MAGISTRATE’S COURT

North Canterbury Gazette, Volume I, Issue 7, 23 September 1932, Page 8

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Sitting at Kaiapoi (Before Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M.). A Burnt Stack. N. Tau and Tahira Tainui were jointly charged that they did on the 7th July last wilfully set fire to a stack of straw owned by John Mehrtens. Tau pleaded not guilty, while Tainui pleaded guilty. John Mehrtens, of Oamside, Rangiora, gave evidence that he owned land at Woodend. He was there on the 7th July, and when he left at 5 p.m. the two stacks on the property were secure. One stack was burned about 7 o’clock that evening. Walter Moody, of Woodend, said that he was ploughing hear Mehrtens’ farm at ten past five on July 7. He saw a flicker of flame and three men ran by.' He tried to ask them what they were doing but they evaded him. James Tau, of Rapaki, gave evidence that lie knew the two defendants and that they were at the Woodend concert that night. They had consumed some liquor. There had been some talk in the Pa about burning the stack as Mehrtens would not give them work.. The police in evidence stated that defendants at first denied all knowledge of the affair, but that Tainui came later to the Police Station with his parents and made a statement. The defendant Tau, who was not represented by counsel, said on oath that too much liquor had been consumed, but that he had nothing to do with the fire. Counsel for Tainui stated that he could say little in extenuation of his client’s offence, but asked that on •account of his youth he be dealt with leniently. Tau was discharged, and Tainui was placed on probation for one year,- and ordered to pay £5 towards the loss of the stack, with witnesses’ expenses £2/4/9 in such instalments as the Probation Officer may require. Traffic Offences., The following defendants were convicted and fined for breaches of the traffic laws: Mrs. J. H. Grigg, £2 and costs; A. J. McCallum, £2 and costs; Michael J. Dillon, £2 and costs for dangerous driving and 10/- for driving without a license; F. Hindle, 20/- and costs; Stanley Kayne, 10/- and costs for having no silencer attached to a motor cycle, and costs only for riding without a license; M. G. Mason, 20/and costs; William E. F. Norrall, 10.and costs; Mrs. J. W. Robinson, 20/and costs; L. J. Williams, 20/- and costs.