MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 6 August 1924, Page 6

MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

SITTING AT ELTHAM. (Befoio Mr A. M. Mowlem, S.M.) At the Magistrate's Court yesterday at Eltham judgment was given by default in tire lollowiiig undelended eases:—A. A. Stewart v. T. Dennett-, claim £1 2s, costs £3 13s; J. Reters v. F. Hook, claim £2 8s 9d, costs £i •is 6d. in a judgment summons case, Judd and Holder v. M. S. Freer, claim £l3 5s 4d, the magistrate l said lie would make no order. Cecil Herbert Robinson was charged with. (1) on July 23, 1924, at Riverlea, stealing one horse-coliar raid harness, valued at £3, the property of Frank Aroa; (2) on August- 28/ 1924, stealing 12 calf skins, value £3, the property of Thomas Austin; and (3) on July 28, 1924, at Auroa, stealing four calf skins, value £l, the property of Richard Tremaine. Accused pleaded guilty to all the charges, and elected to be dealt with summarily. Sergeant Henry said from information received he had interrogated defendant, who admitted the- thefts. Robinson worked on his father’s farm, and the various articles were found in jus possession. Defendant was 26 years or age. His father was a decent man, and knew nothing of the thefts. Defendant was somewhat weak in intellect.

The magistrate said he did not like to send a young man to gaol. litwould grant accused 12 months’ probation and warned him, pointing out that lie was liable to twelve months' imprisonment. Firic Hi Trask and Rat-rick O tveeie were- charged with being on licensed promises, die Elllvuu Hotel, on July 19, 1924, when such premises were required to be closed. Mr D. Clement appeared for defendants, wlio both pleaded guilty. Fergeant- Henry said that on the date in question Constable Townsend visited the hotel and found defendants on the premises. Trask left the premises when the constable arrived. Subsequently Constable Townsend accosted Trask in the street, and he denied having been on the premises. A glass was found in accused’s pocket. —Each of the accused was fined 30s, with costs 7s. Helen Patterson, wife of the licensee of the Eltham Hotel, was charged with supplying liquor to O’Keefe and Trask at a time when they were not. entitled to be supplied with liquor, and John J. Patterson, the license© was charged with keeping the hotel open when such premises were required to be closed, and with selling liquor at a time when such premises were required to be' closed.

The defendants, who were represented by Mr A. A. Stewart, pleaded guilty. Sergeant Henry asked the Bench to take a lenient view of the case.

His Worship said a breach of the law had been committed. The licensee had been brought into the case through no fault of his own. Mrs Patterson would be fined £4, costs 7s. Patterson, for having the premises open, > was fined £2, with costs 7s. The other charge against Patterson of selling drink would be dismissed. There would be no endorsement on the license.

Gordon Flavell and Harold Hughes were charged with riding bicycles on the county roads between sunset and sunrise .without lights. His Worship said he had imposed heavy fines some time ago in connection with tliis matter. These fines appeared to have had no effect. The practice was. a dangerous one, and the public must be protected. He intended to fully use his powers to stop the practice. He wished the public to understand that this was the last time, he would inflict a nominal penalty. Lamps were cheap, and cyclists, if they would not go to the trouble of ■purchasing them, well they would lake big risks. The practice was becoming too common. “A fine of 10s and costs 7s would be imposed in both cases. In Flavell’s case there would be a service charge of 6s. \ John Wallis was charged with permitting five bullocks t-e- wander on Eltham Road. —His Worship said as it was defendant’s second offence he would be fined £2, with costs 7s. Argus.