MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 19 December 1928, Page 12

MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

SITTING AT ELTHAM. At the Eltham Magistrate’s Court yesterday, /before Mr. R. W. Tate, S.M., judgment was entered for plaintiff in the undefended civil claim of 1. J. Bridger against W. Thomson for 17s Gd. A PARENT’S LAXITY. Thos. Austin was charged with failing to send his son to school on November 21, 22 and 23, and also on November 27 and 28. George Pascoe, attendance officer under the Taranaki Education Board, gave evidence against the defendant, who did not appear. The Magistrate made it plain that ii-non-attendance continued the attendance officer would have to take action every week and increasing fines would be inflicted. Defendant was convicted and fined 10s, with costs, on each of the two informations. BREACHES OF MOTOR, REGULATIONS.

The following cases of breaches of the motor regulations were heard: Cyril Astbury, Mangatoki, was charged with failing to keep to the left of the centre lino of High Street whop turning his car into Bridge Street on November 22.

Defendant pleaded that his action was accidental. He had driven a ear for two years and had not met with an accident. A fine of 20s with costs and solicitor’s fee, £1 2s 6d, was imposed. Thomas Mellor Gatenby, A\v a tuna, was charged with operating a motorcycle without having adequate footrests attached for the use of the person carried thereon.

Defendant did not appear, but wrote to the Court admitting the offence and ignorance of the by-law, and stating that foot-rests had non - been fitted to his cycle. He was convicted and fined 30s with costs and solicitor’s fee, £1 2s G<l. On a further charge of permitting pilion riding Gatenby was ordered to pay 12s costs. Robert Gatenby, who did not appear, was fined 30s with costs and solicitor’s fee, £1 2s 6d, on a charge of driving a motor-cycle with a side-saddle passenger, on November 27. Eor riding- a bicycle without a light and a red reflector on the Rawhitiroa Road on November 26, Bertie Albert Martin was convicted and ordered to pay costs and solicitor’s fee, £1 Os 6d. Mr. St. L. Reeves, who appeared for the County Council, said that, in view of the circumstances he did not press for a heavy penalty. The Magistrate said that defendant’s poor circumstances did not mitigate the offence or lessen his likelihood of claiming heavy damages in the event of being run down by a motorist.