MAGISTERIAL

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13660, 31 July 1908, Page 6

MAGISTERIAL

TIMARU—JULY 30th, 1908. (Before.' Mr C. A. Wray, S.M.) DRUNKENNESS. A first offender within the meaning of the Act, pleaded guilty to being oiunK in Stafford Street on Wednesday. He was fined ss, in default 24 hours' incarceration. A SUNDAY THIRST. Patrick McGuire was charged witb. being on the Commercial Hoiel premises on Sunday last. Sub-Inspector Green ' said that another man named • O'Rourke who was also in the hotel had nob been served with a summons as he could not now be found. The pwo men entered by the back door and asked a. son of the licensee if he had the keys of the bar, which seemed conclusive evidence that they wanted liquor. Probably, it being Sunday, they had a thirst on.

C. Webb, a son of the licensee, gave evidence relating to the finding of the two men in the passage. It was O'Rourke who asked witness if he haa the keys. No other business was talked about and the two wen& away together. -'Accused admitted going into the house with O'Rourke, but not for the purpose of obtaining drink; ."'only for some private business which it would not do to explain." Later he said he went there to get some money which was owing to him by a man' named Peters, whom he did not' enquire for and who was not there.

His Worship said lie could not accept this explanation, it not being satisfactory; tie accused evidently went there to obtain drink. A fine of 20s and costs was imposed. INDISCRrMUTATE SHOOTING.

R. 'E. Wormwald, _a man 35 years of age, was charged with that, on July 19th, at Pareora, he discharged a firearm without reasonable cause. He pleaded guilty. Sub-Inspector Green stated that accused was employed at the freezing works; he owned ' a rifle, which on July 19th lie used in the Pareora township close to a road. One shot struck a store and became embedded in the wall; another narrowly escaped hitting some people; and on the same afternoon a horse in a paddock near by was shot dead, but whether by accused he could not say. The shooting was indiscriminate and dangerous not only to people on the road ■but. to these in houses.

Accused admitted having fired -too close to-the road, but he did think the gun would carry so far.' "Where he had used the rifle others had shot before, in fact there was shooting going on all round "like a young battalion at the butis." He expressed regret for what he had done, and promised not to handle a gun: again. His Worship pointed out the seriousness of this indiscriminate shooting, which was far too common, and he imposed a penalty of 20s and costs. CASE WITHDRAWN. A case instituted by M. Campbell, ranger for the Levels County Council, against Den-e O'Sullivan, for illegally rescuing cattle taken possession of by the complainant for impounding purposes was withdrawn on the application nf Mr Sargent who stated that he had been • instruced to offer no evidence. PROHIBITION ORDER, An inmate of the Old Men's Home, on the application of the master, was prohibited for 12 months. : OLD AGE PENSIONS. Two new pensions, for £24- and £25 per : annum respectively, were granted, while one-was adjourned, for the , hearing of further evidence: 13 renewals were granted and one application for a renewal was adjourned owing to an unsatisfactory police report.