MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Southland Times, Issue 19258, 23 June 1921, Page 2

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

INVERCARGILL—WEDNESDAY. (Before Mr G. Cruickshank, S.M.) DRUNKENNESS. A first offender for drunkenness was convicted and fined 10/-. THEFT. A young woman was charged with the theft of a blouse and a pair of combinations valued at £1 Bs. Senior-Sergeant Eccles explained that the clothing had disappeared when the accused left her last place of employment. When interviewed by the police she had admitted taking the articles in question. Accused was a first offender. The Probation Officer recommended probation and the Magistrate convicted accused, admitted her to 12 months’ probation, and ordered her to pay 28/-, the value of the articles. The Magistrate also made an order forbidding the publication of accused’s name under the First Offenders’ Probation Act at the request of the Probation Officer. MUTTON BIRD ISLANDS. John Skerrett and Hannah Skerrett were charged with entering Poutamu Island, one of the Titi Islands, without lawful permission. Accused, who were represented by Mr F. G. O’Beirne, pleaded not guilty. The Acting-Crown Proisecutor, Mr H. Macalister, said that the charge was becoming an annual one. Skerrett had been convicted in 1917 and 1918 and an injunction, restraining him from visiting the island had been issued by the Native Land Court. The evidence called for the prosecution was to the effect that Skerrett had admitted being on Poutamu Island, stating that he could obtain the consent of the majority of the beneficiaries, who had the right to go to the islands or to allow other people to enter them. Skerrett had been notified that an objection on behalf of the beneficiaries had been lodged against his trespassing and he had been warned with respect to trespassing on other islands. Skerrett had been met on his return from the Titi Islands and his mutton birds had been confiscated by the Crown. For the defence it was submitted that accused had done all that was possible to get the required consent. Of the 18 original beneficiaries only five were living and Skerrett had obtained the consent of four of them. Under the present system it was very difficult to comply with the regulations. Many of the beneficiaries were dead and others were living in different parts of the Dominion. The Magistrate said it seemed that some of the beneficiaries wished to allow Skerrett to enter the islands and others objected. •It might have been somewhat hard on the Skerretts but the law was there and had to be observed. There was no doubt that the accused had committed an -offence. When the question of the fine was under consideration it was stated that the accused had taken 6,000 mutton birds from the island. These would be returned to defendants after expenses in connection with their storage had been paid. Accused was convicted and fined £2O and costs 7/- eachi • MAINTENANCE. Selina Hunter (Mr T. Meredith) v Theophilus Singleton Hunter Mr F. Hall-Jones), an application for an order of maintenance and custody of a child. In her evidence petitioner said that she had married defendant in 1912 and they lived apart for about eighteen months past. She had no means of supporting herself, but might secure work later. Defendant said that owing to injuries received when he was at the war he was able to dp only light work and could not maintain his wife. The Mag strate declined to make an order. A BY-LAW CASE. Almost the whole of the afternoon was occupied with the hearing of a case in which Thomas Harrington was charged on behalf of the Corporation with failing to provide sufficient sewerage and sanitary draining for a block of land in Clyde Street on which a number of buildings were erected. Mr C. S. Longuet (Borough Solicitor) prosecuted and Mr W. A. Stout appeared lor defendant. A vefy considerable amount of evidence was given and the Magistrate decided to inspect the land on Saturday morning. The case was adjourned. NEGLECTED CHILDREN. Four young children were changed with not being under proper care and control. Evidence was given as to the neglected state of the children and on the application of the police the case was adjourned for a week to see if some suitable arrangement for the care of the children could be made.