LAW AND POLICE

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7267, 4 March 1885, Page 3

LAW AND POLICE

BANKRUPTCY.—Debtor's Examination. James Baker, Bushman.This debtor was examined on oath yesterday before the Official Assignee. He said he was born in the colony, and had followed the calling of bushmah all his life, except for a year between February, 1873 and 1874, when he joined a man brickmakihg. He (Baker) had no capital, bat his partner had the plant, and it was agreed to work and share equally, tie thought be knew all about brick making, but soon found he knew nothing of it. They became insolvent, and dissolved partnership, and he - (Baker) went gumdigging and bush falling. The greater portion of bis debts were contracted during the partnership, but he had got into debt since on account of scarcity of work. Before that he was always able to pay hid way, but had been unfortunate ever since. \ He estimated bis furniture, his only assets, at less than £10. He was at present working for 35a a week, but there was no certainty of its lasting, and he had a wife and three young children. He was a totol abstainer, but found it very difficult to pay his way on 35s per week. ' ','

LICENSING COMMITTEE MEETINGS. BAST WARD. " '' ' The quarterly meeting of the newly-elected committee for East Ward was held yesterday. Present: Messrs. „ avid Goldie (Chairman), James Caradus, James W. Catr, Charles G. . Hill. :dr. Ki-rb, ..the fifth member, was. absent. Mr. superintendent Thomson appeared for the police; Mr. E. Heeketh appeared in the interests of the licensed victuallers, and Messrs. George and Campbell were also present to watch the proceedings. Mr. H. Mullhone, President of the Licensed Victuallers Association; Mr. D. Dunningham and Mr. M. Gallagher were also present. . The Clerk of the Court (Mr. Stoney) announced that there were no applications to be beard. The Chairman said they were aware that there were to be no applications, but they decided to hold". the meeting. They. knew that the police had tried to put down Sunday trading, and the - committee had determined to put it down. ' At the July meeting last year the Licensed Victuallers' Association Wfcie represented, and said they were prepared to obey the law, and had passed a resolution that there should be no Sunday trading, but no sooner did they get their licenses than another meeting «was held, and the. resolution was rescinded. (Mr Mollhonb : "That is untrue!") At all events they knew from personal ' observation that Sunday liquor traffic was now being carried ' on. Four hundred and thirty people were seen to pass in and out of one hotel during eight hours on a previous Sunday, and smaller numbers in other hotels. But the committee were satisfied that Sunday trading was carried on. Then there was not only this evidence, but the number of drunkards to be met with in the streets on Sunday mornings. He had seen several himself. Then they had com-, plaints from the pubicans themselves who wished to observe the > law, and who asked the committee to put down this Sunday traffic, as they found that their customers who got drink at other houses on Sunday went there on week day.*! as well. Mr. Goldie then referred to an article in the Wellington Post, which showed that while the hours Were decreased, the revenue was increased, taking the comparison between the last six months-of the old regime, and the first six months of the new regime ; but this he did not consider > a fair comparison. The committee had come to the decision that this Sunday liquor traffic must .be put down. . They did not - require ' legal proofs, poly such' proofs . as might be to them satisfactory, and they could cancel' a license at any. time. In one case in this ward, that of the Rising Sun I Hotel, they had proof of one hundred people having entered it on one Sunday, and of b.xty-nine having gone into the Naval and Family Hotel. The committee did not intend to canoel these licenses to-day, for in the case of the Rising Sun they had. just ascertained that it had changed owners, and that Captain Hargresvea had left it. In regard to the Naval Hotel, to which there were no fewer than five entrances, the owner had agreed to close some of them, and the, Committee- would not on this occasion exercise their powers and cancel the licenses of either of those places. But they knew the police had great difficulties in carrying out the law in respect to Sunday trading. They had previously intimated their intention to put down Sunday liquor trading, and the committee now gave their last warning that when Sunday trading was shown to have existed the license would not be granted.—Mr. Thomson said : that: the police had received ' such a " facer" in the last seven cases which they had brought up, and which, were dismissed, although two who were oharged pleaded guilty, that it was no wonder they were disheartened.—Mr. Goldie said that was what the committee felt. They felt that the police were powerless, and they would take action themselves.

TiKAPUNA. On Tuesday the quarterly meeting of the Takapuna Licensing Committee was held at the Public Library, Devonport, all the members of committee being present with their clerk (Mr. Seaman), and the Inspector, (Constable Hutchieaon.) Mr. W. H. Brown presided. After reading the miuuteß of the previous meeting a report was received from the Inspector, which, whilst favourable to other hotels in the district, complained of disorderly conduct at the Flagstaff Hotel, Devonport, since in the hands of Mr. Corcoran, the present temporary licensee. On behalf of Mr. Corcoran, Mr. J. M. Alexander admitted the. fact that such proceedings had taken place during his absence. from home, but promising that the house should maintain its well-earned . character for respectibility. He applied for a transfer of the license from Mrs. Brown to Michael Corcoran until its expiration on the 30th June next. The consideration of the application was adjourned until Monday, 9th inst., as also an application for a temporary transfer of license for the Northcote Hotel from James Taylor to Alexander Schultze, when the Court will Bit at the office of the Clerk, in Insurance Buildings.. A petition was presented, signed by 57 persons, praying that the Flagstaff Hotel might be deprived of its license, but owing to its informality, not having in several respects complied'with the requirements of the Licensing Act, it was not entertained.

