PETONE COURT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2834, 27 July 1916, Page 3

PETONE COURT

Mr. D. G. A. Cooper, S.M., presided at, the monthly sitting- of the I'etone Magistrate's Court yesterday. For riding motor-cycles on' the footpath of the Hull -Road, Henry Gerald Hilan anil Claud Harrison were each fined 2Us., with vs. Court costs. For keeping a dangerous dog, "Win. Crutchley was fined •55., with costs 75., and for failing to register a dog tin accordance with the Ixirough. by.-laws) he was fined 10s., with costs 7s. George Tattle was prosecuted by. the Pctone borough inspector for allowing^'a nuisance to continue upon premises owned by him, after notice hue! been served to abate same. Mr. Jt. C. tfirk (who represented,the council)stated that the information was laid under Sec-

tion 'JBl of the Municipal Corporations Act. The ollcnco consisted of allowing a leaky waste-pipe to discharge ou thu ground, and it was most important, ivuen diphtheria was rite in ,the country, that premises should be kept sanitary. Evidence was given in ' respect to the nuisanco by tne inspector and borough engineer. The trouble?- had been remedied since the summons was issued, and, in consideration of this fact, the Magistrate imposed- a penalty of 205.,. witli expenses amounting to -JOs. A youth appeared for the third time to answer a charge that he, had failed to register for military service. The lad's father (J. W. lingers), in answer'to the Magistrate, said he epiite understood that ho was required to register before he coirld apply for exemption but it w«s against his religious convictions -to register. His son had sworn f llegiance to the King of Kings, and could not serve nnotjir King. Tho father also stated that his sou had been fined on July 10, and was again summoned on July 20. This, he submitted, '■ as going hack to the dark ages of persecution. The Magistrate explained that the summons ou July 1!) was for- an cft'ence on July 11, and "that up to July 20 the boy had not registered, henoe :he second summons. Until lie did register the prosecutions would continue. The defendant was fined COs., in dofault U days' military detention. Tho father, when charged with abetting I'is boy in failing to register, alleged that he had only instructed his boy in 'he scriptures, and if that was abutting his toy he was guilty. Rergt.-Mojor <tewart. stated in evidence that Rogers had said he',would not allow his son to register. Defendant had said: "You can take me out and shoot mo before I would violate my conscience." ' Defendant was fined ■ids., with 17s. costs, in default seven days' imprisonment. Judgment by default was given in the following undefended civil eases:— M'Yicker and Corson v. AY. -El I ss. Gd., costs 55.; same v. ]?-. Campbell, -ft) 3s. Sd., costs 55.; Stale Advances I Superintendent v. F. and .1. Elect, £6, costs lis. - In. tlie defended case. A. C. "Wright v. G. 11. Perkinson, defendant disputed tho delivery of two out of" three loads of manure charged for. The Magistrate gave judgment for plaintiff for 75., with 10s. costs.