MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 15 July 1938, Page 8

MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

MONTHLY SITTING AT LEVIN. NUMEROUS TRAFFIC BREACHES. The ordinary monthly sitting of the Levin Magistrate’s Court took place yesterday. The calendar of business included only one police prosecution, but over forty motor vehicle offences were dealt with and a large number of civil cases. Mr. A. M. Gonlding, S.M., who has been appointed to this district in consequence of the transfer of Mr. J. L. Stout to Wellington, presided for the first time.

Supplied Liquor to Natives. The first prosecution of its kind for some time in this district was the one in which William Bowling appeared and pleaded guilty. He was charged that on June 28th last, at Muhunoa West, being a proclaimed area wherein liquor shall not be supplied to natives, he supplied Tom Perawiti and others with five gallons of beer for consumption other than on licensed premises. Called by the police, the chairman of the Baukawa Native Council (* l - Hone McMillan) defined the boundaries of the proclaimed district, and m which Muhunoa is included. He said t ic boundary commenced at the mouth o the Alanawatu River, followed the river to the Manawatu Gorge and then along the Tarania Ranges to Castle Point, then followed the ocean back to tire mouth of the Manawatu River. A considerable amount of liquor was being taken to tangis and gatherings of, Maori people, but he did not think the practise was on the increase. llis council was opposed to it and had dealt with some cases. , ~ . Constable Baker told the court that defendant had taken a live-gallon keg of beer to a, tangi at Muhunoa West It was procured at Levin about o’clock at night, and Bowling had said that the money for it was given him by one of the members of the family interested in the tangi. When approached defendant had been quite trank about the matter. ‘‘We look on this as a rather serious offence,” continued Constable Baker. “In my experience in Levin natives are drinking too much away from licensed premises. Complaints have been made about the amount of drinking at tangis and we want this ease to act as a deterrent. His Worship said he was pleased to hear the chairman of the Raukawa Council say that the natives themselves were opposed to drinking at their gatherings. The maximum penalty under the Act was £SO, but in this case he would impose a fine of £l2 10s with costs 12s. “I want to issue a warning that it other people are brought before the court the penalty will be even more substantial,” he added. Excessive Speed.

Stephen John Newland was charged •with driving a car at Manakau on May 25th at a speed which might have been dangerous to the public. He was convicted and fined £3, while costs amounted to 10s. Inspector H. J. Howler said he followed defendant along the main highway from Levin to Manakau at a speed of over 50 m.p.h. and sometimes 00 m.p.h. At Manakau he ex(peeted defendant to slacken his speed, but he passed through the township at 52 m.p.h. It was dark at the time. William Walton was similary charged and he was convicted and fined £2 10s. For operating a motor cycc when it was not equipped with an efficient silencer ho was fined 15s. Costs on the two informations .amounted, to £l. Inspector J. H. R. Semple told the court that at 4.15 p.i'i. on Sunday, May Bth last, he left the Levin railway station and proceeded south along the main highway on a motor-cycle. His speed tor half a mile was 00 m.p.h. and there was no muffler ou the machine. No Warrants of Fitness.

For failing to carry warrants of fit ness on motor vehicles Ernest Blackmore, Oscar Christensen, Peter llamiora and Stanley Horace Williams Avere all convicted and fined, .lames Huia Avas convicted and ordered to pay costs 10s for a similar offence. Unlicensed Drivers.

Frank Ishmacl Brycnton avus convicted and fined 10s Avith costs 10s for having no driver’s 'license, and las with 10s costs for failing to carry a Avarrant of fitness.

Driving a motor vehicle Avhen he avus not the holder of, a current driver’s license cost llbert Victor Buckhart 10s Avith costs 10s.

Unlighted Bicycles. Fines were imposed as follows on several cyclists riding bicycles without lights: Lawrence Kendrick £l, costs 12s; Francis Edward Hickey 30s, costs 10s; Frank Lawrence £l, costs 12s, and Colin Weaver £l, costs 12s. Unlighted Stationary Car, Ramelia Wchipeihana Toft his car on the main highway at Kuku without turning on the lights and he was convicted and fined £l, costs amounting to 10s. Inspector Fowler said that at 5.45 p.m. on May 28th he found defendant's car occupying about two feet of bilumen on the main highway at Kuku. There were no lights burning on it. Overloaded Lorry. The Shannon Co-operative Dairy Company was charged firstly with operating a, heavy motor vehicle with a load exceeding , the maximum and, secondly, with operating a lorry on a road when the weight exceeded the restriction.