POLICE COURT.—Tuesday. [Before Messrs. D. G. MacOonnell and 0. D. Whitcombe, J.P.'s.] Drujnkesnbss. — Wm. Bibby, for a third offence, waS fined £5 and costs. ASSiULT IN Q UEEN - STREET.—Thomas Campbell was charged with being drunk, also with assaulting Arthur E. Lewis by striking him on the head With his hand, on March 2. . He was further charged with assaulting William Bibby in the lock-up by striking him with his clenched, fist, on March 2. The accused admitted the charge of drunkenness, and pleaded not guilty to the other charges. Arthur Edward Lewis, manager of the Accident Insurance Association, deposed that he saw the spring-cart accident in Queen-street on Monday. Mr. Cucksey was re-arranging the harness, when accused, who was under the influence of liquor, undid it as often as it was buckled. •Witness assisted Mr. Cucksey to get the cart clear, when accused struck him on the head. He had laid the information solely to stop the larrikin conduct of the accused, but he had no desire to press the oharge. Sergeant Kiely said the accused behaved like a maniac when he was brought to the station. ConStable Mitchell deposed that the accused assaulted Bibby, who was confined in the same cell, by knocking him about on the head. A fine of 40s and costs was imposed, or 14 days hard labour in default. '' ; Cab Number—Patrick - Tierney pleaded guilty to a breach of the City By-Laws, by not having his licensed number painted; on his cab on February 24, and was fined 40s, and costs 7s. Dog Begistration' Act.—George Teas, dale was charged with a breach of the Dog Registration Act, by permitting a dog to rush at and bite George William . Willcock, in West-street, Newton, on February 19. The defendant pleaded not guilty. . The Erosecutor was examined, and doposed that e was a chimney sweep. The dog rushed at him, and bit him when he was passing. In answer to the Bench, ";he defendant: admitted the ownership of the dog, and palled a neighbour, Mr.. Rowbottom, who; said the complainant had thrown a stone at: the dog,-and afterwards brought a gun to shoot it. The dog had rushed him on a pre* vions "occasion. The Bench dismissed'the case. Sunday Liquor Trading.—John Smith, licensee of the Occidental Hotel. Vulcan

Lane, was charged with a breach of the, Licensing Act, by selling porter to Alfred Mentell daring prohibited hoars, on Sunday, February 22. Mr. A. E. Whitaker appeared for the defendant, and pleaded not guilty. Sergeant Pratt applied for an adjournment, as he was not prepared to go on with the case, as the principal witnesses were away, and could not be found to be subpojhaed. Mr,. Whitaker opposed the request, and applied that the case should proceed on the grounds that there had been ample time to get up the prosecution > since the laying of the informa-: tion, and asked that it should be dismissed if the police were not prepared to gO on with ft. Sergeant Pratt said that one of the witnesses* was indisposed, and the principal one wai away. He left it in the hands of the Bench*-' Mr. Whitaker said his client had hot assisted at the non-attendance of the witnesses. / Xho Bench dismissed the information. " .«''J.' Dispute<vera Well.—Richard Oarwwji charged with assaulting Win. Marshall' by knocking him down off a well, on February ; 23. Mr. W. J. Napier appeared for the plain* tiff, Mr. Theo. Cooper for the defendant and pleaded not guilty. Mr. Napier stated the' facts, Which appeared to be these ; The. plaintiff, a man in his 87th year, resides in- Vincent-lane, and has a well in hit tenement, from which for Some year? he has allowed his neighbours to draw water, amongst whom was defendant! On accomt' of the recent dry weather, a fortnight pre*', viens to the date in question, plaintiff gave * Oar notice that he could not allow any mote" water to be drawn. On February 23 Oar; insisted upon having water, and knocked the prosecutor off the well lid, upon which he 4 was standing, and Wrenched Off the padlock, ~ which had been put on, and made use of * indecent language. The prosecutor, bis daughters, Mrs. Jones, Mrs. MoLeod, and Mrs. Marshall, wife of plaintiff, were.exa*-' mined, who corroborated - the above. Mr. Cooper addressed the Court at length for the defence, raised the question of , the title of the well, and submitted that - under the Justices of .the Peace - Act the Bench had no jurisdiction. Their Worships upheld the objection. Mr. Napier applied that the caie might be dismissed without prejudice.' Mr, Cooper asked that costs might be allowed, seeing . that the plaintiff, only wanted to take the case before another Bench. The Court eventually die* missed the information, as they I had tno jurisdiction, and allowed the costs, £3 3s, to abide the result of further proceedings fed be taken by the plaintiff. There was a Second] - information in which the wife of defendant was charged with damaging the well cover by breaking the padlock, valued at 3s. The plaintiff appeared in person for this case.. Mr. Cooper said he was prepared to accept' the evidence in the first case for it. The ■ Bench dismissed it, and allowed costs, £2 2s. A third information was also preferred, in• which Margaret Oar was charged with assaulting the plaintiff on February 25, and this was also dismissed with costs, £2 25.Insulting Language.—John Leydob wee charged with using insulting language 'towards Edward Leydon on the 28th February. The -defendant' pleaded guilty under, provoking circumstances, that the plaintiff, who was -his brother, carried on business in ah auction mart adjoining his, called out, "My beloved brother is annoying me by sending in persons here." Mr. Cooper, who appeared . for the plaintiff, said he was quite prepared to accept one surety for defendant to keep the peace. The Bench ordered it accordingly,' and defendant was bound over to keep tW peace/during the ensuing three months in one surety of £50. . ..:..,wi' assault. —An information laid by a Mrs. Wallace against Jane Biz, for assault,. was dismissed, as there .Was. no appearance of prosecutrix, upon the application of Mr. Theo. Cooper, who appeared for the defendant. . Costs, £2 2s, were allowed.