POLICE COURT

Evening Star, Issue 18901, 27 March 1925, Page 9

POLICE COURT

Friday, March 27. (Before Mr IT. \V. Bundle, S.M.) NEIGHBORS CANNOT AGREE. In the adjourned matter of Henry Langdon v. Enirst John Scanlan, a dispute under the Fencing Act, Air R. M. S. Sinclair (for complainant) said that the parties had been unable to come to an agreement, and asked the court to make an order. Counsel suggested that a 6ft fence he erected on the line, 4ft palings being unprocurable. Mr Neil (for defendant) objected. He said 6ft palings were quite unnecessary. The proceedings were brought out of pure spile. The Court made an order for a 4ft fence, to he eroded by a builder to be agreed upon, half-cost to be, borne by each of the parties. No costs were allowed, the Magistrate, remarking that ’ parties should fettle trumpery fencing disputes, especially in town, A FAST MILK CART. Lyal! Daniel Sydor pleaded not guilty to driving a milk cart past, a, stationary Iramcar ami guilty to driving the cart at a pace taster thaii a walk while crossing an intersection. Constable Brownlie said defendant was driving at a. furious trot. Do passed the car as it was in the act of pulling up, appearing to bo racing the car to the stop. To defendant: Witness could not say whether the car had actually stopped before the cart passed. Detective Lean said be was on tho (ram, and saw the cart being driven at a fast trot, The, tram had just stopped when the cart passed. Witness was of tho opinion that the horse had taken charge. Constable. Hamilton read a statement made hy defendant. Defendant said the horse was completely under control; the car had not stopped when he passed. He, was not aware that the law prohibited vehicles being driven faster than at a walking pace across intersections. The Magistrate said that defendant was obviously driving carelessly. 1 here was a reasonable doubt as to whether the tram had actually stopped when the cart passed. That charge would bo dismiss®]. On the second charge Ills Worship) udhcled a fine of 40. with costs; but on ascertaining from defendant that he would have to pay the fine himself, ami wa- getting only 35s a. week, the line was reduced to one of 20s, with costs (7s). THE MUSHROOMERS’ RETURN. Hugh M'Gralh pleaded not guilty to driving Ins motor car at a spiced dangerous to the public. Constable Hamilton said that at 6.10 pi.in. on .March 7he saw a car being driven along Main Mouth road towards Dunedin at- a speed between fifty and sixty mile-, on hour. Witness saw the car'for 600yds before it reached him, It juH missed a car by a couple of feet. This was tho worst ease, of speeding in witness's experience of two and a-half years in Green Islam!. Witness stepped out and held up his hand, lull defendant took no notice. There were several people in the car, and they all appeared, to be waving. To the Magistrate: Witness was able to estimate speed fairly accurately, as he had tested his ability for two months steadily. Constable Watkins produced a statement by defendant. Defendant, sworn, said it was absolutely ridiculous to say ho was going at tho speed stated hy the, constable. Ho was going at maximum speed certainly, but this would not he more than thirty mil(j ( s an hour. The car was a 19.10 model, and flat! practically been taken out, ofjjio scrap heap. It was making a great noise, and that presumably impressed the constable. The only traffic witness saw was (be one car ho had passed. There were, no pedestrians about. He understood the speed limit was thirty miles an hour at this spot, which was two miles out of Green Island. There were five- persons in tho car, and they had all been gathering mushrooms. His Worship said that defendant on his own admission had driven the. car at its maximum speed. It was not a ) loper place tor speeding, and it was a- dangerous practice to attempt it. Ho was satisfied tho car oouVi d;o moro than thirty miles an hour. Defendant would bo fined £4, with costs (7s). "IN 'CHE WIFE’S NAME.” Robert Leonard Martin pleaded not guilty to permitting a. maro to wander.— Defendant said the horse was not bis, but his wife's, ami that the section from which it strayed was not, his.—Constable Gibson gave evidence that he saw the mare wars, dering on Anderson Lay road.—Constable Hall said defendant mentioned that he had “got his horse, out of tho pound.’’--Fined ss, with easts <7s). LURE OF DRINK. Robert Leonard Middendovf did not attend to meet a charge of being found on licensed premises while prohibited, but he sent, a written statement,' I'inert 20s, with costs (7s). NO LIGHTS. Arthur Welsh was fined ss, with costs (7s). as being the person in charge of a motor car left, in Queens drive, without proper lights. ‘■CLEAR THE GORSE.” For failing to clear gorse from their properties. And. Brad field and F. Berry were each fined 10s. with costs (7)s, and James M ‘Neil 10s, without costs. DRUNKENNESS. Thomas Farrell was lined 1.2 s 6d, in default twenty-four hours' imprisonment, on a, charge of drunkenness.