MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13596, 3 December 1909, Page 5

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

(Before Mr V. G. Day, S.M.) DRUNKENNESS. Charles Galbraith was charged with being an habitual drunkard and procuring liquor during the currency ot a prohibition order. Mr Weston, who appeared for him, said that accused had got drunk last week with a view to his committal to Pakatoa. and he asked that accused should be sent tuere. Ihe Magistrate accordingly committed him for two years. THEFT. Ambrose West Fullarton pleaded guilty to stealing a bkycle, valued at £18, "the property of George Snntbson. Chief Detective Bishop said that the accused had arrived from Australia m March, but nothing was known about him. He had been employed in the Christchurch Fire Brigade, and subsequently resigned. He stole the bicycle from the railway station, rode to Orari, and sold it for £6. Accused said he stole the bicycle and sold it because he had no money. The Magistrate sentenced him to one menth's imprisonment. ASSAULT. John Jas. Speight (Mr Donnelly) was charged with having assaulted William Douglas by kicking him on the leg. Douglas, a cab driver, stated that lie drove defendant from the Excelsior Hotel to Bath street, and later returned and drove him to the railway station. He refused to pay witness, and witness took possession oi hi. handbag. Defendant endeavoured tj recover the bag, and kicked him. Speight said he had been in business as a caterer in Auckland for three years. He had paid Douglas 2s for driving him to Bath 6treet and the railway station, and refused his demand for more money. As the result of the disagreement, he lost his passage to Wellington. The Magistrate imposed a fine of os and costs. DEFAULT CASES. Judgment was given for plaintiff, with costs, by default, in the following cases:—Wynn-Williams and Brown (Mr Goodman) v. Thos. Galletly, £9 lis 2d; Mrs H. Edmonston (Mr Bates) v. Sidney Buckley, £1 17s od; Cyclopaedia Company, Ltd. (Mr Flesher) v. Henry Sidon, £1 lsj same v. J. Peake, jun., £1 18s; same v. Jas. Reilly, £3 3s; W. E. Muncay and Sons (Mr Rowe) v. T. Foley, £1 os 6d; R. G. Forgie v. Mri C. Guy, £1 2s 9d; N. Oates (Mr Rowe) v. Annie M. White, £19 10s ; Strange and Co. (Mr Flesher) v. J. Hunt, £5 17s 9d; Canterbury Drivers' Union (Mr Hunter, secretary of th© Union) v. Robt. Donaughey, 15s; same v. Chas. F. Cooke, 12s. JUDGMENT SUMMONSES. J. Phillips (Mr Rowe) claimed from T. Smith £1 18s 8d under a judgment summons. Tho debtor did not appear, and the Magistrate made an order for the payment of the amount forthwith, in default seven days' imprisonment. Edward Cuthbert McCullough (Mr Malley) claimed £111 9s from P. H. Goodsir (Mr Harman) under a judgment summons. The creditor said that debtor had l received £100 from Michael Lagan, deposit on the sale of McCullough's hotel to Lagan. Negotiations fell through, and McCullough sued Goodsir and obtained judgment for ,£IOO amd costs, but it had not beem paid. The plaintiff now alleged that Goodsir had fraudulently appropriated the £100 and converted it to his own use.' The Magistrate did not think fraud had been proved, and declined to jnake an order. BREACHES OF AWARDS. The Inspector of Awards obtained judgment for £1 against Joseph Auton (Mr E. T. Harper) for a breach of the butchers' award, and Chas. Jas. Jones for a breach of the carpenters' award. In the case against E. J. Coaksley for employing a youth under 18 years of age as a driver, Mr Donnelly contended that there was nothing in the act to prevent a boy being employed as a driver. ! Mr Haggar, Chief Inspector of Awards, put in an interpretation of the j Arbitration Court which expressly statied that a boy under 18 could not be employed as a driver. Mr Donnelly said that if an interpretation was as binding as. an award he would be out of Court, but he knew of nothing in the Act which made it so. He knew of no power which gave the Inspector authority to obtain these interpretations. Mr Haggar produced the rules, which showed the Court could be approached for an interpretation. The Magistrate said he had no power to go behind the judge, and would give judgment for ls end costs. CLAIM FOR DAMAGES. Wm. Jas. Edgar (Mr Donnelly) claimed £20 from Alexander Wilson (Mr Cassidy), value' of a horse • which he (plaintiff) alleged he had ridden without authority and damaged by letting it fall. The Magistrate,'after hearing the evidence, gave judgment for defendant with costs.