GORE MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Mataura Ensign, 16 May 1912, Page 4

GORE MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Mr H. A. Young, S.M., proved at the Gore Magistrate's Court to-day.

LICE-INFESTED SHEEP

David McDonald, Balfour, was charged on the information of Stock Inspector Hill with exposing lice-infested sheep at the Balfour saleyards. The defendant did not appear and was fined 20s and costs 7s.

Eor a similar offence at the Riversdale yards Patrick Healy was lined 20s and costs 7s. Defendant said he had just bought the sheep and had taken them to the saleyards.

CIVIL CASES

In the following cases judgment, was given by default:—l. Brownlio and Sons (Mr Dolamore) v. Win. and Emily Staines, claim £1 Is 7d and costs ss; Marion Collett (Mr Henderson) v. Charles Byron, claim £7 7s and costs 2;is (id; Win. MeCutoheon (.Mr Bowler) v. James Kane, claim £lO and costs 2:k Gd.

In the case, H. Brown and Co. (Mr Itider) v. Archibald Meikle, claim £lB 13s Hd on a judgment summons defendant in his evidence said that during the last two months he had made £2O at rabbiting. He bad to pay £1 per week and board to another man for assistance. Before the rabbiting season started, be had b.en ill with mumps for a month. Dofe.-id.-nit had offered to pay £1 per month to liquidate the debt but the firm refused it, ami he could not do so now. The case was adjourned sine die.

Tn tlio cast;, Caider ;nii! Co. ('.Mr 1kmlor) v. J. R. Thomson, claim £ll 15s 5d on a. judgment summons, defendant said ho had offered to pay IDs a month in 1910, hut had not done so. Ho was earning Ss Nd per day and had a family of flight, four of whom wore living athome. Ho had a mortgage over his furniture for which he was paying 1por <■; at. He had paid part of tlu> principal olf at the rate of £2 per month. Latterly he had only been paying .€1 per month. He lived at Waikaka and gave, his wife £8 per month to keep the homo at Gore. When he promised to pay Ids per month he expected assistance from his family, hut it was not forthcoming. The magistrate declined to make an order.

In the case MaoCibbon and Co. (Mr Dolamorc) v. Kdward Argyle, claini £2 19s .'kl on a judgment summons, defendant said he was a casual laborer but at present was engaged in rabbiting. He bad a family of four children and did not make 8s per day. The order was refused.

THE VANISHED PEAKS

Walter Taylor, a youth, was charged on the information of the police with stealing pears to the value of £l, the property of Gerald P. Crow, at Chatton. Ho was further charged with damage to the fruit trees to the value of £2.

(.!. P. Cross said his pear tree was in i'u'l bearing on March 28 and on the following morning he found nearly all the fruit gone. Taylor had no authority to g> into bis orchard. He reported the mat cor to the police. Some weeks later he had a conversation with the defendant and later received an apology from Taylor for damaging the trees. Witness understood that he could settle the matter out of court, wlihh was the reason he got it. "Witness mot the constable later and told hint ho was going to publish the apology et>d the matter was ended as far as he wos concerned. The constable said that was not so as the matter was in the hands of the Department. Cress-examined: Witness said he thought the matter was ended when he got the apology and that the police would proceed no further. More pears were taken than a man could carry. Re considered £5 of damage, was done. Re-examined: Witness wns going to publish the. apology but the police.would not withdraw the matter.

Constable 'SchrufTer said ho interviewed Taylor, who denied all knowledge of the matter. Witness said he would like to look through his lint. Taylor then said he had a few ]x-ars in his box which he got from Cross a few evenings previously. Harry Shaw said Taylor had been working for him for three years as a blacksmith's apprentice. He was a good, steady lad. He saw pears in Taylor's hut ' before either the police or Schruffor had spoken to witness. Cros.s camo to the shop and said if Taylor signed the apology nothimr. more would he heard of the matter. Taylor declined to do so and maintained bis innocence. Witness re-commended Taylor to sign the apology and get clear of the matter. Taylor then signed. He did not consider it likely that Taylor would have signed the apology if the police were going to take action. Taylor showed witness the pears a day or two before Cross camo to the smifhy. J. J. Jerome also gave evidence. The magistrate sp.id that the defendant consented to sign an apology when ho knew it was to !>e published. No undue threats wore used to get it. He (the magistrate) knew the old ideas about boys and orchards but when a youth reached 20 years of age he should not act as a boy. He considered !)'•> ncpused guilty, but owing to the good character given by the police and others he would convict accused and d : s:hr,rge him, ordering him to pay .€2 damage.