MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1618, 28 April 1879, Page 2

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Monday, April 28. [Before Q-. L. Mellish, Esq., R.M.J Drunk and Disorderly. Pour individuals, charged with drunkenness and disorderly conduct, were fined as follows : —One ss, one 10s, and two 20s each. Breach of the Peace. —Thoma* Bedford and John Piper were charged with committing a breach of the peace. There was no appearance. It was an ordinary case of a street fight on Saturday night. Piper was fined 10s and Bedford was directed to bo summoned to show cause why his bail should not be forfeited. William Ashboult and John Dwyer were charged with fighting, on Sunday afternoon, in the public street. They admitted the offence, and were each fined 20s. Failing to Provide.— Alfred Restreaux appeared to answer the charge of neglecting to provide his wife with proper means of support. The Inspector of Police stated that the defendant had been in gaol since last December for larceny, and had only been released last Saturday. The complainant informed the Court that she had not been living with her husband for two years previous to his conviction. Her father had supported her child in the interim. She now applied for an order to protect her earnings. Tne protection order was granted, and the defendant was ordered to pay 10s for the support of his child. Cruelty to Animals. —Patrick Ryan was summoned for cruelly beating and overdriving a horse on February 12tb. The defendant denied the cruelty. After hearing the evidence of four witnesses the Bench dismissed the case, as there was no direct evidence of systematic cruelty having been committed. Wandering Horses and Cattle.— The following fines were inflicted for allowing horses and cattle to wander at large —John Harksr, one horse, 5s ; Thomas Hawkins, one horse, ss; William Mcllraith, two horses, 5s j John Hogg, one horse, ss; C. Lewis, one cow (on railway), 20s; Alexander Coward, 5s and 7s costs ; N. Yale, 5s and 7s costs ; R. Beattie, 5s and 7s costs ; Thomas Stevens, tethering a horse in Cambridge Terrace, 5s and 7s costs.

Behach of Publichouse Ordinance.— Henry Piper was summoned for selling drink in the Wharf Hotel on Good Friday, contrary to the Ordinance. The charge was admitted, and the Bench inflicted a fine ° f Breach of Public Health Aot.-WU-liam Naylor, James Phillips, W. T. Strong, and Carly Roggal, were summoned for contravening the provisions of the Public Health Act by neglecting to bring their children before the vaccination officer, Dr. Nedwill, within seven days after their vaccination. After hearing the evidence of Dr. Nedwill, the defendants Naylor and Phillips wore fined 20s each ; the case of Roggal was dismissed, and that of Strong was adjourned for a week.

Breach of Hackney Carriage By-law. —Daniel Howard was charged with illegally plying for hire other than on a public stand. After hearing evidence the charge was dismissed. A second charge of leaving his cab unattended was proved, and a fine of 10s was inflicted. Patrick Howard was summoned for carrying three passengers, being one more than allowed by the by-law. one in excess of t he number permitted by the by-law. The defendant said the three passengers got in unknown to him, and when ho discovered the fact, he drew up, and they at once got out. His Worship declined to accept the explanation, and a fine of 10s was inflicted. Assault. Christopher Dalwood was charged with having on the 29th of March assaulted Edward Hanson. Mr Slater appeared for the defendant. The complainant stated that ho was returning from Sumner on horseback on the day in question when the defendant, who was driving a ’bus, struck his (complainant’s) horse with his whip, and when remonstrated with he struck him across the face with his whip. The defendant called in' support of his statement J. G. Allison, Alfred Miller, and Philip Ball, who gave

orroborative evidence. The defendant wag j sworn, and said that if ho struck tho com* . plainant’s horgo it was accidental, as ho was whipping hia own horsea to avoid Coming 1 ihto collision with him Defendant positively Swore he never struck the complainant at all, and called John Tpdmer, who supported his statement. Sis Worship Held the assault proved, but in consideration of the strong language used in tho first instance by the complainant, and that the assault itself, on the evidence, was of a trifling nature, fined the defendant 40s, with tho cost of one witness, 10s. Abusive and Threatening Language.— John Albert Morgan was summoned for using abusive and threatening language to Joseph Nicholl calculated to provoke a breach of the peace, Mr Neck appeared for the complainant. The affair was a quarrel between neighbors, and was adjourned until the 6th proximo for the production of a witness. Game Trespass. —George Prebble was summoned for trespassing in pursuit of game on the property of Joseph 'Hayden. The defendant admitted the offence, and on the complainant stating that he did not wish to press the charge heavily, his Worship inflicted a fine of 20s, and costs 14j, at the same timb cautioning the defendant that he had rendered himself liable to a fine of £2O, and it was entirely owing to the forbearance of the complainant that he was let off so easily.