Inspector Fowler said the company’s !lorry was near Tokomaru on May 23rd land he weighed it. The vehicle was 'licensed to carry 7 tons, but its weight was 7 tons 14 cwt. The road was classified in Class 111 and the maximum was 7 tons. Mr. E. T. Moody, for company, plead-

od gailtv. He explained that it was necessary to remove a truck of fertilisers quickly, but it was not the company’s practice to overload. The company was fine! £1 on tire first charge and £2 10s on the second. Costs totalled £l.

Lorry Without Mirror. John Frederick Young pleaded not guilty to a charge of operating a motor vehicle when it was not equipped with a mirror as prescribed. Inspector Fowler stated that on June 2nd he found defendant driving a lorry near Waikanae and it did not have a rear vision mirror. A few days previously he had warned him about the matter. Defendant said the mirror had been broken off and he would have another put on. On the second occasion defendant said he had taken the lorry to the garage, but .his instructions 10 affix a mirror had not been carried out. However, when witness made enquiries at the garage ho was informed that they had not been told to attach a mirror to the lorry.

Defendant explained that when the lorry was taken to the garage for greasing he asked that a mirror be fitted. This was not done, tiie garage saying that they did not have a suitable one. He fitted a temporary one inside, but on the second occasion he did not draw the inspector’s attention to it as it did not comply with the regulations. When the lorry was loaded it did not show rear vision.

His Worship commented that on defendant’s own admission he did not have a mirror as prescribed. He was convicted and fined 10s, with costs 10s.

Judgment Summonses. "(Mrs.) E. Harris was ordered to pay E. I. Farrington (Mr. X. M. Thomson) the sum of £5 19s Cd at the rate of £1 per month, in default seven days’ imprisonment. J. W. Kelly was ordered to pay Win, Davie (Mr. D. P. Todd) the sum of £7 15s 3d in default eight days’ imprisonment, warrant to be suspended as long as £1 per month was paid. P. Houlihan was ordered to pay Clive B. Linn (Mr. Thomson) the sum of £2O 15s 3d at the rate of 30s per month, in default twenty-one days’ imurisomnent.

J. Kelly was ordered to pay Humphreys and Andrews, Ltd., (Mr. Thomsen) the sum of £5 Os 8d at the rate of 10s per month, in default seven days’ imprisonment. A. Y. Thompson was ordered to pay W. S. Bransgrove (Mr. Todd) the sum of £ll 19s Od in default tAvelvc days’ imprisonment, warrant to be suspended as long as £1 per month is paid. Ban Tihema avus ordered to pay G. E. Little (Mr. J. P. M. Bertram) the sum of £8 0s lid at the rate of £1 per month, in default nine, days’ imprisonment.

A. P. Barnett was ordered to pay Faloon Bros. (Mr. Todd), the sum of £3 15s 0d forth'Avith, in default four days ’ imprisonment. A. P. Barnett avus ordered to pay C. Sims (Mr. J. F. Gavin) the sum of £1 10s Od forthwith, in default two days ’ imprisonment. Civil Cases,

Levin Service Depot v. 11. Lowe LI 4s (id, costs £1 14s (id; L. J. Hunter end I'L T. (1. Miller v. Dolii McGregor £5 Bis, costs £1 IDs (id; A. O. Powell v. ,L Parsons £5 11s Dcl, costs £1 1.4 s (id: G. G. Hill v. W. H. Smitlison £2 3s, costs £1 os (id; D. S. Weaver v. .1. McMinn £1 8s (3d, costs 11s; W. T. and 11. Somerton v. J. Kelly £1 11s, costs 11s; same v. B. Ealhmtyne £2 15s Bd, costs £1 7s (id; Andrew Bonner v. 11. A. Jolmston £lO 4s, costs £2 15s; Levin Borough Council v, William Harding £25 Is 2d, costs £4 Is (id; same v. M. M. Wircmu £0 3s lid, costs £1 15s 6d; B. B. Way, Ltd., v. S. W. Harvey £2 7s 7d, costs £1 3s (id.