COURT CASES AT OPUNAKE

Taranaki Daily News, 20 July 1929, Page 6

COURT CASES AT OPUNAKE

CIVIL AND POLICE BUSINESS. The monthly sitting of the Magistrate’s Court was held at Opunake yesterday, when Mr. R. W. Tate, S.M., presided. In the following undefended cases judgment was entered for plaintiff by default:—Hughsons Ltd. v. W. W. Gordon, £1 18 lOd (costs fl 8s); Parkes and Co. v. A. J. Kerr, £l2 Os 4d (£2 14s); C. Smith v. M. Matahaere, £2 17s 6d (£1 12s Gd); same v. A. Seeckamp, IGs Gd (18s); Boyd and McCrone v. E. Wooldridge, £l3 2s Gd (£2 14s Gd); E. I. Rodger v. J. Ratahi, £2l 13s 9d ( £4 9s Gd); same v. J. Clement, £2O 5s Gd ( £4 13s Gd); same v. A. J. Kerr, £6 Os 9d (£1 10s Gd); Parkes and Co. v. C. Mauriri, £G 17s (£1 19s Gd); Taranaki Hospital Board v. Bertie Wall, £8 15s (£1 10s Gd); Opunake Harbour Board v. Ngautu Tainarere Taungataki, £2 7s Gd (£1 Us Gd); same v. 0. G. Northcott, £26 15s lOd (£4 Is Gd); same v. Ripo Tatitahi Kura, £8 5s lOd (£1 15s Gd); H. W. Barraclough v. W. Harrison, £1 15s . (£1 3s Gd). ' , . In a judgment sumr.ons case Taki Williams was ordered to pay F. Loesch £4 Ils 5d forthwith, in default four days’ imprisonment. In the case of Agnes McLean v. Mauriri Niiku, 'a claim for £lB 6s Nd for goods supplied to defendant’s wife, evidence was given by plaintiff and T. H. 11. Sinclair in support and by defendant, after which judgment was given for plaintiff for the amount claimed with costs £5 Os Gd. BREACH OF ARMS ACT. R. S. Gilmer, Puniho, pleaded guilty to a charge that while being the holder of a license to retain possession of an unlawful weapon, he failed to notify a change of address. Constable Clouston said that defendant, a returned soldier, had registered the weapon, a war trophy, in 1921 at Opunake, but had moved to Puniho. Tim breach had been discovered during a recent check. In convicting defendant and ordering the payment of 12s costs, the Magistrate stressed the fact that while possessing the weapon every change of address must be notified. BREACHES OF FACTORY ACT. On the information of the inspector of factories (Mr. W. J. Berryman), A. E. McDonald was charged with a breach of the Northern Taranaki motor and horse drivers’ award by failing to keep a wages and overtime book. There was also a civil claim for £lO for failing to provide drivers with time books. Mr. Fouhy appeared for defendant and pleaded guilty, stating in extenuation that defendant had been ill for some time and had relied on a manager. The books had been destroyed by fire and had not been replaced, but since the inspector’s visit the matter had been attended to. The inspector said he accepted the explanation and did not press for a heavy penalty. In the first case defendant was convicted and ordered to pay costs fids, and in tho second judgment was given for plaintiff for 10s. NOXIOUS WEEDS PROSECUTION. In the case of a native, Pakera Okeroa, charged with failing to clear noxious weeds, a charge that had been adjourned some time ago to enable defendant to make a reasonable attempt to carry out the work, the inspector (Mr. F. W. Sutton) notified that he was satisfied that defendant had since made a genuine attempt to comply with the Act. Defendant was convicted and ordered to pay 17s costs. Thos. Kay, who was charged on the information of the county inspector (Mr. J. G. Mclvor) with a breach of the heavy traffic by-laws, did not appear. Evidence was given that whilst tho bylaw provided that the load should be limited to 1J tons for each pair of wheels, defendant was in the . Kahui Road with a torry -which with its load totalled 7i tons. Witness had . since given permission under special circumstances for the lorry to take loads on the r oad but the council must keep control to ensure that carting was not done in wet weather. Defendant was fined 2*os with costs 10s. Thos, Skegedin, for whom Mr. R. H. Quilliam appeared, pleaded guilty to a charge of having assaulted William Al- ( fred Iggulden on July 13 at the Waiteaka Road. Sureties to keep the peace , were also asked for. Counsel stated that the incident .was the outcome of recent court proceedings. Defendant, however, was leaving the district and there was not likely to be further trouble, so that he did not think sureties would be necessary. He suggested the case might be adjourned for , two months. Tho Magistrate adopted this course, . the defendant meantime to pay costs £1 15s ,9d. •