first offenders were each fined os, in default 24 hours' imprisonment) aud another v.-a.s convicted and discharged. .\lexander .Alagee was fined 10*, in default 48 hours' imprisonment. VARIOUS CHARGES. William Cassin pleaded guilty to threo charges, of being fouDd drunk in Fitzgerald avenue, ot procuring liquor during tho currency of a prohibition order, and of wilfully damaging a. cab window, valued 10s," the property ot ono Thomas Jennings Davenport." On tho first charge ho was convicted and discharged- On the second he was convicted and ordered to come up tor sentence -when called upon, and on tl«» third he was ordered to pay the damage, in default seven days' imprisonment. ! THEFT. i William John Taylor (Mr Bishop) pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing at WooLston, on tho lib April, fifteen pigeons, valued at _sss. tho property of .Sydney IVagram. Ronald Chambers Fraser (Mr Donnelly) pleaded not guilty to the same charge. The chargo against Fraser was dismissed. Taylor was fined £'3 and costs. INDECENT ASSAULT. Robert James Wright was charged j with indecently assaulting a little girl > five years old. Accused reserved his I defence, and wa.s committed for trial. Bail was allowed, accused in £100 aud one surety of £100. ASSAULT. Joseph Donnelly, alias Deianev, wa.s charged with unlawfully assaulting one Lfugli Mc Kearney 'in Moorhouse avenue. Defendant pleaded just provocation, the cause of the quarrel being jealousy. Defendant was lined 40s. in default seven days' imprisonment. Lily Sim (Mr Bcswick) was charged by Frank Woodard (Mr Cassidv) witli having assaulted his wife. Defendant was convicted and ordered to nay witnesses' expenses, and come up "for sentence when called upon. ASSAULTLVG A CHINAMAN. James Nancarrow, fruiterer, was charged with assaulting in High street on the 2nd of April Yaun Tsun Chun, a Chinese missionary, and using • obsccno language. Complainant gave evidence thathe was staying in Christchurch on lus way up north from Dunedin. He went into Marshall's fruit mart with his friends Quong Hon and Chew Loo. Defendant pushed Quong Hop, who nearly fell down. Then ho pushed witness and C" ew Lee. The latter asked him not to make trouble in a public place but to como outside and fight if he wished to Similar evidence was given by Chew Lee, Quong Hop and Charles Cooper. Francis Wamford stated that ho saw ono of the Chinamen in the act <f striking defendant. Defendant had not used tho language in question ia his own hearing. Pushing and " skylarking " was frequent at fruit-marts. Tho charge of obscene language was dismissed.

James Nancarrow gave evidence that the crowd, amused at nearing a Chinaman bid 'eight blob" for a case of bananas, had begun to push. Ho had received a push behind from a Chinaman aud had put but his haud to avoid a collision. The Chinamau had then struck him with all his might, and invited him to come outside and fight. lie denied having used the language attributed to him.

Tho .Magistrate saiJ that he quite understood the cause of the ill-feeling between the European and Chinese fruiterers, but that the Chinese had equal rights to attend the fruit-marts, and that the assault has been perfectly unjustifiable.. He. would .inflict a fine 01 7s and cost? 13s.