CHRISTCHURCH.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9295, 21 December 1895, Page 5

CHRISTCHURCH.

Friday, December 20. (Before H. W. Bishop, Esq., S.M.) Drunkenness, &o. —For being found drunk and disorderly Margaret Mooney was fined 10s, or in default forty-eight hours' imprisonment. A man who had not before been convicted was fined ss, or in default twenty-four hours' imprisonment. Alleged Assault.—Edward Spiers was charged with having assaulted J. A. Williams. Mr Deacon appeared for the plaintiff, Mr Donnelly for the defendant. The parties are rival donkey-keepers at Sumner, who occupy stands on the beach apportioned to them by the Borough Council. The plaintiff stated that on the morning of December 13th plaintiff found that defendant had jumped his grouud, and he had to range his donkeys close to the water. As the tide rose the animals were crowded on * to defendant's dividing hurdles, whioh plaintiff theu pulled dowu, so as to give sufficient room. On this move being a second time attempted an altercation took place, and was wouud up by defendant striking plaintiff in the face and knocking him down; when he got up his nose was bleeding, aud he had two black eyes. This was the culmination of much provoking behaviour by defendant; plaintiff was afraid of him, and asked that he should be bound over to keep the peace. The defence was that although places had been allotted by the Borough Council the marks had been washed or taken away. Defendant did not theu, or now believe, that he was encroaching, and the tussle took place in consequence of the removal of the barriers; no more force was used than was necessary to prevent that, and the damage was trivial. The defendant was fined ss, with costs, his Worship adding a recommendation to the parties to drop their foolish rivalry.

Maintenance. —Susan Emerson applied for au order directing her husband's father to contribute to the support of his three grandchildren. Mrs Emerson stated that seventeen months ago she had to leave her husband in Australia on account of his drinking habits and neglect of her support. She brought her three children to New Zealand ; her parents paid their passage, and had supported them ever since. Her husband had contributed nothing. Her parents being now unable to keep them, she applied to the Charitable Aid Board for assistance, who stipulated that before giving it she should take the present proceedings. Mr Cay gill, for the defendant, objected to his client being saddled with the responsibility, but made an offer to help providing that in any order the other relatives should be included. Pending consideration of the offer the case was adjourned till January 171.h.— Robert Gibson was charged with having refused to contribute to the support of hie brother, James Gibson, a destitute person. Mr Joyce appeared for the informant, Mr Joynt for tho defendant. The informant stated that he was sixty-five years old, and had a family of five children, the youngest four months and the eldest six* teen years old; the latter earned 6s per week. Informant had not averaged more than 12s per week, earned for the last two years. He alleged that his brother, the defendant, who is a farmer at Silverstroam, North Taieri, was, to the beat of his belief, worth from £15,000 to £20,000. The defendant was called by Mr Joyce and subjected to an exhaustive examination and cross-examination, in which he swore that all his property was mortgaged, that his* expenditure exceeded his income, that if he were sold up he would not be able to pay 20s in the £1, that he was going to the bad every year, aud that, having no reasonable prospoot of improvement he could not, in justice to his family and his creditors, allow anything at all to his brother. No order was made. Prohibition Order.—An order was made respecting Thomas Sutton prohibiting publicans and others in Christchurch and suburbs from supplying him with intoxicating liquor for one year. The Boilding By-law.—A. H. Fletoher, for erecting a building in the city without conforming to'the by-law, was fined Is with coats. Mr Fisher appeared for the City Connoil,