TAPANUI

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23202, 28 May 1937, Page 16

TAPANUI

Magistrate's Court At a sitting of the Magistrate's Court at Tapanui on Tuesday before Mr W. H. Freeman, S.M., judgment for plaintiff was given in the following undefended cases:—Wylie's Garage, Ltd., v. Leslie Anderson (Palmerston), claim £5 5s (costs £1 10s 6d); J. H. Simons v. Maurice Kitto (Heriot), claim £1 8s 7d (costs 12s); J. S. Varcoe v. James L, Whyte, claim £6l 8s 7d, judgment for balance, £4l 8s 7d (costs £4 18s 6d). Donald Paterson, of Heriot, was ordered to pay Leopold Faigan the sum of £ls Is lOd forthwith on a judgment summons, in default 14 days' imprisonment, the warrant to be suspended so Jong as defendant pays 10s per week. R. W. M'Clelland proceeded against Leonard Jackson, of Mosgiel, on a judgment for £lB 19s 6d. After evidence had been given by defendant, a relief worker, as to his earnings, the magistrate refused to make an order. Robert Allen was charged by P. J. Hunter, traffic inspector, with allowing six cows to be at large on the mam road at Pomahaka. He was convicted and fined 20s (costs 12s). Laughlin M'Coll was fined 5s (costs 10s)-for carrying a firearm in Whisky Gully Domain contrary to the by-law. , Adam S. Edgar was charged with keeping liquor lor sale in a no-licence area. The case was adjourned to Gore for hearing on June 14. : James S. Varcoe, for whom Mr T. Sunderland appeared, pleaded hot guilty of being the .owner of a dog which attacked and injured Robert William Johnston, aged 10 years. Mr R. B. Bannerman, who appeared for the complainant, the father of the injured boy, stated that the defendant was allegedly the owner of a Labrador dog which knocked down and badly mauled the lad Johnston, and as a consequence the boy had to have stitches inserted in the wound. The child was still being treated by the doctor. Evidence would be given that the dog had previously attacked other jpeople. Evidence was given by Dr W. Robertson, by the injured lad, by John Grant, who rescued the lad, and by James Potts and Mrs Emily M. Jones, who had both been attacked by the dog. Mr Sunderland stated that he had two defences to the charge, first, that the dog was a good-natured animal, and, secondly, that provocation by the boy himself brought on the attack. The defendant gave evidence regarding his dog. The only complaint he had had was that of the father of the boy Johnston, who complained that his boy had been bitten by his dog, and his reply was that he could not believe it. Evidence was also given by Ernest Mason and C. Ellis that they had both seen the Johnston boys annoying the dog and that they had both warned the boys to leave the dog alone. John L. Wylie testified as to the friendly nature of the dog. The magistrate, in convicting the defendant, stated that he must discredit the evidence of both Mason and Ellis, which was clearly biased. The evidence for the prosecution was quite clear, and he did not believe the boy gave any provocation to the dog whatever. Notwithstanding the fact that the injured boy had to have his wound stitched and the fact that two others had been attacked, the defence put forward was that the animal was a docile one and the defendant daily let the dog run at large. Defendant would be fined £5 (costs and witness's expenses £4 17s 4d). The magistrate ordered the dog to be destroyed within seven days. Patriotic Society

The annual meeting of the Tapanui District Patriotic Society was held in the Town Hall on Thursday evening, the Mayor (Mr J. S. Varcoe) presiding over a good attendance. The chairman extended a welcome to Messrs D. H. Keir and L. C. Sutherland, new members of the society. The annual report and balance sheet showed that relief to necessitous cases among returned men approximated to that which had been disbursed for the past four years. Acknowledgment was made of the services rendered by the associated members qf the West Otago R.S.A., and relief granted to a returned man on their representation Personal Mr Lloyd Jarrold, who has been transferred to Messrs Dalgety and Co.'s Dunedin office, left on Tuesday to take over his new duties.