THE COURTS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16203, 4 May 1918, Page 6

THE COURTS.

MAGISTERIAL. (Before Mr T. A. B. Bailey, S.M.) DIIUXKENKESS. James Lawrencc Smith, a second offender. was fined 10s for drunkenness. Throe 'first offenders were each fined ss, and another, who was found drunk en the railway station, was fined 10s. CRUELTY TO SHEEP. I Tho Magistrate delivered his reserved judgment in the cases against William B. Clarkson and Thomas Carlton (Mr J. J. Pougali), charged bv tho S.P.C.A. (Mr H. J. Beswick) with*omitting to supply sheep with proper and sufficient food and wat«tr. Carlton was convicted and lined 40s and costs, but the" charge aguinst Clarkson was dismissed. as the Magistrate held that this defendant had no personal knowledge of the occurrence. DISMISSED. Thomas Edward Brosnahan, alia? Mason (-Mr Malley), appeared on remand. charged with stealing a bicycle valued at .€3, the property of Albert Muir. The information was dismissed. NEGI.ECTED CHILDREX. George Richard Pitford and Ethel Ivy Ditford Olr Kinraid) were charged with w'lfe.lly neglecting children in a manner likely to cause them unnecessary suffering. The accused were convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. BY-LAW BREACHES. Percy Breach was fined 10s for cycling on a footpath. * For pillion riding, John W. Smith was fined 10s. A fine of -10s each was imposed upon Evelyn Brock and Zoe Frances Courage charged with driving their motorcars at an excessive speed. TRUANCY.^ Mrs C. Ha ydon was proceeded against on two counts by the truant officer for failing to sew! her child to school. She was fined Ills on each charge, with ccsts. ASI-IBUIITON. (Before Mr V. G. Day, S.M.) Honry Thompson, for riding a bicycle "on Hie railway platform was convicted and discharged. Frederick J. fcjavill (Mr Buchanan) applied for a re-hearing of the caw? m wliicii he was recently lined on a charge of failing to destroy rabbits on his property :it Mount Possession. The defence was that notices had _ not been issued. Tho magistrate held that tho inspector was not bound to serve • notices to more than ono person, and refused a re-hearing.

J. M. Hampton, Hinds, was fined 40s and costs for failing to destroy Californian thistles.

Mellu Reeves, Carcw, pleaded guilty to having been in a public place while suffering from an infectious disease, namely, scarlatina. A line of 10s, with costs £3 Is, was imposed. Albeit Church, Allenton (Mr Jvennody), charged with driving a traction engine in ruts on the Jtacecourse road, Ash burton, was fined 40s, with costs'. Judgment was given for plaintiff by default," with costs, in the civil ease, Mrs H.Martin v. J. Thomas, Fairton, claim £17 7s. APPEAL COURT.

(rRKSS ASSOCIATION tf.legham.) WELLINGTON, May 3. Argument in Meredith and Co. v. Fairbairn, was begun to-day in the Court of Appeal. Appellants are

produce merchants of Waimate, and the respondent is a grain broker in Sydney. In the original action the present respondent claimed commission on the sale of certain goods in Sydney, and the present appellants counterclaimed for damages for negligence on the part of .respondent, in giving certain information as to the amount of duty payable on swedes in Sydney, "which information was incorrect* As a result of this, tho appellants made a loss of £1037 8s Id. In the Court below judgment wont for plaintiff (present respondent) on the counter-claim, and from this judgment the present appeal was brought. Mr M. Myers (Wellington) and Mr W. J. Hunter (Christchurcli) appeared for appellants, and Mr E. K. Kirkcaldie for respondent. Judgment was reserved.