GERALDINE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 7 April 1927, Page 7

GERALDINE.

(From our own Correspondent.) . MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS. Mr B. R. Macdonald is spoken of as a probable candidate for the Mayoralty. Air J. Kennedy, the present Mayor, ;s offering liis services again. Borough residents are arranging for some new members of the Council, as it is understood at least two of the present Councillors will retire.

MAGISTRATE’S COURT. The monthly sitting of the Magistrate’s Court was held before Mr C. It. Orr-Walker, S.M. In the adjourned maintenance Mulhern v. Mulhern, the defendant, who was represented by Mr l linin', produced a statement showing that his earnings for two months had been £l6 18s scl,' and that he had paid maintenance at 12s 6d a week suice and some back debts. His Worship said defendant’s first duty was to obey the order of the Court. He was not satisfied that defendant had done his best to pay maintenance, but it was a case in which ihe amount should be reduced. An order was made that the arrears be.reduced to £2O, and that they be paid off at the rale of 5s a week, and that 15s a week be paid for current maintenance, in default a month’s imprisonment.

INTERFERENCE WITH WATER RACE. Charles Intdis was proceeded against by the Geraldine County Council on a charge ol mteriering with a water race near Rangitata. Mr Walton appeared for the Council, and Mr Tripp for defendant. Mr Walton said that Council had received numerous complaints of shortage of water from landowners served by the water race that flowed Liiiough deiendant s property, and ultimately found that he had removed sods, allowing the water from the race to flow down a ditch. They had brought the information under the by-law, which provided a smaller penalty than the Act, as they wished a warning to be given against interference with water races. Mr Tripp said this was a case of persecution, not prosecution. Defendant’s land had been flooded and the crops damaged, and he had removed two sods, which had lessened the flooding of his land, but did not lessen the flow of water to land below him. His Worship said a man had no right to take the law Into his own hands. No doubt lie felt himself aggrieved, but he had- no right to interfere with the race. He was fined £3 and costs. INFECTED SHEEP. D. Ambler was fined £2 and costs for exposing infected shee in a public place, and J.‘ Scott, on a like charge, was fined £1 and costs. CIVIL CASE. In the case of Lillico and another v. Butterfield, Mr Walton, for plaintiff, obtained judgment for £22 8s 4d, with costs £3 13s.