POLICE OFFICE, NELSON.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 111, 20 April 1844, Page 27

POLICE OFFICE, NELSON.

On Saturday last William Barnett was summoned before the Chief Police Magistrate, by a constable named Pinock, for shooting on a Sunday. Mr. Poynter, who appeared for the defendant, contended that no offence against the law had been committed. It was true there was a law which made it an offence to shoot game on a Sunday, but the present case clearly did not come within the meaning of the act. The Magistrate considered the offence came within the statute of Charles 1., and fined Barnett 3s. 4d.

Publicans' Licenses. — Tuesday being the day appointed for granting licenses, applications were made on behalf the nouses at present licensed, which amount to ten in number; and as no serious objections were urged against any of them they were granted. Ott Thursday an information, laid by constables Pinock and Jennings, against a Mrs. Crawford, keeper of a coffee-shop in Bridge Street, for selling spirits without a license, was heard by the Police Magistrate and J. D. Greenwood and J. S. Spooner, Esqrs., justices of the peace. The constables deposed that on the night of Monday, the 3th instant, they were invited by a man named Scott to take a cup of coffee at the house of defendant. Instead of being served with coffee, they were handed a glass of grog by a woman named Pitman, for which Scott threw down a shilling in payment. On the part of defendant, Scott and three other witnesses swore that they had been at the Shakspere Saloon on the evening in question, and, that they might not be without something to drink when the performance should be over (at which time the public houses would be all closed), they purchased two bottles of brandy, which they took to the house of defendant, and there, in company with others, drank it. These witnesses denied having purchased any spirits in the house, and they were unanimous as to

the fact that the constables were served from one of the bottles which they stated they took to the house with them. Scott did not deny that be had thrown a shilling on the counter, but swore that it was in payment for coffee and brawn which he had previously had. After some deliberation, the bench convicted the defendant in the penalty of £50, which is the lowest sum the ordinance allows.