SOUTH OTAGO NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 22891, 24 February 1938, Page 9

SOUTH OTAGO NOTES

BALCLUTHA COURT, Mr H. J. Dixon, S.M., presided over the monthly meeting of the 'Balclutha Magistrate’s Court yesterday, v James Bennett, labourer, Kaitangata, was charged with wilfully damaging a car, the property of Olhver George Sim, to the extent of £l2 at Milton on December 10.—Constable Kerse (Milton), who prosecuted.-said that the damage resulted following a dispute over who was to pay for a fish tea at Milton after a visit to Henley. Defendant had broken the window and did other damage, and next day called on him aiKi admitted offence, lie .was a married man with six children, and on relief work.—ln reply to the magistrate, defendant said h© must have lost his head. He had had some drink. He had only received thd account from the garage that week, and it was for £7 18s. He would pay it off at so much a week.—Constable Kerse said the account appeared to cover all the damage, and he asked that the charge be altered accordingly.—The Magistrate said, that defendant’s family would be the chief, sufferers if he was sent to gaol, as hia list warranted. He would be convicted and ordered to come up for sentence within.two years if called upon, the amount of the damage to be paid by March 31. J. R. T. Gold, Balclutha, was charged with failing to keep to the left of the road on December 11 at Romahapa, and further with negligent driving.—Constable W. S. Boyle said that defendant was returning from Owaka Show, and When coming round a corner on the wrong side had collided with a service bus going to Owaka. Several passengers suffered slightly from shock, and defendant’s lorry was overturned.—Mr Grigor, for defend-

ant, pleaded guilty to the first charge and the second was withdrawn by the v. police.—Mr Grigor said there was no' gross carelessness on the part of the who was driving'behind another vehicle and did not see the bus

coming.—Convicted and fined 20s, with 10s costs. For riding a bicycle without a light, James Williams, Balclutha North, was ■ convicted and fined 10s, with 10s costs. Francis C. Dowling, Balclutha, charged l with dangerous driving in Clyde street on January 23, pleaded guilty. Ho said he was coming from a dance at Kaka Point.—Constable Boyle put the speed down at about 50 m.p.h.—Convicted and fined 10s, with IQs costs. G. R. * Hunter, Balclutha, was •charged with supplying a Diana shot gun to one Arthur Wood', who was under 16. —Ho. pleaded guilty.—Constable Boyle said the boy was stopping with defendant on holidays, and on returning to Invercargill was found with, the gun in his possession when playing with other boys. The gun was a firearm within the meaning of the Aot. : —Defendant said he had given the gun to the boy as a present in good' faith, and did not think it came within the meaning of the Act.—Convicted and ordered to pay 10s costs. Peter Polling M'Sfcimming, Benhar, was charged with dangerous driving on ftho Wairuna-Clydevale road at Ashley Downs on January 3.—County Inspector Taylor said defendant came round the corner on the wrong side, and he '(witness) had to pull off the road to avoid a collision.—Defendant pleaded guilty to driving on the-wrong side of the road.—Convicted and fined 20s, ' with 'l7a costs. Defendant did not appear when the case was first called', but later the case was reopened, and the fine reduced to the sum stated from 40s. Andrew D. ..Lee, miner, Nightcaps, was. charged with dangerous driving at Wairuna on December 31.—Highways Inspector P. J. Hunter prosecuted, and a fine of 40s, with 10s costs, was imposed. Russell Arthur Coulter, Dunedin, was charged with carrying two passengers on the pillion of a motor cycle at Kaka Point on January 2.—lnspector Hunter prosecuted, and said that inquiries made later elicited the fact that defendant had a license to drive a car, but not to drive a motor cycle.—Convicted and ■fined 30s, with 10s costs. Nellie Telford, Otanomomo, was charge I with parking a car too far from the kerb in Clyde street, Balclutha, on December 22.—Inspector • Hunter said they were endeavouring to stop indiscriminate parking in this street.—Convicted and ordered to pay 12s costs. John 0. Kitohing, Kelso, was charged with carrying on a goods Service, between Kelso and Balclutha otherwise than in conformity with the conditions of his goods license.—Traffic Inspector W. B. B. M'Dowell said defendant was carrying a load of furniture, and had.no temporary license. He was encroaching on other carriers’ territory by doing so.—Convicted and fined 40s, with 10s costs. Lloyd M. Taylor, Paretai, was charged with using a motor cycle without having a warrant of fitness, and pleaded guilty. —Inspector M‘Dowell prosecuted.—Defendant said he had the machine on trial.—Convicted and ordered to pay 10s costs. —Civil Cases.— Woodware Company (Balclutha) v. L. Stewart (Balclutha North), claim £3 9s, on judgment summons; 10s had been paid.—Ordered to pay £2 19s forthwith, in default three days’ imprisonment. Thomas Milnes (Clinton) v. \V. H. Molloy (Clinton), claim £5 10s, on judgment summons.—After the hearing of debtor’s statement no order was made. John Battrick (Balclutha) claimed from George D. A. Bichan (Kaka Point) £l6 rent and possession of tenement.—Plaintiff said he had let debtor into a two-roomed crib at Kaka Point as a favour, believing him to be a single man. The rent was 5s a week, and defendant was to get out during the holidays in order that the crib could be let at £2 a week. The claim .was for so many weeks at ss, and at £2 and £1 a week for the holiday period.—Debtor said he could not get another place. He had a housekeeper and her little girl staying with him. He had offered to pay 5s a week right through, but claimant would not take it.—Mr Kelly, for plaintiff, said the place could not be termed a dwelling house under the Fair Rents Act, as suggested by debtor’s counsel (Mr Walter), as it was only let as a seaside crib at holiday time.—The Magistrate said it appeared to him to be. a case for an order. Debtor was a single man, and had not complied with the conditions of tenancy. An order would be made, for possession before March 16. and judgment would be given for £4 10s, with £2 16s costs.