BLUFF NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 23526, 4 June 1938, Page 4

BLUFF NEWS

INTOXICATED DRIVER FINED £lO LICENCE CANCELLED FOR 12 MONTHS Charged in the Bluff Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning, before the Magistrate (Mr R. C. Abernethy), with being introxicated while in charge of a motor-car William George Burgess, aged 23, a motor mechanic of Invercargill, was fined £lO and was ordered to pay costs 12/6, and his licence was suspended for 12 months. The accused, for whom Mr J. C. Prain, of Invercargill, appeared, pleaded guilty. Constable B. S. Parkes conducted the prosecution. Constable Parkes gave evidence that on the night of May 30 a dance was being held at the Ocean Beach Freezing Works. About 1.30 a.m. he was standing in company with Constable A. Cromie, near the building watching the cars when he heard a crash. Investigating the noise, he found that a motor-car had gone over a concrete wall into a siding and ( turned over on its side. The road was 14 feet wide and had a good metal surface. The witness approached the scene of the accident and observed that the accused’s condition was not good. He arrested him and took him to the police station where the accused was examined by Dr A. R. Ross. The accused admitted that he had consumed four “orange gins.” His speech was thick and he smelt strongly of liquor. The accused asked to be examined by his own doctor and Dr Garfield Crawford, of Invercargill, was. telephoned just after 2 a.m. Dr Crawford arrived at 4.20 o’clock. EVIDENCE OF DOCTOR In his report Dr Ross stated that he examined the accused at the police station at 2 a.m. on Maj 31 and was informed by the accused that he had taken four “orange gins” about 9 o’clock the previous evening. His breath smelt strongly of alcohol, his pulse was rapid and his pupils were dilated. The accused was unsteady on his feet. In his opinion, said the doctor, the man was unfit to drive a motor-car. For the defence Mr Prain said the accused was a single man and was a mechanic, employed up to the time of the accident in the garage of Russell and Company, Invercargill. The car was the property of the firm and the damage it received had cost the accused £2O. In addition he had lost his position with the firm. Counsel said the accused had suffered a good deal for his actions. “The accused says he went out of the hall to move his car from the traffic before the dance finished, knowing his condition,” continued Mr Praia. “He wanted to remove the car so that there would be no possibility of any trouble when he was ready to leave. No one was with him in the car when it overturned.” Counsel asked the Court to exercise leniency in fixing the penalty because of the accused’s having already suffered. The Magistrate imposed a fine of £lO and ordered the accused to pay costs amounting to 12/6. He also conceited his driving licence and prohibited him from taking out another for 12 months. “I am taking into consideration the fact that the escapade has already cost you £2O and has lost you your position, said the Magistrate. “A man driving a car in a state of intoxication is as dangerous to the community „ as one carrying around a loaded gun.” At the request of Mr Prain. the accused was allowed one month in which to pay. POSSESSION OF HOUSE John Lawton, of Nightcaps, applied for possession of a house owned by him and occupied by Thomas Ryan, of Bluff, claiming £2O 16/- as arrears, of rent. Mr A. B. Binnie represented plaintiff. Mr E. H. J. Preston, giving evidence, said that the defendant paid rent at the rate of £3 a calendar month. Arrears amounting to £l2 were , owing, from February 1 to May 31 this year. In addition there was £B. 16/-, the balance on a judgment obtained at the April sitting of the Court, still owing, making the total amount £2O 16/-. The defendant had keen given notice to quit but was still in occupation. The witness said his firm usually received monthly a money order for the amount of rent. The house was situated at 7 Elizabeth street, Bluff. The plaintiff lived at Nightcaps and received an invalidity pension. He was not in a position to let the matter drag on. Mr Binnie submitted that plaintiff was entitled to take possession. The tenancy had been terminated by notice of writing and the Fair Rents Act was not applicable to the case. The defendant, giving evidence, said he was a married man with nine children. The house, a five-roomed dwelling, had not been repaired though promises had been made to carry out repair work. He was a fisherman and for four months no work had been available. The defendant maintained that only £l2—the rent for the four months—was owing, and stated that he was in possession of receipts which would show that all other amounts had been paid. The Magistrate: I cannot prevent judgment going against you, defendant. The only matter to be settled is the disputed amount of money owing. The case will be adjourned until June 9 at Invercargill and you will have to produce the receipts. An order will then be made for possession and you will have to get out. The case was adjourned until June 9. TRAFFIC BREACH Laurie Denton, jun., pleaded guilty by tetter to failing to park a motor-car to comply with the regulations. He was fined 10/- and was ordered to pay costs 10/-. Norman Cyril Haywood, a labourer, aged 28, was charged with drunkenness and with committing a breach of his prohibition order. He pleaded guilty to both charges and was fined £l, and was ordered to pay costs 10/-, on each charge. Tangi Kitson, a labourer, of Invercargill, was charged with being found on licensed premises after the hours of closing. The defendant, who did not appear, was fined £1 10/- and was ordered to pay costs 10/-. A juvenile offender appeared in the Children’s Court and was fined 5/-, and was ordered to pay costs 10/-, for riding a bicycle without a light. BAZAAR COMPETITIONS Results of the competitions conducted by the St. Matthew’s Church Ladies’ Guild at its annual bazaar are as follows:—Doll’s house, Miss Joyce Lee (No. 145); sack potatoes, Mr A. Rouse (No. 15); bicycle, Mr A. J. Barnett (No. 283); oyster stout, Mr D. S. Hamilton, Invercargill (No. 177); framed picture, Mr J. Ryan (No. 121); case oysters, Miss N. Randall (No. 38); football, Mr W. Auld, jun. (No. 100); kettle, Mrs R. V. Weir (No. 74); iced cake, Miss Sinclair (No. 31); tin of tea, Mrs J. Cameron (No. 27); doll, A. C. Deans (No. 52); suitcase, Mrs J. Morrison (No. 94); doll, Joyce Cleaver, Clyde (No. 43); cordial, A. Applegarth (No. 1); pair towels, M. L. White (No. 18); quarter ton of coal, Mr T. Fowler (No. 9); fruit

