THE COURSE OF JUSTICE

Taranaki Daily News, 8 January 1927, Page 2

THE COURSE OF JUSTICE

HAWERA COURT RETURNS. FIGURES FOR PAST QUARTER. The court returns for Hawera for the last quarter of the year 1926 reveal a general decrease in both civil and criminal business, with a few exceptions. There is a pleasing decrease in the criminal record, the total cases for the period amounting to 101, as compared with’ 130 for the same quarter of 1925. For the last quarter of 1925 the court sat weekly, but during the last quarter sittings were held fortnightly. The civil business transacted is as follows, with the figures for the same quarter of 1925 appearing in parentheses:—There were 7 (12) civil and 7 (7) criminal sittings presided over by a magistrate, while there were no civil cases and 19 (16) criminal cases presided over by justices of the peace. The total number of sittings for the quarter were therefore 7 (12) civil and 26 (23) criminal. Civil cases tried by stipendiary magistrates numbered 6 (4). Only £3020 13s 2d was sued for during the past quarter as compared with £3'652 Is 10d in the same period of 1925, a decrease of £631 8s Bd. Applications heard in chambers totalled 21 (13.) and 204 (194) plaints were entered. Six (15) distress warrants were issued, while 58 (60) judgment summonses were issued. Three (9) warrants of committal and no warrants of arrest were issued. There were 286 (206) summonses served by bailiffs and 14 (12) warrants were executed by bailiffs. The totals are as follow in the civil business:—Plaints entered, 204 (194). amount sued for £3020 13s 2d (£3652 Is 10d): cases tried. 145 (132): amount claimed. £1989 3s 4d ( £1507 10s 3di; amount recovered. £lBO4 Is 3d ( £1366 8s 2d). There is a substantial decrease in criminal cases, the number against males being 92 (124) and against females 9 (6). making a total of 101 (130). Details of criminal processes show that 30 (19) males and no (2) females were arrested, making a total of 32 (19) arrests, while 62 (105) males and 7 (6) females were summoned, making a total of 69 (111) summonses. Included in the 1925 returns were one male and three female juvenile offenders, while there were none in the 1926 returns. The decreased business of the court is reflected in the reduced fees and fines recovered, the decrease being £ll2 5s Civil fees paid amounted to £302 18s 6d ( £335 5s 6d), while criminal fees totalled £l5 16s ( £27 17s). Fines paid amounted to £B5 12s 6d ( £153 4s 6d), and £4 (£4 15s) represented licensing fees. The total fees and fines recovered amounted to £498 IJs ( £521 2s). Four (2) new’ claims for pensions were granted. 2 (nil) were refused and 1 (7) is pending. In respect of renewals of existing pensions 30 (35) were granted, none were refused and 18 (18) are pending. The statement of revenue allotted to the various boroughs, counties and main highways revenue fund shows that the Hawera Borough Council received £5 15s ( £25 18s 6d) for main highways revenue fund £l3 15s ( £45 2s 6dj, the Hawera County Council £1 ( £5 6s) and the Normanby Town x Board nil (15s). DEMAND FOR STOCK. POSITION OF THE MARKETS. Stock sales are commencing again after the holiday period, and one or two were held in South Taranaki during the week, the prices ruling being satisfactory, although yardings have not been very large. Next week, however, should witness better all round sales and prospects for the future appear to be bright. Fat lambs, wethers and ewes are going to the works in increasing numbers since the opening of the new year. Lambs seem to have done very well this year. Good wethers and lambs have realised up to 235, and fat ewes are bringing about 13s 9d. Shearing has been in full swing during the last few weeks, and although the bulk of this work is now over there are still a number of sheds to finish. The next wool sale, to be held on January 21, is generally the best of the year, and a good sale seems assured. The warm sunshine and frequent mild showers of last month have brought about a prolific growth of grass, and farmers throughout the district literally “have grass to burn.” In many cases it is quite a problem with graziers to know what class of stock to buy to keep the feed down. There have been many very heavy crops of hay about, and mangolds, carrots, swede, turnip and, in fact, all classes of crops have been doing exceptionally well. It is evident that more ensilage has been made than in previous years, due to the uncertain weather. Milk production is well maintained, and promises well for the month of January, so that the dairy farmer is more satisfied with his lot than was the case a few months ago when weather conditions and produce prices were most unfavourable. According to the latest cable advice dairy produce is still commanding a good figure on the London market, the last quotations for new season's produce being 172 s to 174 s for finest butter, and 92s to 94s for cheese. In approximate terms this is equivalent to a pay-out of Is 5d per lb butter-fat. The pay-out on January 20 will undoubtedly be considerably increased, representing the payment for butter-fat supplied since December 4 at the enhanced prices. THE AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE. “Things are going on favourably in Hawera, and the Stratford work is also proceeding satisfactorily,’’ said Mr. R. W. Lye, district engineer of the Telegraph Department to a Nows representative yesterday, ■with reference to the installation of automatic telephones. “It is too soon to say when the ‘cut-over’ in Hawera will take place, but it won't be long,” he continued. The automatic exchange is practically completed in Hawera. It has all been tested out and is being re-tested, the results proving satisfactory. The new

toll board has now been in use for about three weeks. On the completion of the system in Hawera the installing staff proceed to Stratford. Refering to long distance calls, Mr. Lye said much better results were being obtained in consequence of the co-opera-tion of the power boards throughout the district with the Telegraph Department. “It is hoped that with the continued cooperation of the power boards this year the service will be rendered practically perfect,” said Mr. Lye. The department was in receipt of a congratulatory letter from the Hawera Chamber of Commerce on account of the improvement iu the service. It is understood that some members of the present manual exchange staff have received advice of their transfer to other centres, and a number of transfers are pending. PERSONAL ITEMS. Mr. J. B. Murdoch returned to Hawera yesterday morning from Auckland. Dr. C. J. Reakes, Director-General of Agriculture, who is paying a visit to Soutli Taranaki, in Hawera yesterday morning, and called at the Hawera Dairy Laboratory. He was met by Mr. T. A. Winks (president of the Federation of South Taranaki Co-operative Dairy Factories) and Mr. P. .0. Veale (dairy scientist), and was conducted over the premises. This is the doctor’s first visit to Hawera’e laboratory, and he expressed himself as very pleased with what he saw. Dr. Reakes then proceeded to Manaia, and subsequently left for Wanganui.