MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 62, 6 December 1930, Page 25

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Lower Hutt Sitting Yesterday’s sitting of the Lower Hutt Magistrate’s Court was presided over, by Mr. T. B. McNeil, S.M. John Laurie, a motor mechanic, for having no driver’s license, was flned 10/and costs 10/-. As defendant is out of work the police did not desire to be h Robert Hogg, for being found on licensed premises after hours, was fined £1 and costs 10/-. His excuse was that he visited the hotel one night in order to see the licensee and obtain from him the Information as to what horse bad won the last race at a certain meeting. Disobeyed Maintenance Order. Since June, Harry Keeling lias only paid £4 toward the maintenance pt bis wife and children, from whom be is separated. He had previously been before the Court, when the application his wife was held over for a month ttf give defendant an opportunity to see about a job he had in view In Palmerston North. “There have been since June at least three applications,” said Mr. Barrett tor the wife. “One by defendant for cancollation of the order, one for variation, and one for disobedience. Mr. Woodward. 8,J1., refused to cancel the order or to make any alteration. Default was fixed at one week’s imprisonment, and he spent part of a week in gaol, being let out on a promise given that he would keep up the payments. “His wife is living on charitable aid since June, and even the amount paid into court, £3. for solicitor’s costs, I have ordered to be paid over to the wife who is considered to be a hard-working woman. The welfare people are very kindly disposed toward her. On the day the order was made defendant walked out of court'and said he would pay nothing. That has been his attitude all the way nl In E reply to a question from the magistrate, defendant said be was engaged in a bricklaying job and getting 2/6 an hour. He expected the work to finish next day. He agreed that there were other bricklaying jobs going. He did not get the job In Palmerston North. “Defendant’s falling,” said Mr. Barrett, “seems to consist in paying too much money and time at a club. The magistrate ordered defendant to nav £l/1/- a week toward the maintenance of his wife, the £1 being the amount of the order, and the !/- being toward paying off arrears. Default was fixed at one month’s Imprisonment. He was also ordered to pay 30/- a week toward the maintenance of the children, and 1/- a week off arrears. Default was also fixed at one month’s imprisonment.

Persistent Cruelly Alleged. Persistent cruelty was alleged by Mes. Dorothy Mary Lester, in her application for a separation from her husband, William Nathaniel Lester and custody of the two infant children. This case occasioned the magistrate some concern ns the incidents alleged were of quite recent date, and the two had been living together up to last Satbrplai'ntifr alleged that defendant was in the habit lately of ill-treating her and had even struck her. The cause of the trouble was drink, the defendant losing all sense of reason. On one occasion she had to pay one of her husband s bills for drink, amounting to over £l5. He was working, but he had been put oft because of drink and threatening behaviour to “"“I do not understand why these things should be so recent.” said the magistrate. “Drink is the cause of the whole trouble,” was the reply. The magistrate granted the separation and custody of the infant children, the husband to pay 00/- a week toward the maintenance of the wife and 15/- a week for each of the two children.

Civil Business Judgment for plaintiff by default was given in the following undefended civil cases:—B. J. Dudley v. R. Strong, ££- 3/6- Lower Hutt Borough Council v. I‘. C. McDougall, £6/8/7; Norman L Dowsett v. G. Thompson. £l5: T. A. Baxter v. Jack Sayers, £7/7/6; W. R. Naukweli v J. C. Ford, £6/5/-: N. E. Dowsett v. H. B. Sudlow, £26/10/-. On a judgment summons W. Swain was ordered to pay H. V. Westbury £7/o/6 at the rate of 10/- a week, in default seven davs’ Imprisonment; G. Hoggard to pav H. J. Arnold £ll/7/- at the rate of 10/- a month. lu default 11 days Im prisonment: Eric Hogg to pay I'. RMeadows £43/11/- at the rate of £3/Wa month, in default 30 days’ imprisonmi"t the defended civil case of Petone Service Station. Ltd., v. James V right, a claim for £2/14/-. Judgment was given for the plaintiff for £l/4/-.