QUARTERLY COURT RETURNS

Southland Times, Issue 23181, 23 April 1937, Page 4

QUARTERLY COURT RETURNS

INVERCARGILL FIGURES The returns of the Magistrate’s and Supreme Courts at Invercargill for the quarter ended March 31 last are as follows, the figures for the same period of last year being given in thescsi—There were 12 (15) civil and 19 (38) criminal sittings presided over by a stipendiary magistrate and 2 (nil) civil and 29 (10) criminal sittings presided over by justices of the peace. Five (eight) civil cases were heard by a stipendiary magistrate. A total of 316 (376) plaints were entered and £3777 19/6 (£5860 5/6) was sued for. Fortytwo (92) applications were heard in court or chambers. Six (10) civil warrants were issued and 10 (5) were executed by the bailiff; 98 (113) summonses and other processes were served within one mile and 121 (198) were served outside one mile; 66 (51) judgment summonses were issued; 64 (66) foreign processes were received, and 31 (70) civil summonses were served by registered letter. In the criminal department there were 165 (215) 'cases against males and 12 (17) against females—a total of 177 (232). In the Children’s Court there were 26 (7) cases against males and 2 (6) against females —a total of 28 (13). Civil fees amounted to £231 13/6 (£346 7/-), criminal fees £37 9/(£47 8/-), fines £220 (£l6l 15/-), and licensing fees nil (-£2 9/-), a total of £489 2/6 (£557 19/-). In the criminal department of the Supreme Court there were 5 (3) sitting days; 4 (3) true bills and 1 (nil) no bill were returned; 2 (3) persons were convicted, 2 (nil) acquitted and nil (2) sentenced under section 181 of the Justices of the Peace Act. In the divorce section 2 (8) petitions were filed for dissolution of marriage; there were 5 (7) trials by Judge; 5 (5) decrees nisi and 5 (3) decrees absolute were sealed. Sixty (62) probates and letters of administration were sealed; 158 (167) chattel securities were filed and 14 (24) satisfactions were filed. There were 2 (4) sitting days in bankruptcy; 1 (nil) debtor’s petition and 1 (2) creditor’s petition were filed; there was 1 (1) adjudication on a creditor’s petition, and 1 (3) discharge from bankruptcy was granted. Fees received were as follows:—Court of Review, £2lO 4/- (£7 5/-); bankruptcy £lB 15/- (£2l 10/-); administration, £l9O 11/- (£241 2/-); sheriff’s, £1 2/6 (nil); other than above, £126 13/- (£152 7/-)—a total of £547 5/6 (£422 4/-). The civil return showed that 7 (5) actions were begun and 2 (1) originating summons issued; the amount claimed was £4852 16/6 (£3215 19/9); 1 (1) case was tried by the Judge; 2 (2) cases were settled or discontinued. There were 2 (2) civil sitting days.