MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 15, 5 June 1914, Page 6

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Mr A. Crooke, S.M. presided over a brief sitting of the Magistrate's Court in New Plymouth yesterday. BOROUGH BY-LAW CASES. Herbert Frederick flush, who did not appear, was fined 5s and 7s costs for having failed to register a dog over the age of six months. Ceorge Vajintine Martin pleaded guilty for having failed to keep his chimney cleaned, so as to cause it to catch alight. . Tt was explained that on the occasion of the lire he had onlv been in occupation of the bouse for a brief period, and lie was accordingly merely convicted and ordered to pay'costs, 7s. Mr B. Tippins, Borough' Inspector, prosecuted in both eases. DRUYKICNLVESS. John Joseph Larkin, who was recently convicted of drunkenness pleaded guilty to having been found helplessly drunk in Devon .street on Wednesday'last. He also pleaded guilty to .having obtained liquor during the currency of a prohibition order. Senior. Sergeant Haddrel! said the man was a pest to the public, and he was at a loss what course to advise. Defendant expressed his regret at appearing before His Worship so soon af- I ter bis first offence. I Mr. Crooke convicted and fined him 10s on tho first charge, in' default 48 hours imprisonment, and £l, with 7s costs 'on the second, in default 14 days' imprisonment. He was allowed one week in which to find the money. RESERVED DECISION. Mr. Crooke delivered his. reserved decision in the case in which Edwin Oeorgo (Mr. Weston) sued John Magce (Mr. E. R. Stead) for the recovery of a bull lent by him to defendant, or £.lO, its value. The bull was proved to have been lost, the only questions which arose being whether the loss was due to the negligence of the defendant, and as to 'he value of the bull. j, I'n his judgment Mr. Crook said in ell'ect that a« defendant had made no search for the bull until a month after its loss was known, be had neglected to use that care and diligence which was incumbent on him, and tho loss of the animal occurred by reason of that. lie gave judgment for the plaintiff, assessing the value of the bull at £O, and included €25 Is lOd which had been paid into Court on a further claim for hire, and costs. -COM PEXSAITON COURT. A sitting of the Compensation Court in the case of the Xew Plymouth Borough Council v. the Minister for Public Works .was then opened before Mr. E. Maxwell, assessor for the Borough. On the application of Mr. Ronald Quilliam, who appeared for the Borough Council, the case was adjourned until June 30.