MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 21 May 1928, Page 9

MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

MANAIA SITTINGS. -\t the ‘Manaia Court this morning} before Mr. R. W. Tate, S.M., judgment was given in the following civil cases for tne plaintiff by default: C. M. Rowland v. F. H. P. Rogers, claim £8 Is; R. S. F. Craig v. P. Freeman, 12s 6d; same v. R. Avery, £8 14s; Taranaki Trading Association v. Geo,

Espiner, £ls 8s sd. In a judgment summons, J. Rana was ordered to pay A. G. Bennett the sum of £l3 12s 6d and costs amounting to £1 Is, in default 14 days’ imprisonment. THEFT OF MOTOR ACCESSORIES. Rota. Pine, for whom Mr. A. J. Christie appeared, .pleaded guilty to the theft of three gallons,of petrol, a pair of pi ions, and a spanner, of a total value of 13s, the property of H. Whitcomb©, of Tnikatu Road. Sergeant Henry stated that Whitcombe had reported to Constable Scannell at Manaia that benzine and the tools had been missing from his cowshed. The constable had interviewed the defendant, and 'he found; the double-ended spanner and pliers. Defendant maintained that he had bought the pliers from the Kaupokonui store', and that someone had put the spanner in his bag. Defendant was also further charged with driving without a license, to which he also

pleaded guilty. Mr. Christie, -asked, for leniency on the' grounds that defendant had not had a very good education, not haring passed the second standard. He (defendant) was going to a party, and went to the Mr. Whitcombe’is cowshed and. took the benzine. He was 1 a hard-working man, and did not drink. The defendant: “Mr mother wants me to work for her and milk the cows next season.” The magistrate: “You wall have to work hard. I am going to fine you.” On the charge of theft defendant was fined £5 and 5s translation fee, and on the charge of driving without a license he was convicted and ordered to pay 19s costs, payment to be made at the rate of £2 monthly. The magistrate warned defendant that if he came before him again .he would go to gaol. NO ROOM TO PASS.

Matt Katene was . charged, that, being the driver of a motor car on the Main South Road, Kaupokonui, when overtaken by another vehicle and the driver of such vehicle signalled his desire to pass, he did increase his speed and fail to : allo\y the driver of the other vehicle reasonable space in which to pass, contrary to the motor regulations. Sergeant Henry stated that this was the first case of its kind since the new regulations came into force. Mr. * Corkill, engineer to the Egmont County Council, sounded his horn in an attempt to pass defendant, but the later speeded up and prevented Mr. Corkill from passing ,and probably would have caused an accident if Mr. Corkill had not been a careful driver. The magistrate took into consideration that this was the first case under the new regulations, and he would not punish defendant heavily. A fine of £2 and costs 17s was imposed. On a further charge of driving without a license, defendant was convicted and ordered to pav costs amounting to 15 s. UNREGISTERED FIREARM. Amy Katherine Mercer, who did not appear, was charged with failing to register a firearm. Sergeant Henry deposed that in December, 1927, Mrs. Mercer borrowed a gun for the purpose of her son shooting some fowls, and she had the gun, which belonged to her father, in her possession for two months. An unfortunate circumstance, said the sergeant, was that complaints had. been received about the boy carrying a loaded gun about on the beach in proximity to children. The case was dismissed, defendant being ordered to mv costs amounting to 10s. .For riding a cycle at night without a. light. Percy Sutton was mulcted in a fine of £1 and 10s costs.