set, Mrs L. Weir (No. 10); art work Miss Gardner (No. 14); nightdress Miss L. Hoffman (No. 25); two tins biscuits, Mrs Fowler, sen. (No. 26). MOTOR REGISTRATIONS New motor-vehicle registration plates issued in Bluff for the month of May totalled 107, compared with 82 for the corresponding period last year. The figures, together with those for May of

OBITUARY MR B. T. JOHNSON The death has occurred at Bluff of Mr Ben Thomas Johnson at the age of 58 years. The eldest son of Mr and Mrs Edward Johnson, of Stewart Island, Mr Johnson received his education at the Oban School and as a boy took a keen interest in the fishing industry. In 1905 he came to Bluff and engaged in oystering, an occupation which he followed for the remainder of his life. He was attached at various times to most of the companies operating at Bluff and it was he who built the launch Violet, which was recently sold to Pasco Bros. In 1906 Mr Johnson married Miss Catherine McLaughlan, of Invercargill, who died four years later. In 1913, or early the following year, he was married 1 to Miss Grace Daniels, of Bluff. A keen oarsman, Mr Johnson was a member of the Awarua Boating dub for many years and took a prominent part in its activities. During recent years he was made a life member of the club. He was greatly interested in lodge affairs and was a member of the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes, the Independent Order of Oddfellows, Manchester Unity, and the Masonic Order. He is survived by his wife, three daughters, Mrs E. Parsons and Misses Irene and Gwendoline Johnson, and two sons, Messrs Leslie and Noel Johnson, all of Bluff. He also leaves a brother, Mr William Johnson (Stewart Island) and three sisters, Mrs W. Rouse (Bluff), Mrs E. Taylor (Invercargill) and Mrs H. Pollock (Stewart Island). His death was preceded by a period of ill-health.

last year, are:— 1938 1937 Cars 73 60 Light traffic 13 8 Heavy traffic 7 5 Motor-cycles 6 4 Other classes 8 5 TOTALS *107 82