HAWERA COURT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 14 August 1929, Page 9

HAWERA COURT.

POLICE CHARGES HiKIA-Ril). The fortnightly sittings of the Magistrate’s Court at Hawera opened today. Mi- J. H. Salmon presiding. ADULTERATED MILK. liioce-eding with the charges against Harry Thomas Carpenter and Henry Reteii- Dornauf, of Haw-era, of alleging the sale of milk not complying with fne requirements made- pursuant to the Food and. Drugs Act, at Hawera: on J une 25, it was explained to the court that a test of the milk samples by an independent anailyist (to obtain which evidence for the -defence Iliad been adjourned at the previous- meeting of tne court) had not been possible- owing to the samples. Addressing the court, Mr T. H. A. Kinmont (counsel for defendants) referred to the section qf the Act- under which defendants were entitled to have an independent test taken as a check on tlie analysis of the departmental authorities. Ho pleaded that in this instance the delay of five weeks in bringing the charge had been responsible for the inability of defendants* to lake advantage of the section. Both uadi sworn they had not adulterated the milk.

The -magistrate held that defendants had been aware a" prosecution was likely and if th©£ so desired should have immediately had tested the samples of millk left with them by the inspector, in the absence- of evidence for the defence lie had to accept the analysis of | the department, which showed that the j mailk was- deficient in solids and 00-n----t-ained added water. Referring to the suggestion that if adulteration had ! taken -plaice it had occurred before the milk came into- the possession of defendants, he explained that millk vendors could secure protection in that respect by obtaining a warranty ais to the condition of the milk when supplied to them, though the protection would be conditional on their belief that the supply accorded with the guarantee. Defendant Carpenter, who had been convicted -previously -of a similar offence, was fined £l.O and posts totalling £1 Os 6d. Dornauf, who had been in the business fo-r a comparatively short time and who -had obtained the milk from 1 Carpenter, who had" obtained it from a third- source, was fined £2 and similar costs. CUT THE CORNER. Stating that lie had to- hustle and make the best of every minute on his job on a grocery delivery motor van, George Gray pleaded guilty to a charge of having cut the corner when turning from Manawapou Road to the right into Princes Street extension on July 30. Defendant drove 30 feet on the wrong side of the point where a silent policeman would have been had one been on the intersection, and had collided with another vehicle, said Sergeant Henry. There was no suggestion of 'excessive speed. Defendant had since lost his position as driver of the delivery van. The magistrate remarked that defendant had already been punished by the loss of his billet. A fine of £1 and 10s costs was entered. RAILWAY CROSSING CHARGES. John William Willis, of Elthani, did not appear in answer to charges of (a) having failed to stop at the compulsory is top sign at the railway crossing at Normanby when driving a motorvehicle on the morning of July 1 and (b) with crossing the railway line when it was not clear. Constable Pidgeon stated that defendant had negotiated the crossing with only about two car lengths to spare from the engine of the train from New Plymouth which travelled ahead of the morning express. Remarking that the second charge was the more serious of the two, the magistrate entered a fine of £3 and 10s costs on that count. The other charge was withdrawn COW AT LARGE.

Stephen Alinhinniek, of Normanby, diil not >app©ar to answer a ehiairgei of Having permitted a, cow to be at large on the Ketema.rae Road' ait Norman,by on the evening of August 3, but was represented by Air L. A. Taylor, who, entered a plea of guilty. Counsel stated that defendant had a license to graze the animal on the road in the daytime and on this partioiuar occasion had looked tor it, but bad been unable to locate the cow just after dark. (Subsequent to the discovery by the authorities. it had cost, defendant 4s to release the cow from: the pound. _ Defendant had been previously convicted on a similar charge and lined 10m and 15s costs in Afiay of last year, said Sergeant Henry.

Another fine of Id's and 1.5 s costs was entered. OPEN AFTER HOURS.

Failure to close his shop at Hawera by .six o’clock on the evening .of Tuesday, July 9, accounted for the appearance of James Fraser, hairdresser and tobacconist, who pleaded guilty to the resultant charge. The inspector (Air W. J. Berryman) stated ho found the shop open at 6.14 p.m. on the date mentioned in, the charge. On the previous evening he had found - the shop open at 0.15 p.m.. 'and had then warned defendant. Defendant, said the premises had not. been open for the express purpose of trade. AYlien the inspector called ho had been preparing to leave the shop. A fine of £1 and costs totalling £1 7s 8d was entered.