NAPIER SUPREME COURT.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXIII, Issue 3075, 5 November 1929, Page 5

NAPIER SUPREME COURT.

JUDGE COMPLIMENTS DISTRICT. WIDOW AWARDED COMPENSATION. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Napier, this day. The Supreme Court sittings opened to-day before Mr Justice Ostler, who complimented the district on its freedom from crime. He referred to the fact, that there were no sexual cases to deal with. John Tapiu Andrews pleaded gjuilty to forgery and uttering, and was sentenced to reformative treatment not exceeding three years. Leonard A. E. Maughaii, for theft of money and a motor cycle, was ordered to be returned to the State Farm at Palmerston North. Last week Charles Robertson, commercial traveller, was acquitted on a charge of negligently driving a motor car so as to cause the death of James Robert Symonds, bridge-keeper, employed by the Public Works Department on the Manawatu Gorgje bridge. This morning at the Supreme Court, before Mr Justice Blair, a oivil action was heard in which deceased's widow, Elsie May Symonds, claimed from Robertson and the Diabolo Separator Company, trading as the New Zealand Farm Separator Company, for £2OOO compensation for the death of her husband. The Court awarded £IBOO, and assessed the widow's interest- at onethird, the remainder to be held .in trusjfc fbr tHie !chi,ld)re|n, except 'tfie eldest, who is over sixteen.