MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 81, 2 July 1928, Page 5

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

STRATFORD SITTING. The fortnightly siting Of the Stratford Court was held this morning before Mr. R. W. Tate, S.M. JUDGMENT BY DEFAULT. Judgment by default in the following undefended civil cases: N.Z. L. and M.A. Co. (Mr. Coleman) v. L. T. Potroz, 17s 9d, costs 10s; Mrs. A. M. Keegan (Mr. Thomson) v. Robert Ramsay, £1 19s 6d, costs Bs. ; JUDGMENT SUMMONS. I n judgment summons proceedings orders were made as follows: Farmers’ Co-op (Mr. Thomson), v. R. J. Stevens, ordered to pay £1 15s forthwith, in default two day’s imprisonment. Shepherds Horsebreakers (Mr, Lawrence) v. Philip Jacobs, ordered to pay £3 12s, forthwith in default two day’s imprisonment.

UNREGISTERED APIARY. W. R. 0. Bredow (Mr Macalister) pleaded guilty to keeping bees in an unregistered apiary. The Apiary Inspector stated that he found a number of hives at defendant’s place at Douglas. They appeared to have been on the property for some time. Mr. Macalister said the bees were the property of defendant’s father from whom he had purchased the farm. In accordance with the request of the inspector the Wives were destroyed the following morning. The S.M. said no‘ doubt defendant had acted in ignorance, but it was through such offences that damage was done among healthy bees. A fine of £l, with costs' 12s, was Imposed.

NEGLIGENT DRIVING. John McPhee was charged with negligent driving of a motor vehicle on November 19th last, and also with driving a motor vehicle without being the holder of a license. In a letter to the Court defendant pleaded guilty. The charge arose from a collision between a motor cycle ridden by defendant and a car driven by Mr. J. W. Spence, County Engineer, at the corner of Opunake Road and Broadway. Sergeant Rowel said McPhee came round the corner at an excesstv e speed, with his sister on the pillion. All three persons concerned in the accident sustained slight injuries. The S.M. said defendant had the benefit of the fact that the offence was committed before the regulations' came into force. On the first charge a fine of £2 was imposed and on toe second charge fl.

DANGEROUS DRIVING. J. Fitzgerald (Mr. Coleman) was charged with driving a motor car over an intersection at a speed exceeding 15 miles per hour, and also with driving a car in a dangerous manner. A plea of guilty was entered. Sergeant Rowel said the offence occurred at the corner of Regan St. and Broadway at about 11 o’clock on a Sunday night, when there was no traffic about. Defendant’s speed was estimated at 40 miles per hour. Mr. Coleman said defendant had no speedometer on his car but he thought his speed did not exceed 25 t.ailes per hour. The charge of dangerous driving was withdrawn and a fine of £l- - costs 10s, was imposed on the other charge.

INSUFFICIENT LIGHTS. Wilfred Searle, Salvation Army officer, Paeroa, wa s charged with driving a motor car with dimmed lights, contrary to the provisions of the Motor Regulations. He did not- appear.. Arising from the same circumstances, Howard K. Taylor, New lljiiiouth, wa s charged with driving a motor car without lights. Sergeant Rowell said the cars met near Tariki on June sth. Qjiylor’s lights were out at the time, he having had trouble with them as far south as Patea. . Taylor told the Court that his lights gave out at Midhirst. He dul not sec Searle’s car till it was rig it on him- . , A fine of; £1 wa s imposed in eacii case.

A ONE-OAR BIUDIaD. Albert H. Kemp, EltHam, was charged with driving a motor vehicle at such a speed that the vehicle could not be brought to a standstill u ien necessary. There were further charges of wrongfully attempting to pass a, motor car and of dangerous driving. Mr Stewart entered a plea of gun. > to the first charge, pleading not

guilty to the other two charges. Sergeant Rowell said that at a onecar bridge near the Rugby Bead railway crossing, defendant tried to pass a car which was pulled up to allow a car going in the opposite direction to cross the bridge. As a result a. coll sion occurred, and the cars badly damaged, though there ™ 110 personal injuries. Kemp found that he had nothing to do but to go Id the car in front of him the driver of which had given no signal that he was stopping. . The SM. said the position .overaed bv the regulation, wtach E » down tot a motor veh.de should' be driven at such a «pe«l that it could bo pulled up .v.tJu„. Wf Jth® smce visible to the driver, ibis applied all the time. It would mean ha P l to comply with the region motor vehicles with greater distances th The second and third charges were withdrawn. On the first charge a ft,!,, of £l, with cost, £2 Os, was «n----posed.

ONLY ONE LIGHT. Cteirl€S baycrs) f j .; v j n! r a moMurfitt on a charge of dnvi b tor car with only one ig • Defendant pleaded guilty, a d the hulh broke on the> joun *• The Inspector said the curved at 10.30 P-™- vaS A fine of £l, with costs Us, imposed. t | —.