POLICE COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 43, 19 February 1908, Page 5

POLICE COURT.

(Before Mr. J. W. Colemaa, J.P.) "HIS WEIRD." Small and ill-calculated to buffet with fate at his best, but now bowed nearly double with the weight of 82 wasted years, John Hawker tottered into Court about the frailest imaginable specimen of a living man. The old man's record for the past 20 odd years carries no illuminating ray to relieve the sordid tale of deeds ill done, gaunt days succeeded by the miserable respite of gaunter nights, the hopeless existence of the pariah, petty thieveries his only source of income, and prison his only horne —feebly recumbent against the support of the dock rail, John Hawker was a pitiable example of the "fickless. faithless, fashionless wretch," but he hugged his ancient existence stUl fondly to him as a passing valuable asset, notwithstanding its very careless investment. "You are charged with being an incorrigible rogue and vagabond," read the clerk. "Do you plead guilty?" The hoary old head nodded indifferently for a few moments, and then, regarding the Court reflectively, the deep set eyes began to flicker with a momentary interest. How often had he been called upon to answer a similar query? The periodic recurrence of those few syllables addressed to himself must have become a tiresome monotony of unnecessary red tapeism. Why not save time and trouble by settling the matter once and for all* He had no desire to bother or be bothered any longer, for had he not been convicted on some 60 odd occasions in the last two decades or so, and had he not spent, as a result, some 13 odd years in gaol? One could clearly see that John regarded the whole business as unnecessary and superfluous. Said Mr. Hendrey: "The old man has been living the life of a vagrant since he came out of gaol in Novetnber, wanderI ing around during the day. and sleeping ! under flax and toetoe bushes in the parks at night. We would find him a place in one of the charitable institutions, but he will have none of it. He absolutely refuses to submit to discipline of any sort, and it is theretore irapossible to put him anywhere, as be is only a nuisance to the other inmates. The best thing for: his own sake, and to ensure for him cam.' fortable lodgment and living, is that he ibe sent to gaol for the maximum term !of two years." ; "Would you like to go to gaol for two i years and be properly clothed, fed, and . i looked after?" asked he of the decrepit subject under consideration. "Oh, it is all right, all right, but I am going to die this time, going to die," quavered the old fellow in little more than a whisper, and then straightening up [somewhat he glanced round at the Seri geant and added "but if it hadn't been for you chaps I'd have been dead long ago." They assisted him out to spend what will probably be his last days in the only home he knows —prison. AIXEGED FACTORY ACT Annie Greer was charged by Mr. J. B. Lindsay (Inspector of Factories) with having failed to keep a record of the names of all persons employed in her factory, together with the ages of all those under 20 years, and the earnings of each employee. She was further charged with letting out the making up of clothing elsewhere than in a registered factory, and with failing to have a label affixed to each garment, according to i the requirements of the Factories Act ' 1901. I When the charge was read defendant ' ■was not present, and on the application cf Mr. Lindsay an adjournment was granted till Saturday morning. BY-LAWS. Sing See and Thomas Rowe were each fined 10/ and costs for leaving their vehicles unattended in Karangahape-road. I without first chaining the wheel. THE SEAMY SIDE. John James Mullampy, charged with failure to obey the Court order to contribute 5/ a week towards the suppor; of his destitute mother, arrears amounting to £1 16/, was ordered to pay up forthwith, in default one month's imprisonment, the order to be suspended for one week.

Under the present regulations the winner of a scholarship or of a free place may choose to attend a secondary school, a district high school, 6r a technical college; but haying once been enrolled he cannot transfer from one class to another should this course be desired at the end of the first year. The Education Board to-day decided to recommend to the Department the desirability *>f making facilities for transfers in this matter. The s.s. Manapouri, which left for Raratonga last evening, returned to port about 8.30 p.m., as the result of an accident to her machinery. Just after rounding North Head, the low pressure bracket of the welper shaft (carrying the reversing gear under the cylinders) broke, and, as the steamer was near port? it was decided to put back instead of effecting temporary repairs. The Manapouri sailed, again to-day for the Eastern Pacific.