MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25243, 23 July 1947, Page 9

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

' TUESDAY (Before Mr Raymond Ferner, S.M.) TRAFFIC CASES Offenders against the traffic regulations were fined as follows, unless stated otherwise:— Unlighted bicycle: Rex Anderson, 255; Thomas George Fordham, 20s; Frederick Hooker, 20s; Eunice Trussell, 20s; William Trussell, 20s; Hugh Fisher, 20s; Lawrence G. Hill, 10s; Gordon D. Horne, 20s; Kevin Marlow, 20s; Margaret Neale, ordered to pay costs, 10s; Len Silcock, 20s; Thomas Taylor, 20s; Charles R. Tripp, 20s; Ronald Ward, 20s. No driver’s licence: Kevin Dolheguy. 20s; Royce Rathgen, 20s (no warrant cf fitness, 10s). Insufficient lights: George Leslie Thyne, 20s. Parking over the time limit: Eric George Ware, 10s; Sadie Mavis Atkinson, 10s; Dorothy Louise Woodward, 10s;, Gertrude Mary Taylor, 10s; Arthur Martin Winstone (a stranger to Christchurch), convicted and discharged. Incorrect parking: Walter Hall Carter, 10s; Tom Wright Stephenson, 10s; Herbert Charles F. Stevens, 10s; Mary Ethel Barnett, 10s. Parking in a prohibited area: John Aubrey White, 10s; Allan Howard Johnstoqe, 10s (failing to carry a warrant of fitness, 10s); John Arthur Coombs, 10s; William Searle, 10s. No warrant of fitness: Edward Bennetts, 10s. Exceeding 30 miles an hour: Peter Patrick Dick, £2; Claude Whitney Evans, £3; Derick Kernahan, £2; Ralph C. Rollo, £5, Noel Taylor, £3. Obstructing a corner: Henry William Lawrence, 10s. Failing to give way to traffic on the right: Trevor Schumacher, £2. Failing to dip headlights: Douglas Kennedy Watson, 10s. Passing a stationary tram: Kevin Patrick O’Sullivan, £2. No “L” plates on motor-cycle: Robert Graham Searle, 10s (carrying a pillion passenger, 10s). Overloading a heavy traffic vehicle: Joseph R. Walter, ordered to pay costs, 12s. CIVIL CASES (Before Mr A. A. McLachlan, S.M.) DOG TEARS TROUSERS Judgment for £4 was entered when Samuel Wallace Finn, a storeman (Mr Roy Twyneham), claimed £l2 12s from Pam Phipps (Mr B. McClelland) for damage to his trousers, caused by a dog belonging to defendant. In evidence it was stated that Finn was walking along Riccarton road, when a dog, which was tied by its leash to some railings, attacked plaintiff and tore his trousers. Mr G. Owen, a tailor, said that the trousers could not be repaired in a satisfactory manner. The suit to which the trousers belonged had cost £l9 19s four years ago, and in his opinion was now worth about £l2 without the tear. When Mr Owen said the average life of a suit with fairly constant use was from two to three years, the Magistrate differed from this opinion and questioned Mr Owen on this statement. Mr Twyneham then rose and told the Magistrate that he objected to the Magistrate’s questioning the expert opinion of the witness Owen, and that he was treating the witness unfairly. The Magistrate said that he was entitled to his own opinion. “Yes,” said Mr Twyneham, “but unfortunately it is your opinion which counts.” POSSESSION ORDER GRANTED Order for possession in one month was granted when Mary McMillan (Mr D. J. Hewitt) sought possession of a house from J. D. Wilkins (Mr N. H. Graham). NUISANCE ALLEGED The case was adjourned for one month when Beatrice A. Taylor (Mr J. A. Bretherton) sought possession of a house in Ferry road from H. Simpson (Mr H. W. Hunter) on the grounds that defendant was creating a nuisance. In evidence it was stated that the Simpsons were sub-tenants of the plaintiff. It was alleged that the defendants had assaulted and. threatened the plaintiff. When Mrs Taylor said that Mrs Simpson had hit her she was asked by the Magistrate what had caused the assault. Mrs Taylor said that an argument had arisen over some kittens, and she had struck Mrs Simpson with a mop. Mr Hunter said that the arguments had been storms in a teacup, and that Mrs Simpson had done Mrs Taylor small favours. JUDGMENT BY DEFAULT Judgment for plaintiff by default was given in a civil case, Booth, Macdonald and Company, Ltd., v. H. W. Jones, for £25 Is lid.