MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Clutha Leader, Volume XLII, Issue 88, 12 May 1916, Page 5

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

BALCLUTHA. At the Balc-lutha Magistrate's Court 011 I'ui'silay. before Mr H. A. Young, S.M., the following cases were dealt with:— WANDERING CATTLE. Robert Weir was charged on the information of the police with allowing a cow to wander in Renfrew Street on April 25.—Defendant admitted it was his second offence, and was fined os and costs 7s. Jas. Bortlnviek was charged with allowing a cow to wander in Frances Street ou April 18 and fined 5s and (.OSts / fi. ERRING CYCLIST. Jas. Ashton was charged on the information of the police with riding a bicycle on the footpath in Clyde Street ou May 2 and fined os and costs 7s. DRIVING WITHOUT LIGHTS. Tlios. Jenkins was charged on the information of the police with driving a horse and vehicle by night without lights in Clyde Street on April I.—Defendant was convicted and ordered to pay expenses 14s 6d. DEFENCE ACT CASE. Israel Buchanan was charged ou the information of the police with failing to register under the Defence Act, 1900. This case was adjourned from last court day to enable defendant to enlist.—Constable Almond stated that defendant had endeavoured to enlist, but had failed to pass the medical test.—The case was withdrawn. THE PHANTOM ARMY. John Clark was charged on the information of Sergeant-major A. K. Gray with failing to attend drill of No. 50 Company, Senior Cadets, held at Balclutha on January 22, 1916.—Sergeantmajor McMillan stated that defendant (who did not appear) was transferred from Oamaru in November last, but had failed to attend a single drill. Ifc was a farm labourer by occupation—Defendant was convicted and fined £2 and costs N OX IOL'S WEEDS ACT. Edwin Herbert Hulston was charged on the, information of W. B. Manning (inspector) with tailing to destroy Calii'ornian thistles on his property, section 1!1, Blackburn. Settlement, Awamangu. Inspector Manning stated that the work could all have been done by a machine, and would cost about £lO. Defendant stated that he had cut part, of the thistles, and sheep had also eaten a fair quantity. 'After that the thistles were not very bad. He had sold his interest in the property last August to Mr Hopkins (Christchurch), and lie (defendant) was merely looking after the property for Mr Hopkins. Wm. Adams (Government rabbiter) said he went over the property ou April There were then 400 acres on which the thistle was uncut, which wouid tako about 16 days to cut. One or two days' work had been done. In answer to defendant witness said that about two days' work hail been done bv the mower, but there might have been places in the gullies that had been cut with a hook. Defendant stated that he had cut part his interest in the property to Mr Hop- j kins, and was therefore not the occu- j pier. Anything that had been done re- \ cently had been done on Mr Hopkins' I behalf. In answer to Inspector Manning defendant stated that unless a transfer had been effected his name ap- ! peared in the rate book as occupier. lie had ceased to reside on the property since last August, but lie had slept on it part of the time during the last three months. His home was now at Christchurch. He was being paid by Mr Hopkins to look after the property. j The magistrate read from a letter from Allan Hopkins that defendant was the registered occupier of the land, and if lie could not lie found then Lady J'eivival (England), as first mortgagee, was responsible for any claims, and failing Lady Percival, the writer (Allan Hopkins) as second mortgagee was responsible. Defendant stated that Hopkins had written to him stating that he had received notice to clear the thistles off the land, ami asking him (witness) to do his best iu the matter. The magistrate said he 'would adjourn the ease until next court day, Mr Hopkins to be served with a summons meantime, to ascertain who was the registered occupier or owner of the land. KAITANGATA. The monthly sitting of the Kaitangata Magistrate's Court was held yesterday before Mr It, A. Young, S.M., when the following cases were dealt with:'— DEFENCE ACT CASES. For failing to register under the Defence Act, Wm. Henry Wright was fined £5, costs 7s. A similar charge against Fred. E. Cocks was withdrawn, defendant having enlisted. The charge against E. Dyer was adjourned to enable further inquiries to be made as to defendant's statement that he had enlisted. For failing to attend parades Arthur John Garforth was fined £5 and costs 7s, and Percy 11. Morrell was also fined £5 and costs 14s 6d. DRUNKENNESS. Alex. Kane was fined £2, in default, seven days' imprisonment iu Dunedin gaol, for being druuk on Stirling railway station on May 1, 1016. This was defendant's second offence during six months. HOT E'LKE EPER '8 TROUBLES. Matthew Henry Dawson, licensee of the Parkside Hotel, Caversham, was charged with sending liquor into Bruce no-lieense district and failing to notify the clerk, of the court (Lawrence) that such liquor had been sent, and was fined 10s and costs 7s. WANDERING CATTLE. On charges of allowing cattle to wander Chas. Reeves was fined ss, costs 7s, Eliza Hansen was ordered to pay costs 7s, Albert Zupp, Geo. Tomkins and Geo. Ramsay, were each fined ss, costs 7s, Jas. Jarvie was fined 3s, costs 7s, on one charge and 5s and costs 7s,ou a seeoad

| charge, C. A. Tickers was fined 2s 6d, I costs is, John Balloch, for allowing his horse to wander at large in Eddvstone 'Street, was fined .Is, costs 7s. THREATENING BEHAVIOUR. The same defendant pleaded not guilty ' to a charge of using threatening behaviour on April 26, 1910, in Salcombe Street, whereby a breach of the peace may have beeu occasioned. Wm. Bradley stated that defendant called tor his horse, which hail been im- ' pounded. He accused witness of taking the horse out of the paddock. He refused to pay the fee ('2s), and said ho would go for the police. Afterwards lie saw witness ami threatened to hit him on the jaw, and said witness was a dirty little crawler. Cross-examined, witness said he had more than once got a hit on the jaw since he was poundkeeper. 'Herbert Clements, aged J1 years, corroborated the previous witness' evidence. Constable Martin also gave evidence. For the defence Mr Stewart said thero was no evidence of any threatening be- 1 haviour, Defendant might have been j justified in threatening to hit Bradley, j The magistrate said defendant was j evidently excited and had used threatenjng language. The poundkeeper must i be protected. Defendant would be fined £2, costs !)s. CIVIL CASES. , Robert Statham (Mr Finch) claimed from Chas. Fletcher £H> 15s for rent, and also possession of tenement.—Judgment was given for amount claimed, with costs J7s, solicitor's fee £2 2s; possession to be given up on or before'Mav i 2:1, liMi. "| Carr £6 l.'is 5d on a judgment summons. After hearing defendant's evidence the magistrate ordered him to pav 20s a mouth, in default 14 davs' imprisonmeiit. ' j