COURT RETURNS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 151, 8 April 1930, Page 6

COURT RETURNS.

FIGURES FOR LAST QUARTER.

LARGE INCREASE IN ASHBURTON

An all-round increase is noted in the figures for the Ashburton Magistrate’s Court returns for the last quarter, compared with the figures for the first quarter of last year. The most noteworthy increase is in the number of criminal cases heard, there being 188 this year and 102 last year. Fines increased from £63 last year to over £175 this year. Details are as follow, the figures for the 1929 quarter being given in parentheses:— Sittings by Magistrate, 5 civil (5), <j criminal (5) ; by Justices of the Peace, 6 civil (5), 31 criminal (15) ; total sittings, 11 civil (10), 36 criminal (20). Amount sued for, £l4Bl Os 2d (£943 ss); applications heard in Court or Chambers 26 (23); plaints entered 147 (105); distress warrants issued 13 (12); judgment summonses issued 29 (21); warrants of committal 6 (1); summons and other processes served by the Bailiff, within one mile 78 (45), outside one mile 55 (49); warrants executed by the Bailiff 13 (8); civil summonses served by registered post 44 (25). Criminal cases heard, ISO females (7), total 188 (102). Civil fees paid, £122 (£BB 14s), criminal fees paid £43 Ss (£29 2s), fines paid £175 13s (£63); total £341 Is (£IBO 16s). . s Revenue paid to local bodies out or fines imposed :—Main Highways Revenue Fund £29 ,15s (£11) ; Ashburton Borough Council £lO 10s (£4); Ashburton County Council £8 (£5 10s); total £4B 5s (£2O 10s).