POLICE COURT.—THIS DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume XII, Issue 31, 6 February 1891, Page 2

POLICE COURT.—THIS DAY.

, » (Before Messrs W. C. Walker and C. La Roche.) Drunkenness. —Two persons were fined ss' and costs for first offences, dames Drake, who had be_n only one day oub of gaol when arrested, was characterised by the Bench as "a very bad case," aud lined £5, with the alternative of 14 days' imprisonment. Frank Drake, for a second otieiice within fourteen days, was sentenced to a lino of 40s, or seven days' imprisonment. Unseemly- Behaviour.—Barnabas Heath and Josephine Darkness pleaded "guilty" to a charge of behaving in Queon-street on the 6th inst. so as to commie a breach of the peace, and were each fined £2, wibh an alternative of seven d_ys' imprisonment.

Pugilistic Prisoners.—Peter Mudford and John Perkins were charged with fighting ill Albert-street-on the 20th Januury. Only Mudford appeared.—Sergeant-Major Pratt stabed thab the other accused, who was the principal offender, could not be found, and as Mudford had been twice before bhe Courb on this charge, he asked thab bhe case against him should be withdrawn, and the Bench consented bo this course. Goods on Footpath,—David Robertson was charged that on bhe 30th January he obstructed the Symonds-street footpath by placing goods thereon. —Constable Haslobb deposed that this was a common offence. On the present occasion the footpath was obstructed for some five or six feet.—Tho defendant pleaded guiity. — The Bench deemed it highlynecessaiy to keep footpaths clear, and as a warning fined the defendant Is and costs.—William Hooker was charged with a similar offence in Symonds-street. He pleaded guilby, bub urged thab pressure of business caused bhe goods to be on the footpath longer than usual. He admitted having been warned on several occasions.—The same remarks were applied by the Bench as in the previous case, and a fine of Is and costs inflicted.

A New Offence.—John Patterson was charged with allowing a hackney carriage to be in Coburg-street wibhoub an animal harnessed to ib. — Sergeant-Major Pratb abated that bhis was nob a serious offence, but ib was necessary to keep the streets clear. The defendant stated that the 'bus waa on the street only while the horses were changed in front of the stable. They had applied to the Council for permission to change their horses in the street, and the matter had been referred to a Commibtee. —Sergeant-Major Pratb said the by-law svas very clear in indicating that this was an offence. —Tho Bench considered a breach of the by-laws had been committed, and imposed a fine of Is and costa.

An Unlawful Fire.—-Elizabeth Austin pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawfully setting flro to inflammable matter (wood) ia Nelson-streeb, without having given notice in writing to the occupiers of the adjoining property, and also to the Town Clerk, of her intention to do so.—The defendant stated that the fire was lib in the yard for washing purposes. Ib was protected by an enclosure of tin. —Constable Clark deposed to having seen the fire, which he described as a very small one.—A fine of is and costs was imposed.

A Straying Horse.—James. Ebenezer Baker was charged with allowing a horee to stray on ground off Alten Road on January 28.—The accused did not appear, and the case having been proved, a fine of 5s and costs was inflicted.