MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 4397, 28 November 1912, Page 7

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

THE BOROUGH BY-LAWS. MORE OFFENDERS FINED. BOROUGH RANGER CHARGED. The Magistrate (Mr L. G. Reid) presided over the sitting of the local Court yesterday. A local resident - named Geo. Mathews celebrated Guy Fawkes’ Day by discharging sky-rockets in one of the squares in. Main street. He did not appear, but sent an amusing letter to the Court, in which he pleaded guilty, to such behaviour. The police stated that defendant had been previously warned. He was convicted and ordered to pay costs, 7s. WAN DERING HORSES. J. H. Collins was charged with allowing his horses to wander at large in the streets of the Borough. Defendant said he thought there was no harm, as lie had seen Constable Tanner’s cows hi the street several times. (Laughter). The Magistrate jocularly said this was a matter for Constable Hewitt. Questioned by the constable, the defendant repeated the latter statement, but when invited by the police to go into the box and swear positively when he had seen the cows, he declined to do so. He would not swear he had seen them in the street during the past 12 months. 'l'lie Magistrate remarked that anyhow two wrongs did not make one right. H. J. Toon, the borough ranger, was similarly charged, and endeavoured to convince the Court that it had been the custom for stock to depasture on the grass which grows lush in the streets of the town during the summer. The Magistrate and liolico disabused defendant of this idea. The S.M. pointed out that in this very wet weather there was no danger of the. grass catching fire. R. T. Watts was also charged with a similar offelfce. The defendants were convicted and ordered to pay costs. WITHOUT LIGHTS. John Mann was convicted and ordered to pay costs for riding a bicycle without lights. BREACH OF THE PEACE. The behaviour of three men, G. Watson, J. Williams, and S. Groat, in the back yard of the Club Hotel, on the 11th inst., was such as to create a breach of the peace. Williams did not appear. The other defendants pleaded guilty. Watson gave evidence to the effect that an argument arose over a lmxing match, and a scuffle took place in the back yard of the Club Hotel, during which witness got one or two spans in the eye. The gate was open, and the affair could bo seen from the street. Witness pleaded that the incident was not a serious one. Constable Tanner said the affair was simply a drunken brawl. The defendants wore each convicted and fined 10s each, and also ordered to pay costs amounting to As each. In default, 48 hours’ imprisonment. MAINTENANCE CASE. A young man named .James Nieliol, who was charged with disobeying a maintenance order tor the supjiort of bis illegitimate child, was ordered to pay £5 forthwith, in default one month's imprisonment. Tile order was made in July last. Defendant stated that shortly after be bad bis leg broken at a sawmill near Ohakune. The police .stated that, defendant was addicted to drink, and bad at present a sum of £6 odd in bis ixissession. The Magistrate warned Nieliol of the risks he was running ii lie dis- - obeyed the order. CIVIL CASES. Judgment for plaintiffs by default was given in the following cases: —G. Early and Co. v. Goo. Baker, claim £(i Is ltd, costs 10s, solicitor’s fee 15s lid; Tims. Murine v. Win. H. WaterI man, claim £lO, costs Its.