THIS DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 21, 26 January 1897, Page 2

THIS DAY.

(Before Mr H. W. Northcrofb, S.M.)

Dronkennkss.—One firab offender waa dismissed wibh a caution. Alleged Aeson. — Frank Parkea, a man aboub 30 years of ago, waa charged with having on or aboub January 15th, ab Wairoa, near Rotorua, wilfully Bet fire to the Rotomahana Hotel, the property of Mika Aporo.—Sergeant Kelly asked for a remand to Rotorua.—Mr Button, who appeared for the accused, said there waH only bhe accused's own confofsion of the offence, and that he did nob intend to deny. It Beemed to him. therefore, thab ib was only adding to tho expenses of tho prosecution by remanding the accused to Rotorua : he did nob see why His Worship should nob doal wibh ib. No doubt the accused would be committed for trial.—His Worship said someone would have to awear to the ownership of the house, and it would cause leas expense to take tbe accused to Rotorua than to bring these witnesses to Auckland.—Mr Button asked for bail.—Bail waa allowed in two sureties of £100 each and accused's own of £100.

Alleged Breaking and Entering.— James Troy, charged wibh breaking and entering the dwelling-house of Elizabeth Sneller in Albert-street on January 25tb, and stealing therefrom one ulster and one rug, worth £2 15s, waa remanded for eight days. City Bylaws.—-James Buck was charged with having on January 21 caused an obstruction by placing a box on the footpath in High-street, whereby life or limb was likely to bo ondangored. There wero similar complaints against James Prince and Arthur Partridge, in respect of buckets lefb on bho footpath in Victoria-street, and against John Oldsbury and Frederick Besb, in respecb of some boxes lafb on tho footpath in Victoria • street.—Mr Geo. Goldie, Inspector of Nuisances, appearod for tho City Council, and explained that there had been bo much noiae made about boxes left on the foobputh, thab he had roceivad instructions to endeavour to put a stop to tho practice. Ho wont round und got live of them the aame morning. The Council did uob wish to gob tho defendant mulcted in fines and costi, bub simply wished to warn them, aa well as othorn, bhab these boxes and buckets must nob be left on tho footpath. Mr Buck said that aa far as he was concerned he knew nothing whatever aboub the box being lefb on the footpath, The right of way was used by others besides himself. He thought a libtlo latitude ehouid be given bo business people in tiiking in thoir boxe?. If tho Council wished to enforce the law they should do so in evory case. Mr Prince eaid his dust bucket waa left oub ab tho ÜBiial time, bub the contractor did not como round tilliibduti a quarter to ten. He thought it vory unfair that business people should be compelled to watch when the contractor camo .and,, then tako. in the bucket immediately. If tho contractor came round at one roeular timo tho case would be difl'erenb, Business people coiild nob leavo thoir shop* at any time to take in their dusb binn.—Mr Partridge epoke in a similar strain.—Hib Worship naid the Council merely wished to prevent a continuance of the practice of leaving boxes on the footpaih after they had boon emptied. Of cour-e if the contractor did nob como round ab bhe proper time tho bent thing for tho defendants to do waa-to wait on the City Council and point thab out. He would tako info consideration the fact that tho defendants bad lost ao much timo by coming to Court and also Mr Goldie'a remarks, and would caution them without coat*, and he hoped the practice would not occur again.

Wilful Damage. — Laurence May, charged with having wilfully broken a pane of giaßß in the window of the shop of Elizabeth South, was fined 20s and ordered to pay 15., the damage done, and £3 la coats, or in default serve aix weeks' imprisonment.— Defendant did nob appear.— The evidence showed ih*b defendant deliberately put hie foot through the window.