CHRISTCHURCH.

Press, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5562, 17 July 1883, Page 3

CHRISTCHURCH.

Monday, July 16. [Before B. Beetham, K.M., and B. Westenra, J.P., Esqs.] ' Drunkenness. —For this offence the following penalties were inflicted:—John Boss, fined 103; Henry Sharpies, who had used bad langviage to a young girl at his sSop door, fined 15s ; Geo. "Webb and Thos. Leonard, who had created a great disturbance, using very bad language in the Scotch Stores Hotel on Saturday night, ined each jEI ; James Taylor, who had tfeed obscene language in a public place, fined 15s; Patrick Smyth, his third offence in a month, was sent to gaol for seven days. For first offences four men were each fined ss. "Wipe Desertion. —Thomas Neave, arrested on warrant from Dunedin, agreed to pay to her £7 down, and £1 per week henceforth, and on these terms was liberated. A Bad Beginning.—Catherine Scott and Elizabeth Lougdon, who gave their ages as nineteen and sixteen years respectively, but who each appeared to be at least three years younger, were charged with loitering about the street for immoral purposes. The police stated that _ the eldest girl had been up two or three times Jin Timaru for similar offences. They were cautioned that if they were found again in similar circumstances they would be sent to gaol. They were then discharged. The Game Laws.—Judgment was given iv the case of John Boon, who, on July 9th, had been charged with having shot a pheasant without having a license. It appeared that under an order made by the Governor in Council, the Acclimatisation Society had bee* in the habit of issuing licenses separately for the taking of pheasants. Defendant was the holder only of a license to take " game," and having shot a pheasant—accidentally, as he saidwhile in pursuit of hares, the present proceedings were instituted. The Bench, at the first hearing, took time to consider the Act under which the Society works, decided that the Order in Council was ultra vires, no power being found in the Act to issue licenses for taking separate descriptions of game. The case was dismissed, with costs. Mr Spackman was for the Acclimatisation Society, Mr Fereday for the defendant. Miscellaneous. —Daniel Burke, who has frequently been convicted for the same kind of offences, was sent to prison for fourteen days for assaulting Constable Kelly at the Chrietchurch Bail way Station. Thomas Taylor, for allowing a chimney to take fire, was fined 10s.—John Pollock, a boy, aged about fouiteen years, was charged with furiously driving a cart, ran over, and seriously injured a lady on June 30th at the crossing opposite the Bank of New Zealand. The evidence showed that the vehicle had been driven at a fast pace, the lady had had no chance to get out o the way, and had been so seriously injurec as to be obliged to keep her bed nearly all the time since the occurrence. B. Sunderland, a baker, said the boy had been driving for him for about fifteen months, without accident or complaint. There was no whip ijllowed in the cart,and the horse was accustomed to the work. The boy, who is stupid looking and" evidently Sn6rTe sfrlifce<a. bad nothing to say, except +->.«»■■*- ise always -werrx-fc elo«rtylufccL not told of the Corporation. t>ylaw which forbids driving across intersections of streets at a pace faster than a ■walk. It being intrmared that other proceetiings -were pending which, would test the master's responsibility, the boy was fined 10s, and ordered to pay the expenses of two witnesses.—Danl. Carney_, for driving ovet a railway orossing while a train w»s coming up was fined £2. — J. Wood and W. "Wood, for permitting a nuisance by defective drainage on their premises, were fined each 10s.—Catherine Uougan prayed for an order protecting her earnings, and for the custody of her five children with maintenance money, on the ground that her husband had neglected to provide for them for a long period. The woman, who appears to be hardly right in her head, has brought her husband to the Court several times in the same way. The police have each time made inquiries, and found that her statements have not been correct. Inspector Pender said she labored under the delusion that her husband, who lives away from her, but who gives her all his earnings, made strange noises about her house at nights, and that he spent his money with other women, the fact being that he was a very respectable man. The Bench dismissed the case, and advised her to go home and live quietly for the future. The officers of the Court were instructed not to take from her any more informations of the kind.