MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 18, 16 October 1918, Page 8

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

SAILORS AND A PARROT.

The police and by-law cases at the Magistrate's Court yesterday were heard by Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M. Two sailors named John Finn and Martin Lndbury were charged with having on September 26 committed the theft of a parrot and cage, valued at £10, the property of Cyril Walter James Day. The accuscd pleaded guilty, but stated that they "took the bird more out of fun than anything else. They were both "under the influence" at the time! As they passed the placo whore the cage was hanging the bird ejaculated the words, "Pretty cocky!" Tbis so tickled their fancy that they made off with it. Their boat tailed that same night, otherwiso they probably would have taken the bird back. "Evidently the parrot made /the fast advances," suggested Mr. Fmer, amidst laughter. Each of the men was fined £2, in default seven days' imprisonment, and prohibition orders were issued against them. Percy Payne pleaded guilty to baring been found helplessly drunk in Church Street, Masterton, on October 10, and was ordered to pay £1 los. 3d. medical expenses, in default seven days' detention. For driving motor-cars past stationary tramcars at a greater speed than four miles per hour, Henry Sherborno was fined 10s., with 14s. costs, and Charles James Jones was ordered to pay 21s. costs.

HIRE OF PICTURE FILMS. The Paramount Service of New Zedland, Ltd., for whom Mr. 0. 0. Mazengarb appeared, proceeded against G. L. Johnston, proprietor of the Britannia Theatre and the. People's Picture Palace, represented by Mr. A. W. Blair, for the recovery of £175 3s. 6d. Of this amount £52 16s. was claimed in regard to films and fjoods supplied to the Britannia. Theatre between October 27, 191.7, and November 20, 1917, and the balance related to films stated to have been supplied to tte People's Picture Palace during two periods from September 26, 1917,. to November 15, 1917, and June 6, 1918, to August 7, 191.8. For the defence, Mr. Blair submitted that the arrangement between the parties was that the film hire was to lie reduced if the showing of the films did not pay expenses. It was claimed that that wae> actually what happened. After hearing evidence Mr. Riddell reserved his decision.

UNDEFENDED CASES. Judgment b> default was given for the plantiffs in the following undefended cases: Smith and Smith, Ltd.. v. W. H.' M'Gavin, £4 ss. 6d., costs lls.; Hope Gibbons, Sons, and J. B. Clarkson, Ltd., v. Mat. Hickey, £4 10s. lid., costs 75.; Robert Fullertoii v. W. T. P. M'Gavin, £63 14s. 4d., coste £4 2s. 6d.; A. Lindsay, Ltd., v. Hira Parata, £28 15s. Bd., costs £3 ; Bs.; Inglis Bros., Ltd., v. James Leach, £1 13s. 3d., costs 7e.; Public Trustee (in the estate of "William Mitchell) v. Anne Henrietta O'Neill, £24' 2s. 9d., costs' £2 15s. 6d. • JUDGMENT SUMMONS. On a judgment summons, Herbert Bates was ordered to pay the British and Continental Piano Co. £15 los. 3d. by November 5, in default 14 days' imprieonment.