HOKITIKA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 7 October 1949, Page 3

HOKITIKA NOTES

[Our Own Correspondent]

In the Children’s Court yesterday two lads were charged with being in possession of airguns, the unfortunate result of this being that another lad has probably lost the sight of one eye. The Magistrate (Mr 'F. F. Reid) admonished and discharged the boys, pointmg out that an airgun was a dangerous weapon and that children should not b allowed possession of such. A local dealer wgs charged with selling the weapon to the boys without permission from the police. The Magistrate stated that it was not generally known that it was necessary to have a permit to sell an airgun nor was the wholesaler fully aware of the necessity of a permit before a sale. The Police Department requested that publicity be given the case and the circumstances made iknown, that dealers should under no condition sell an

airgun unless a permit has first been obtained from the police. The Clerk of the Court, Mr R. Collyer, stated that in his dealings with the Children’s Court, at least six cases have come before him where injury to the eye has beeZA-caused by airguns. Arising out of an accident at the corner of Hampden and Brittan Streets, on July 22 between a motorcycle ridden by Frank Stewart and a truck driven by Henry Jones, the owners of the truck, Camerons Transport Ltd., were charged with operating a vehicle having defective brakes. The driver was charged with failing to give way to traffic on his right. Frank Stewart was charged with riding a motor-cycle not having a warrant of fitness. Owing to illness a principal witness was not available and the case adjourned until the nq<t sitting.