WHANGAREI MAGISTRATES COURT

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13496, 24 May 1907, Page 3

WHANGAREI MAGISTRATES COURT

[BY TELEGRAPH, CORRESPONDENT.]

-i Wha.voarki, Thnrsday. Several important, eases were dealt with at the Magistrate's Court on Tuesday. Mr. It. W. Dyer presiding. Two charges were made against James Hoey of slaughtering sheep at Kamo in other than licensed premises, and with allowing swine to feed on uncooked offal. i The i stock inspector said the offence was committed amidst filthy surroundings,' nearr'a pigsty,. into which the offal from the slaughtered sheep was immediately thrown. Accused was convicted and fined £10 and 7s costs on each charge. R. Edwards, a Maori, was charged with deserting his wife and two children, who were left without means of support. Ho was ordered to nay 10s per w-etik towards his wife's maintenance, and 5s per week for each child. He was directed to pay the first £1 down, and costs £5 6s 6d. A. G. McKenzie and other ratepayers pe- ; titioned to make void tins recent * Otonga Road Board election, on the grounds that certain .votes had been cask, by six persona who were not entitled to be on the rate-' payers' roll. - A packet purporting to contain the roll and voting papers was produced in Court, but Mr. Dyer was not certain if ho was- entitled to open the same Unless a recount was ordered. Mr. Killen, for petitioners, " held that l.he packet could be opened for purposes of scrutiny, in which the Bench concurred. Jos. Kerr, returning officer, held that he was empowered to permit :persons to vote whose names were ov the valuation roll. They paid up their rate;! before casting their votes. Two persons, whose names were not even on the valuation roll had been permitted to vote by an oversight. Mr. Dyer said ''ratepayer" meant a person whoso name ivas on the valuation roll as an occupier of property. If such person paid up his rates prior to voting he was fully entitled to vote. The petition was dismissed. „