WORK OF THE COURT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 7 January 1928, Page 8

WORK OF THE COURT.

THE YEAR IN HAWERA. DECLINE IN BUSINESS NOTED. A decline in both civil and criminal business for 1927, as compared with 192(5 is recorded in the return of business transacted at the Hawera Court. The number of plaints entered dropped to the extent of 227, equivalent to over 23 per cent., while the' amount claimed showed a similar decline. Criminal cases also dropped considerably. During the year 31 (32) civil sittings and 33 (35) criminal sittings were held before a stipendiary magistrate, and 3 /0 .) civil sittings and 61 (64) criminal sittings before justices of the peace, a total of 34 (35) civil and 94 (99) criminal sittings. Distress warrants istotalled 29 (48); judgment summonses 250 (223); warrants of committal 26 (291 ; writs of arrest 2 (1). Summonses and other processes served by i.ho bailiffis totalled 826 (1024) and warranto executed 71 (67)- Fees and fines Into bed £1320 8s (£1542 12,s 6d). ■Civil business. —733 (960) plaints were entered for a total amount of Ml .283' 15s 3d (£13,281 18s 8d). Of lb:.S'2 480 (617) cases were actually tried in respect of claims for £6613 15s -fi (£8137 4s) of which £5717 17s 5d .£152(5 13s 6d) was recovered. Criminal offence cards were as follows: Arrest cards,. 81 (96) males, 8 (6) females, a total of 92 (102); summons cards, 289 (338) males, 20 (23) females, a total of 309 (361). The total number of cards issued was 401 (463), of which 33 (4) were in respect of juveniles. For the quarter ended December 31 last a do. line in business in all branches as compared with the corresponding period of the previous year was noted. During the quarter a magistrate presided over 10 (7) civil and 6 (7) criminal sittings, and justices presided over !no (nil) civil and 18 (19) criminal sittings, a total of 10 (7) civil and 24 (26) criminal sittings. Twelve (21) nplulieations were heard in chambers, 9 |(6) distress warrants, 57 (58) judgment summonses. 6 (3) warrants of committal. and no (nil) writs of arrest were issued. Summonses and ' other proesses served' by bailiffs numbered 196 (286), and 22 (14) warrants were executed by bailiffs.

Civil business transacted by the court was as follows: Plaints entered 115 (204) amount sued for £2IBB 11s 7d (£3020 13s 2d), cases tried 92 (145), amount claimed £1036 11s 3d (£1989 3s 4d), amount recovered 1 £lOl6 11s 3d (£IBO4 Is 3d). The criminal offence cards for the quarter comprised : Arrest cards issued 27 (30) males, and 2 (2) females; summons cards 75 (62) males, 4 (7) females, total 79 (69). The totals were 102 (92) males, 6 (9) females, a grand total of 108 (101). Included- in the above were 8 (0) males and no (0) female juvenile- offenders. Civil fees paid totalled £l7O 5s (£302 18s 6d), criminal fees £23 (£ls 16s), tines £9l 12s (£BS 12s 6db and licensing fees- £4 15s (£4).