SUMMONS ALTERED

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 199, 20 May 1936, Page 8

SUMMONS ALTERED

Critical Comment By Magistrate He could reeolleei; one recent ca.se where the mime of the person charged was entirely altered because the original person mi med was found to be dead, said Mr. 11. I’. Lawry, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court. Wellington, yesterday, when he commented upon the addition of a Christian name to an information and summons after an attempt had been made to serve a person iu connection with Department of Agriculture proceedings for failing to keep sections in Hie Te Marua block of the Akatarawa Survey District free of ragwort.

The department, rep resented by Mr. T. M. Sim, brought a number of prosecutions against persons owning sections in tliis district. In ouc case an information was laid against Keith Kirkcaldie and Sydney Kirkcaldie as executors in the estate of Elsie May Kirkcaldie, and the name Edward was added to that of Keith Kirkcaldie on the information and summons after an attempt had been made to .serve Keith Kirkcaldie. Mr. Lawry said it was extraordinary that such a tiling as the addition to or alteration of a name without the apparent authority of the person swearing the information could happen. Mr. Sim said he did not do this and did not authorise it. Informations were withdrawn by leave of the court in this and the following cases': Sidney Kirkcaldie; Olive Finch, of Pukerua, Ormondville; Frederick William Hoddinott; Hobina Emily McGregor, and Methven Mirams. Fines of 10/- and costs 10./- were

imposed on each of the following:— Charlotte E. G. Oswin, Alan Walker Free, Herbert Edward Pilkington, Gertrude Fanny Richardson, of Hanmer, and Estel Francis Jleek. Jlr, E. K. Kirkcaldie and .Mr. A. IV. Free appeared for the various defendants.