RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1550, 8 February 1887, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Tbmuka—Monday, Feb. 7,1887. [Before A. M, Clark and K. F.Hray, Erq-., J.P.’s.] USING OBSCENE LANGUAGE.-. , Charles Smith was brought op charged with having made use of obscene language in a public street. The accused admitted the charge, and was sentenced to 48 hours’ imprisonment with hard labor, ; DRUNK AND DISORDERLY. John McGattrick pleaded guilty of having been drunk, and in consideration of bis having been locked up since Saturday night was dismissed with a caution. s 1 1 ' i . William Campbell was brought up charged with having been drunk and disirderly, and also with having assaulted the arresting constable. He pleaded guilty to both charges. Constable Guerin stated that he found the defendant drunk on Sunday afternoon in the Main Street ofjTemuka, He was very disorderly »nfl struck witness in the face. : Both Constables Morton aQdJGutrin said the defendant was ■ a very quiet inoffensive man when sober, and they did not wish to press the charge of assault against him. The Bench, in consideration of this, let him off with the nominal penalty of 48 hours’ imprisonment with hard labor. He was also severely cautioned, And told that if he came up again be would be more rigorously dealt with. BREACH OF THE POLICE OFFENCES ACT, Alexander Webster, a lad of about ten years of age, was charged under the Police Offences Act with having un'awfully set fire to grass on the river-bed at Winchester, near Mr Budd’s farm. The boy pleaded not guilty and said a swagger did it. John Hall was called, and sworn said

| ... -->•> y wiiw»u uw he was sitting by the; creek having some oatmeal end water. He bad no fire. Saw the boy crossing the creek, and carrying a stick on his shoulder. The boy bad been bathing and. stopped to dress. Shortly afterwards he saw the fire, which spread rapidly. He did not attempt to put it out. In reply to the Bench ; I did not see any smoke from the stick which'the boy was carrying across the creek. Do" not know how the fire occurred. Constable Morton said accused had staled the last witness was heating a pannikin over a fire of cow dung. He handed in the pannikin and it bore no marks of having been near a fire. W. Philps, a lad aged -'ten years, stated that he was also at the creek bathing. Saw smoke at some distance and ran and told Mr Budd. Before that he saw a swagger crossing the paddock and the accused running towards Mr Young'*. The fire was about 4 chains when he saw it, W. Rndd Rtfttpd fhfl Hirninr, rl/m/1

w • jDuiiu stated cae aaauga done amounted to two chains of a gorse fence, and the fire bad gone four or fire jards into a wheat stubble before it was ex- ’ tinguished by some of witness’ neighbors. The Bench animadverted very strongly on the danger of lighting a fire in such a place, but said there was no evidence V* to connect accused with it. He was M therefore discharged.