MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Hokitika Guardian, 13 December 1938, Page 6

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

BREACH OF ORDER. 'GREYMOUTH, December 13. Francis Daniel Low, alias brant Low, was chargecl with procuring liquor during the currency of a prohibition order, at Hokitika, on November, and at Reefton on December 8. The prohibition order was issued on October 28, 1938.

The Senior-Sergeant said that on November 3. at Hokitika, defendant was arrested for drunkenness, and was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment. He was released on December 5. At Reefton, on December 8, he was arrested for vagrancy and theft, and was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment, which he was now serving. On that occasion, he had a bottle of brandy in his possession.

Low said he knew he had made a mistake. He had a home to go to in South Westland, and he intended to “go straight” in future. A sentence- of 14 days’ imprisonment, with hard labour, was imposed, to be concurrent with the sentence Low is

now serving. LICENSING ACT. The licensee of the Recreation Hotel. Claude Howard AVitliell. was charged that, on Sunday. November 27, he unlawfully opened the premises' for the sale'of liquor, exposed liquor for sale, and sold liquor. Mr C. R. McGinlev, for defendant, pleaded guilty to the charge of exposing liquor for sale, and the others were withdrawn. A fine of £2 with costs, was inflicted. DANGEROUS DRIVING. Terence Albert Newman, of Christchurch, was charged that, on October 22, on tile Ah aura Plains, lie drove a car at a speed which, having regard to all the circumstances, was dangerous to the public. The S.M. said that it seemed to be a serious case of dangerous driving. Defendant would be fined £3 with costs. An order was made that the conviction be endorsed on his license, and notified to the issuing authority. TAXI-DRIVER FINED. Edgar Andrew Brown was charged ’that .on November 11, he exceeded the 30 miles per hour speed limit, in Preston Road. The S.M. said that, in his view, most of the serious traffic accidents arose from too much speed, and the Court took a serious view of speeding. Defendant would be fined £l/10/-, with costs. Danied Dennehv was charged (11 with incorrectly parking a motor-truck in Mackay Street, on November 29; (2) with failing to carry a warrant of fitness in the truck. On the first charge, the S.M. imposed a fine of 10/-, with costs. The second charge was dismissed. ASSAULT CASE. Algernon Francis Reynish was charged that, on November 18, at Camerons, he assaulted Victor Johnson. Mr E. B. E. Taylor, for accused, pleaded guilty. The Senior-Sergeant said it appeared that the parties had known each other .for some time. They both lived at Camerons until four years ago, when the Reynish family left for Hokitika. Owing to some imaginary grievance, Reynish visited Camerons on November 18, a little before midnight. He waited until Johnson came home, struck him on the jaw, and knocked him down. He then left the house, got into a taxi, and returned to Hokitika. Mr Taylor said that there were certain mitigating circumstances, which were outlined to the S.M., in chambers, ; Accused was convicted and fined £3. ELECTRICAL REGULA TIONS. On the 1 information of Mr W. E. Frizzell, an Inspector under the Electrical Wiring Regulations, 1935, Herbert Stanley Ferris, salesman, Greynpjutli, was .charged that, between June 1 and November 1, 1938, he did instal an electric washing machine in the residence of Sarah Hales, at Stillwater, in a manner contrary to the regulations, in that he connected the machine to the supply otherwise than by means of a three-pin plug and racket, or by means' of fixed wiring; (2) tlisit he installed the machine otherwise than in the room in which the machine was connected to the supply; (3) that he installed the machine in a manner contrary to the regulations, in that, on tlq* premises, where the voltage exceeded low pressure, tile machine was not earthed. Similar charges were laid against Ferris, in connection with a washingmachine installed at the residence of John William Burr, of Ngahore, between October 29 and November 14. Mr W. Douglas Taylor appeared for defendant, and pleaded guilty. * There was a serious side to these informations, said the S.M., and the informant was well justified in bringing the matter before the Court. It was only recently, in a neighbouring district, that a woman’s death was occasioned by the very same misuse of equipment. It went to point the necessity that none other than authorised persons should carry out electrical wiring, and then only in accordance with the regulations. Defendant would be convicted on one charge, and fined £l, with costs. On the other charges, he would be convicted and ordered to pay Court costs, also £2/2/- solicitor's fee.