WESTPORT NOTES

Grey River Argus, 18 July 1941, Page 7

WESTPORT NOTES

-- , [Our Own Correspondent]. WESTPORT, July 17. High Tides for July: Friday, 18—5.20 a.m.; 6.5 p.m. Saturday, 19—6.31 a.m.; 7.7 p.m. Sunday, 20 —7.28 a.m.; 7.56 p.m. Monday, 21—8.14 a.m.; 8.35 p.m. Personal: Leading Aircraftsman R. Curtis, left this morning ■ tor Auckland.' Leading Aircraftsman R. L. Scarlett, left this morning for Auckland. Mr. D. A. R. Erickson, of Woodbourne Aerodrome, is visiting his parents at Westport. Mr. G. G. M. Mitchell. Registrar, Social Security office, Greymouth, is visiting Westport. Magistrate's Court: Mr. G. G. Chisholm, S.M.. presided at the Magistrate’s Court to-day. Charles Woouhead was convicted and fined £1 and costs on a charge of mischief. His brother, Justin Woodheau. in connection with the same offence, was lined 10s lor having a loaded rifle in a motor car. Sergeant H. H. Russell said defendants went on a shooting expedition in Karamea, and noticing what they took to be a wild pig, they shot it. It turned out to be a sow with a'litter following, 'lhe country was bushy and rough and it was reasonable to believe that wild pigs existed there and a’ mistake could have been made. Charles Woodhead, who shot the pig, was quite prepared to pay the value of it to the owner, estimated at £4. Mr, M. B. Scully, appeared for defendants. The Magistrate said that he had a similar case before him in another part of the Coast. He ordered Charles Woodhead, in addition to a line of £l, to pay £4, the value of the pig. For selling liquor after hours, Thomas Methven, licensee of the Cosmopolitan Hotel, was lined £3 and costs, and William Spence, licensee of the Prince of Wales Hotel, on a similar charge, was lined £3 and costs. Seven ' men, all first offenders, were lined 5s and costs on a charge of being found on licensed premises. Judgments for plaintiff by default was given in the following civil cases: A. H. Henley v. W. D. Fletcher, £4 17s 6d; Buller County v. Andrew Hunter, £46 16s 3d; T. Miln v. J. Cullen, £l. On a judgment summons. T. Neame was ordered to pay J. Jones 19s, in default two days’ gaol. Charles Spillane, a married man, employed in Christchurch, and William Shearer, married, of Granity, pleaded guilty of the unlawful conversion of a motor car. Sergeant H H. Russell said that such an offence was an unusual occurrence among adults in Westport. The car had been left in Palmerston Street al 11.55 p.m. on Saturday, June 2. It was later found undamaged near Granity. Enquiries had revealed that it had been taken by Spiliane and Shearer. Shearer had been in trouble before. On being interviewed, Shearer admitted taking the car as he had missed his train to Granity. Spillane, who had had a considerable amount of liquor, could not remember getting into the car,, but remembered alighting, near Granity. He was unable to drive. Mr. M. B. Scully, who appeared for botn accused, said that they admitted equal responsibility for the offence. Shearer was one of those unfortunate people who had a lot of bad luck over a number of years. He had been out of work on compensation, and when this ended had come to Westport to get help from the Social Security Department. Being Saturday, the cilice was closed, so he went away and later met Spillane, with whom he had a few drinksWhen they found thfrz they had missed the train they discussed sleeping in a carriage for the night, but Shearer desired to get home that night so he walked as far as the Orowaiti Bridge in lhe hope of gaming a lift. He failed in this object and came back to town, where he again met Spillane, after which they converted the car. Shearer's meeting Spillane had been accidental. Spillane was a returned soldier, married with a family, and had never been in trouble before. At the request of Mr. Scully, the Rev. Withers, of Granity, was permitted to speak on behalf of Shearer. The Magistrate said that it was difficult for him to know what to do as Shearer had been before him 12 months earlier on a theft charge, and that had not been the first time he had been before the Court. The present charge was not one of theft but very near to one. He was loath to put anything in the way of Shearer's regeneration, and because oi the Rev. Withers’ plea, would convict and fine him £5 and costs. As far as Spillane was concerned, he had never been before the Cotirt before. and would not have taken the car by himself as he was unable to drive.* He was convicted and lined £2 and costs.