WEST COAST NOTES

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18920, 8 February 1927, Page 5

WEST COAST NOTES

PERSONAL. (SrECUL TO IHI J>RI33.) GREYMOUTH, February 7. TV- death occurred at Millertoii this morning of Mrs Campbell, wife of Dr. Campbell, of -Millertoii. Mr 3 Campbell married Dr. Campbell when he took charge at Millcrton eighteen months ago. The death is reported from Ross of Mrs Grace Jones, wife of Mr Fred Jones, of Simpson street, Ross. Mr A. J. McDowell, secretary of the Grey Power Hoard, has returned from Palmerston Xortlt. The death occurred last evening of Mm Tipladey, wife of Mr James Tipladoy, of Millertoii. Mr Bert Tate left this morning on a holiday trip to Now Plymouth. Tho Key. Father McMonnglc, of St. Patrick's, Greymouth, left this morning on a holiday trip to the Xurth Island. Workmen's Dwellings. The erection of ten workmen's dwellings by the Railway Department on the railway reserve at Karoro will be commenced at an early date. The dwellings will bo of the standard Xo. 2 class B cottage, each of five rooms, with washhouse, bathroom, scullery, and outhouse, and will be electrically lit. The style of building will permit of the erection of an extra bedroom should it be required. Magistrate's Court. Mr -\V. Mcldrum, P.M., presided at to-day's sittings of the Grey Magistrate's Court. Peter Joseph Higgins, Ciias. Fawcctl, and Wm. Fawcett, trading as Higgins and Fawcett Bros., sawmillors, of Kokatahi, were charged, (1) that on March Ist, 1026, and on divers dates between March Ist, 15)20, and Juno 23rd, 1920, at Brown Creek, near Inangahua Junction, they felled timber growing upon Section 8, Block f», Inangahua Survey District, contrary to tho form of the Statute; (2) that they did fell timber growing upon a public reserve in the samo district, not granted to, or vested in, any local body, trustees, or other persons. Defendants were further charged under the Inspection of Machinery Act, with employing a engine-driver holding a second-class certificate when a first-class certificate was necessary. Mr W. P. McCarthy appeared for defendants, who plcnded guilty to each charge. In outlining the caso for the prosecution Mr A. Kitchingham said that defendants encroached on three pieces of Innd over which they had no cutting rights. They had actually paid to Henry Bctts, of Inangahua Landing, a royalty of 2s per hundred feet on the timber which had been cut on tho reserves. A total of 155,000 feet of timber had been cut from tho timber reserve, and 52,500 feet from tho scenic reserve. Tho penalty provided by tho Land Act was a fine not exceeding £SO for each offence. The penalty for the offenco against the Inspection of Machinery Act was £5 por day for ench offence. Mr McCarthy stated the Brown Creek mill was under the control of n manager, and tho defendants were working some distance away. The firm secured the timber rights from Betts and paid all royalty to him; under the impression given by Bctts that he was the owner of tho land. Royalty had been paid to Betts on the whole of the timber taken from the Crown lands. Defendants had endeavoured to givo all possible information to the Department, and tho Commissioner of Crown Lands had scoured a refund from Bctts of all royalty paid. Dofcndauts, no doubt erred in not checking tho boundaries, instead of taking tho word of Bctts for them. With regard to the other charge defendants had advertised for u first-class engine-driver, but none was available. Application was then made to tho Department for permission to employ a second-class driver. Mr McCarthy pointed out that the mill was stopped in November last, on account of floods, nnd owing to tho precarious state of the industry it had not yetresumed operations. Defendants were consequently not in a strong financial position, and counsel asked that the penalties be made as light as possible. His Worship said that defendants appeared to have acted quito innocently and were not aware they were encroaching on Crown lands. That was shown bv the fact that they paid royalty to Betts in the belief that it was his land they were cutting on. They, however, should have taken pains to make sure they were within their own boundaries. As the cost of appraisement was heavy he would impose a nominal penalty. The cost of appraisement (£SO 4s Od) would be allowed to tho Department, plus a lino of £l, with 16s costs, and Crown solicitor's fee £3 3s in each case, £42 3s 7d to be allotted to the Crown lands and£ll Is 2d to the scenic reserve. On the charge of employing a second-class en-gine-driver, defendant would be convicted nnd fined £2 with 10s costs, and solicitor's fee £3 3s. James Daniel Lynch was charged that at Greymouth on November 20th, 1020, he did eoll by auction, without being the holder of an auctioneer's license as required by the Auctioneers' Act. Mr J. W. Hannan, who appeared for the defendant, entered a plea of not uuiltv After hearing legal argument and 'evidence, tho Magistrate adjourned the cn?c until February 17th. For failing to register under the Defcnco Act, Philip James Anderson was convicted and fined ss, with costs Chas. Herbert Hughes was charged with refusing to quit tho premises of tho Albion Hotel when ordered to do so, a"d was convicted and fined 10s. On i charge of drunkenness ho was convicted and discharged.