MAGISTERIAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVII, Issue 11189, 10 February 1897, Page 3

MAGISTERIAL.

CHRISTCHURCH. Tuesday, Feb. 9. (Before Mr R. Bootham, S.M.) Drunkenness. A first offender was fined os, with the usual alternative of twenty-four hours’ imprisonment. Breach of City By-Law.— Andrew Swanston was charged with constructing a building in Durham Street north without first having lodged plans and specifications of the same for the approval of the City Surveyor. Mr 0. Archer, City Surveyor, proved the case. Defendant stated that on three occasions ho had called at the City Council Office with the plans, but each time the-Surveyor was out. Mr Archer pointed out that the by-law required that four days’ notice in writing should be given of the intention to commence building. This had not been complied with. Defendant was fined 20a and costs. Dogs in Haglky Park.— Sarah Carter was fined os and 9s costs for having taken her dog into Hagley Park on Jan. 14, Assault, —W. Wardell v. H. Bout. Mr Kippenberger appeared for complainant and Mr Weston for defendant. Defendant was in the employ of complainant, and the immediate cause of the assault appeared to have been an imputation of falsehood directed by the complainant against defendant. His Worship held that there was no justification for the assault, and fined defendant 20s and costs, .£1 Is. Civil Case. —Shand and Co. v. J. and J. Bpritclmrd, claim £S 12s sd, Mr Cowlishaw for plaintiff, Mr Scott for defendant. Case adjourned till Feb. 10. Whitcoinbe and Tombs v. G. Beaumont, claim <£3l. The hearing of this case was resumed. Mr Stringer appeared for the plaintiffs, and Mr Wilding for the defendant. Mr Wilding called J. Restrict, who carried out the repairs and improvements. Witness was of opinion that the gutters and’pipes were ofi sufficient capacity to carry any rain which might fall. He inspected the work after the damage complained of had been done, and found paper in the water-box. D. Killick, a plumber with thirty-eight years’ experience, deposed to having fixed all the new guttering, and to having left everything clean when the work was finished. He was satisfied that the gutters, if clean, would carry more rain than ever fell here. Frederick Morris, manager for Mr Beaumont, deposed to letting the work for the new guttering to Rastrick. On the occasion of the firstrain which occurred after the repairs had been completed Mr B. Whitcombe had expressed his pleasure to witness that the roof was at last watertight. J. J. Collins, architect, deposed to inspecting the building and measuring the roof. Assuming that on Nov. 16 there was a rainfall of ‘BS inch, that would mean twenty-three gallons of water per hour on the roof. The pipes as at present constructed were capable of carrying off 1440 gallons of water per hour. In his opinion nothing but an obstruction in the pipes or gutters could prevent them from carrying off the water. He did not think it a sensible plan to lead a largo downpipe into a small one. He did not attach any real importance to thcjdrips in the gutters as regarded the flow of water. E. M. Macdonald deposed that he was a civil engineer and a director of the Press Company, and had considerable experience with the roof of the Press building, which aajoined Messrs Whitcombe and Tombs. The gutters of the Press buildings had often been choked with paper. He could assign no reason other than obstruction which would prevent the pipes from carrying the water. B. Whitcombe, called by Mr Stringer, deposed to having examined the guttering after the mischief was done. There was then no paper or obstruction in the water-box. Counsel having addressed the Court at considerable length, judgment was reserved.

EANGIORA. Tuesday, Feb. 9. (Before Mr H. W. Bishop,. S.M.. Mr A. Todd, J.P., and Captain Parsons, J.P.) Destitute Persons Act. Thomas Hurrell Was charged with neglecting to comply with an order of the Court to contribute .£1 per week towards the support of his wife and five children. Defendant did not appear, and he was sentenced to a month’s imprisonment. Subsequently a telegraphic order was received for =£2, the amount in arrears, and the sentence was stayed.—Matthew Brown was charged by his wife with failing to comply with an order made on August 4,1896, to contribute ill per week towards the support of herself and four children. Complainant stated that she had received AlO 15s since the order was made, the last payment being - 10s on Jan. 2, Defendant stated that he had been working for Mr M’Arthur at St Helens Station, chiefly at contract draining, and that he had sent all his earnings but 17s to his wife. This evidence was supported by a letter to the Bench from Mr M’Arthur. Defendant said, further, /hat he was prepared to make a home for his wife where he was working, but she had refused to go to Mm. The Stipendiary Magistrate adjourned the case for a month, to give the parties an opportunity for coming to an arrangement. Slaughtering License. A renewal of a slaughtering license was granted to Joseph M’Holmii, Fernside. . AMBERLEY. Tuesday, Feb. 9. (Before Mr S. Coleman, J.P., and Mr T. H. Evans, J.P., Alleged Larceny. —John Russell,'-a pensioner of the Imperial Eoyal Artillery, was charged with having stolen a post office letter, the property of P. D. Hoare, Railway Hotel, Amberley. After hearing exhaustive evidence, the Bench dismissed the case. '