ELTHAM COURT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 18 May 1927, Page 3

ELTHAM COURT.

FORTNIGHTLY SITTINGS. Air It. AV. Tate, S.M., presided over the fortnighly sitting of the Eltham S.AI. Court, held yesterday. Judgment for plaintiff by default, with costs added, was given in the following cases: Bodle Bros, v, E. Hill, 9s; M. AI. Hockin v. George Epae, £5; J. and A. Guy v., Awe Pepe, £2; Edwin Wright v. L. A. Gower, £6 12s, balance of accounts. DISTURBING A AIEETING.

Two local youths, named J. Alulhally and R. J. Leatham, were charged with creating a disturbance at the Town Hall entrance during the progress of a meeting within the hall on the 11th inst. Constable Townsend gave evidence that whilst on duty at the hall at about 9 p.m. on the date in question his attention was drawn to the two accused, who had discovered a sugar bag filled 1 with turnips lying in the entrance. They had overturned the bag, with the result that the contents rolled about with a rumbling and bumping noise. Both admitted the offence when questioned, and stated that they had not gone to the locality with the intention of creating any bother.

The Magistrate admonished the lads, and pointed out that disturbing a meeting did not constitute fun. “If I fine you,” he said, “I shall have to make the fine substantial. You are each laible to a penalty of £5, but I do not wish to convict you, as a convinction would be on record 1 against you for all time. I prefer putting you on your good behaviour for a term, at the end of which all will lie well if the police report is * f avourable. You will each pay 10s costs, and the case will stand'adjourned for six months.” GRAZING ON ROADS.

Henry Osborn, a Alangamingi settler, was charged, on the information of the Eltham County Council, for whom Mr St. L. Reeves appeared, with allowing nine cows to wander at large at Mangainingi on April 27. Henry E. Williams (county ranger) said that in response to a telephone call ho proceeded to the locality and found the cows on the road. Defendant’s son signed the release order. A dispute had taken place between defendant and his neighbours on account of the cattle damaging a recent filling on the road, which was a county load used by three settlers. The defendant said the road was a blind one, with no traffic. He had grazed his cows on it for two years, and until this year nothing had been said against the practice. He contended that the cattle did no harm. Air Reeves said tlie prosecution was a last resort, as repeated warnings had. no effect on the defendant. The Alagistratc, in convicting and inflicting a fine of 20s. with £1 0s 6d costs, said that promiscuous grazing must be stopped; defendant had no more right to graze cattle on the roads than he had. A WANDERING HORSE.

Thomas Halford was convicted and ordered to pay 12s costs for allowing a horse to wander on the StratfordOpunake road on April 22. Halford said he paid 2s 6d per week grazing fees for the horse, which had evidently been freed from the paddock when cows were let out to be milked. The horse had remained about the gateway until seen by the ranger. It was a wet day, otherwise the horse would have been in use.