POLICE COURT

Southland Times, Issue 20148, 7 April 1927, Page 5

POLICE COURT

A RECKLESS MOTOR CYCLIST. A youth of 18, Bruce Aidwin Deacon, appeared before Mr G. Cruickshank S.M. in the Police Court yesterday on a charge of allowing pillion-riding on his motor-cycle. He was also charged with reckless driving. Defendant pleaded guilty to both charges. Sergeant Fox, representing the Police, said that on the date of the offence defendant had been seen riding his machine at over 30 m.p.h.. He had previously been warned for the same thing and seemed to have no idea of speed. He had been before the Court at Riverton recently for speeding. The present case was one of gross recklessness. The Magistrate (Mr. G. Cruickshank S.M.): “The best thing is to take his license away.” On the first charge defendent was fined j £l, costs 10/-, and for reckless driving a ! further fine of £l, costs 10/-, was imposed. | An order was also made that defendant’s license be suspended for a year. PROTECTED BIRD SHOT. Merton Trevor Fowler pleaded guilty to a charge of killing a protected bird, namely a native wood pigeon. Mr. Eustace Russell, representing the Acclimatisation Society, said that complaints had been received recently about shooting of birds in the Greenhills bush. Ranger Reed, who was sent down to investigate, heard a shot in the bush, and shortly afterwards saw the defendant come out with a bag over his shoulder. In the bag was a plucked wood-pigeon (produced). It had been shot with a pea rifle. Defendant had been perfectly frank about the matter and stated that this was the first pigeon he had shot. He had gone out with the intention of shooting rabbits. The Magistrate imposed a fine of £2 with costs amounting to £l/11/-. SEQUEL TO COLLISION WITH TRAIN. The Railway Department (Mr. Horace Macalister) proceeded against Charles W. Leonard for failing to stop before crossing a railway line, and for failing to keep a vigilant look out. Defendant did not appear but wrote pleading guilty. Mr. Macalister said that the case arose as a result of an accident at Edendale crossing. Defendant was driving in the direction of the crossing when he saw a train standing in the station. He concluded that this train was the express and proceeded on. However the express had not yet entered the station and a collision took place on the line. The car was knocked over the cattle stops and damaged, whilst the defendant sustained considerable injury. Defendant was ordered to pay costs. OTHER CASES. The following were dealt with for exposing lice-infected sheep for sale: —David Cunningham, fined £l, costs 10/-; Denis O’Keefe, ordered to pay 12/- costs; Robert Russell, fined £l, costs 10/-. Thomas Leonard Gilson appeared on four charges of failing to send his child to school. On the first charge he was fined 10/-, costs 12/-, on the second 5/- costs 10/-, on the third 5/- without costs, and on the fourth 2/- without costs. Ernest Bonny and Percy Bonny were each fined £l, costs 10/-, for riding motorcycles after dark without lights. For riding a motor-cycle without an efficient silencer, James Wilson was fined 10/-, costs 10/-. He was also ordered to pay 10/- costs for riding an unlighted motor-cycle after dark. John Anderson Young (Mr. Eric Russell) was convicted nnd ordered to pay 10/- costs for firing a rifle on a roadway.