CITY POLICE COURT.

Thursday, April 4,

(Before Messrs E. H. Carew, R.M., and J, Logan, J.P.)

Drunkenness. William Baker _ (fourteen previous convictions) was fined ss, in default twenty-four hours’ imprisonment. A Juvenile Offender. —Beatrice Bertha Lucas (aged 13 years) was charged with being a neglected child—.Sergeant-major Bevin said that accused was, with her sister, brought before the Court last week on a charge of va» rancy. That charge would now be withdrawn and the present charge substituted, Constable Crawford said that the accused was found on the 28th ult. in the London Hotel in company with convicted vagrants and criminals. Five days previous witness had found her with her sister in places of questionable character, and accused had been repeatedly warned by the police. Accused’s father was a butcher on board the Wakatipu. and only came home once a month. Accused’s mother had informed witness that her daughter was deficient in education, and had never gone to school for any lengthy period. The accused had expressed a wish to be sent to the Industrial School, as her mother used to send her constantly for beer,—Sergeant Qearin said he had frequently seen the accused on the wharf and on the overbridge in company with sailors, etc. Accused’s father was a hard-working man. Witness had repeatedly warned the accused and

her sister, —Mr Carew said that to send the accused to the Industrial School would perhaps contaminate the other inmates, and to send her to gaol would perhaps be a very severe sentence.—Arrangements were made for the committal of the accused to the Female Refuge, and the charge was therefore withdrawn. A Similar Case - Hosannah O'Brkn was similarly charged.—Mr Gallaway stated that arrangements had been made for the taking over of the child by a Catholic institution for orphans in Christchurch. —The case was adjourned for a week.

Breach of the By-laws George Metcalf was fined ss, without costs, for leaving his licensed carriage unattended.

Adjourned. —The case Euaton v. Dickison was adjourned until the 11th inst. 111-treating a Calf.— Hugh Dunn was charged with cruelly ill-treating a calf at Purakanui on the 26th ult.—Accused pleaded not guilty, and said that what he did was done by several others.—Mr Gallaway prosecuted, and after evidence had been given accused was fined Is with costs 24s 6d.