TE KARAKA COURT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XL, Issue 13257, 16 December 1913, Page 5

TE KARAKA COURT.

(Before Mr W. A. Barton, S.M.) Police v. Kruger, defendant, a Maori, being charged with refusing to quit licensed premises when called on to do so, pleaded guilty, and was fined £2 and costs 19s 6d, with interpreters' fee ss, , or five days in Gisborne gaol. William Henry Field, charged with 1 using obscene language at Puha railway station, did not appear, but sent a letter admitting his guilt and regretting the occurrence. • This being a first offence accused was fined £3 and costs 9s, with the alternative of seven days' hard labor in Gisborne gaol. Arthur Bellwood, who did not appear, was sentenced to two months' hard labor in Gisborne gaol for failing to pay an amount of £10 15s, due under a maintenance order; sentence to be annulled if the money in arrear is paid. Arthur Lord, for fail-frig to : send his child to school at Matawai, was fined 10s and costs 17s 6d. Mr Bnrnardj who appeared for the Board, said ifc was a bad case, and the child's attendance had been verv irregular. * DISTURBANCE AT SCHOOL ENTERTAINMENT. Roland Halkett and W. Keenan were charged with creating a disturbance at Matawai Public Hall,. on November 14th; during a Sunday School entertainment. I Mr L. T. Burnard appeared for the de"l fendants, who pleaded not guilty ; the — case for the police was conducted by Senr. -Sergt. Hutton. — Felix Herbert m§ Buscke said he saw both accused in the I dressing-room ; both were smoking and were under the influence of liquor. Several members of the committee asked Halkett to leave the hall. Halkett left •the hall, but later he tried to re-enter by the supper-room door, and used the language complained of. Keenan had not left the hall at all, but remained on a form* smoking in view of the children. — To Mr Burnard : There was a large attendance, and at 11 p.m. very ; few children had. gone home. The ac.- --| cused were smoking in the dressing-Iroc-m, where anyone might smoke. In the hallp Keenan put his pipe put when asked to do' so. Halkett did .-not. do any^thing actively to disturb the meeting, i but seeing him under the influence of I liquor the children, were gathering round [him. Keenan himself did not commit any disturbance. Owing to the accuseds' | condition it was necessary to remove the j children from their proximity. — George {Sinclair Ross, timekeeper, of Matawai, • said he •was present on the evening in j question and saw both' accused arrive', j being then under influence of liquor, j They entered during his absence, and as j far -as ho knew did -not pay for admission. Halkett walked into the main hall and' sat down, when -some ladies protested to witness against' Halkett being 1 allowed to smoke in* the hall-. Whilst a \ flashlight photo was being taken Halkett | called out) f Go'< if« Robbie; I'll back I Robbie," referring to the Rev. Mr Robt inson. '' After going' outside' Halkett came and knocked at the supper-room door, Avhich; witness opened. Accttsed tHen asked witness to come out ; and! kettle ah argument,, arid used '. the words complained of.-— Mr Barton : The w«ords used of "a -clergyman were : disgraceful. — Constable Bntterworth said accused were slightljr under the influence of liquor. He told Halkett to leave, and he did so,' Keenah following -him. The men I were talking loudly in' the hall and were | behaving objectionably. '.' Outside there m\ i was shouting; and , Keenan and Halkett used the words referred. to. — For the de- ' fence Mr Burnard said the- charge made in »the Court was< not that made in the summons.— R. Halkett, called, denied that ' he was nnder the influence of liquor. ■' He admitted calling Mr Ross an objectionable name, but said the word was used in a moment of heat, and not as an insult:-— Several, witnesses gave evidence " that they had not noticed any disturbance made by the accused. — His Worship,' in giving his decision, said he had no doubt accused were drunk, and should not have been admitted to the entertainment. Halkett would be fined £3 and costs on the first charge and £2 and costs on the second, or in default < 14 days' imprisonment. Keenan, on the first charge, would be fined £2 and costs and on the second £L and costs, in 'default six days' imprisonment. Four days , was allowed* for payment in oath case. SUPPLYING LIQUOR TO NATIVE. Archibald John Carroll was charged ■ with supplying liquor to a native. Senr.Sergt. Hutton prosecuted, for the police' and Mr Burnard appeared for defend ant. — A. H. Airey, licensee of the. Rangatira Hotel, Te Karaka, deposed that , accused came to his hotel on' the Bth inst., and he refused to. serve- him, as . he had had too much liquor. Later in the day accused . purchased a bottle of whisky similar to the one produced , in Court. — Constable. M. Doyle gave evidence that accused left the Rangatira ; Hotel on the day in question, got on a •horse and rode to Cassidy's stable, where j witness saw him hand a bottle (produced) : to Wiki, a native. The pottle which he took (rom. Wiki contained whisky. — : Corroborative evidence was given and no , witnesses were called for the defence. — : Tho Magistrate said he was determined ', to put a stop to offences of this kind, ; and fined accused £20 and costs, in default six weeks' imprisonment.