MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 July 1941, Page 2

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

TO-DAY’S GREYMOUTH CASES

Mr. G. G. Chisholm, S.M., presided at to-day’s sitting of the Magistrate’s Court, at Greymouth. Sergeant W. Cooper represented the police. A married man, for 'whom Mr. A. M. Jamieson entered a plea of guilty, was charged with a breach of his prohibition order. Sergeant Cooper said that defendant, who was under the influence of liquor, had called at a hotel at 10.30 p.m. on July 12, to trv and get.liquor. He was put out, remarking to the licensee that “he would get even. Later, he rang the police station apd complained of “a wild party’ at the hotel. Subsequently, he was interviewed and admitted his offence. There had been a number of complaints about him, but this was the first time he had been charged with a breach of the order issued on May 21, 1941. Mr. Jamieson said that, realising his own weakness as regards liquor, defendant had taken the order out himself. Defendant had a wife. and four children, and he (Mr. Jamieson) asked that he be treated as leniently as possible. The S.M. said that apparently defendant’s conduct had not been too satisfactory. However, he would be given an opportunity and the case adjourned for two months. What he (the S.M.) did then would depend upon defendant’s behaviour in the meantime. , , Ernest Ronald Harvey was charged that, on July 12, 1941 at Blackball, being a person under the age of 18 years, he did drive a heavy trade motor vehicle on the Blackball-Roa road. He was further charged with driving without due care and attention and with having no warrant fitness on the vehicle. Sergeant Cooper said defendant was not in court, but he had intimated his intention to plead guilty. Constable R. M. Waldron, of Blackball, gave evidence that defendant was involved in an accident with the van and in a subsequent interview, defendant admitted that he was under 18 years of age and had no warrant of fitness. In his statement (produced) defendant said his speed was 25 m.p.h., and the capsizing of the van was due to his having a little too much way on for a frozen road, with the result that the van skidded. The S.M. said defendant gave his speed at 25 m.p.h. and practically admitted he was travelling too fast on the frozen road. On each of the charges of driving under the age of 18 and without due care and attention he would be fined £l, with 10/costs, and on the charge of not having a warrant of fitness, he would be fined 10/- with 10/-'costs. Albert William Boucher Honey was charged that on June 10 at Camerons being the driver of a motor-car when approaching a level crossing on a railway at which a “Compulsory Stop” sign was erected, he did attempt to cross the line before stopping at such sign to ascertain whether or not the line was clear.

Mr. W. D. Taylor, for defendant, entered a plea of guilty. Sergeant Cooper said defendant failed to stop at the compulsory sign on the side road at Camerons leading to the Bundi dredge and collided with a railway jigger, the driver of which was admitted to hospital.

Mr. Taylor said it was a dangerous crossing and defendant was driving slowly. He looked to his right and saw nothing and when looking to the left, was struck by the jigger, which was travelling very fast. Defendant was fined £2, with 17/costs.

For allowing two cows to wander in Hilton Street, Blackball, on July 13, Robert Mountford was fined 10/with 10/- costs. - ' On the information of the Deputy Radio Inspector (Mr. A. H. Sumner), Frank Sydney Klempel was fined 10/-, with 10/- costs, for operating an unlicensed radio receiver. The Inspector said defendant had ignored all warnings to renew his license, which expired in December 1940, until after he was interviewed on July 5. Gavin Melvin Sullivan was charged that on June 25, at Nine’ Mile, being a trucker employed at the Strongman Colliery, he did have a cigarette in his possession while in the mine. Percy Mostyn Outhwaite, manager of the colliery, said that in a routine search, a cigarette was found in defendant’s pocket. He could offei’ no explanation and had no matches on him. Witness thought it was entirely accidental and careless.

The S.M. said it might be carelessness, but at the same time there had been many warnings given. Defendant would be fined £l, with 10/costs.