PORT CHALMERS COURT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19258, 23 August 1924, Page 10

PORT CHALMERS COURT.

Friday, August 22. (Before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M) By Default. —J. Y, Khan (Sawyers’ Bay) v. it. Spiers, claim £2 17s 7d for goods supplied and £ll 2s for rent owing.—judgment for plaintiff, who did not appear, was given for the amounts claimed, with costs, and an order was made for possession of promises on or before September 5.

An Order Refused. —Messrs Thomson, Eridgcr, and Company proceeded on a judgment summons for the payment of £3 12s lOd owing by C. Clark.—Defendant, iu giving evidence, said he had averaged £3 a week lately, and had nine children, but lie hoped to be able to pay off the amount in two months.—The Magistrate eaid that the circumstances did not justify application for an order, and no order would bo made.

An Unusual Case.—The police prosecuted John Hector Williamson for tethering a cow in tho street on August 10, the tether being long enough for the animal to reach the foohpath.-—Defendant pleaded guilty, and stated that it wao a calf seven months old. It was on a back street which was overgrown with long cocksfoot grass. —A conviction without penalty was entered, the magistrate stating that henceforth the place must be treated as a street.

Wandering Cattle.—Alfred Armstrong pleaded guilty to a charge of allowing cattle to wander on Beach road, Broad Bay, on August 2. Defendant said a fence through a piece of thick hush was not finished and Hie cows got out. —He was fined os and costa (7s). Building By-laws.—John Thomas Wcllbourn pleaded guilty to building a garage at Broad Bay without first obtaining a building permit. However, as soon as ho became aware that a permit was required he procured it. —Dolcudant wa-s convicted and ordered to pay costa, amounting to 2t«. Licensing Breaches.— William John Harrison was charged with being unlawfully on the licensed premises of the. Port Chalmers Hotel at 9.50 p.m. on August 5. • A similar charge was made against James Perry.— Mark Stevens, licensee of the hotel, wae charged with keeping licensed premises open and also with exposing liquor for sale after hours. —Tho defendants pleaded guilty.— Sergeant M'Rac, in outlining the circumstances, said that a constable on his round of the hotels saw a light in tho bar room of the Port Chalmers Hotel. The bar room was locked. When the constable knocked the light went out. In a few minutes the constable was admitted, and he found Stevens in tho room behind tho counter, while also behind it were Harrison, Perry, a boarder, and the barman. There were glasses on the counter, and Harrison had a bottle of beer in Iris pocket. Perry bolted when the constable went, in. Harrison claimed to be a lodger, but did not know his room, and iiu name was not registered as such. Mr A. C. Hanlon, who appeared for cacn of the defendants, said that he had advised a plea of guilty, as it was a technical and not a flagrant breach. Perry was the licensee's guest, and when he was taken into tho bar room on leaving, the barman, seeing tho door open, brought in Harrison and the other boarder. Stevens had been a hotelkeeper ior 30 years, and this was the first charge against him.—Tho police said tho hotel had been well conducted since Stevens had the license.—The Magistrate said tho breach was not a flagrant one. Licensees wore entitled to entertain guests, but ill a place like Port Chalmers it was liable to bo abused. Only genuine guests could bo entertained. Bona tide lodgers should havo luggage or other properly with them. Harrison and Perry were each fined 2Us, with costs (7s). Stevens was fined io, with coals (7s), on one of the charges, the other charge being struck out..