MAGISTRATES COURT.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18202, 1 March 1929, Page 4

MAGISTRATES COURT.

TIMARU, FEBRUARY 28, 1928. (liel'oro Mr (J. R. Orr-Walker, S.M.). DRUNKENNESS. A first offending inebriate was convicted and lined Ills, the amount of his bail. REMANDED TO DUNEDIN. Edward James Murch appeared on remand charged that, at Dunedin on July LI. .1928, with intent to defraud, he did obtain from Henry Divers £35 by iaisely representing that certain chattels were free from encumbrance. On the application of Senior-Sergeant Gibson, accused was remanded to appear at Dunedin to-morrow. ABSENT WITHOUT LEAVE. JuJin w lliiams and George William Watson, seamen on the s.s. Kia Ora, also appeared on remand, charged with drunkenness, and with absenting themselves from the ship without leave. James Scott, another seaman oft the lvia Ora. was charged with absenting himself without leave. Williams and Watson had pleaded guilty to botn charges the previous day. captain Kenway, of the Kia Ora, stated that the defendants were seamen on his vessel, they having been articled in Southampton, tie had had trouble with Williams and Scott, but not with Watson. Williams and Scott had both spent time in gaol in Auckland.

Williams stated that the ship was not a ship, it was simply manslaughter on board. The men were treated like dogs. Scott oomplained that the second engineer was the cause of all the trouble, for he gave them no jieace. He had threatened to break his neck, but he had said that two could play that game. Watson agreed with his companions concerning the second engineer. He remarked that the engineer treated them like slaves. They were not slackers, and were quite willing to work. On the charges of drunkenness, Williams and Watson were convicted and discharged, and on the other charge, all three were ordered to he conveyed back to the ship, in charge of a constable. INCORRIGIBLE ROGUE. John McDonald pleaded guilty to being an incorrigible rogue, no having been previously convicted lor a similar charge. Accused said that he had been working in the country, and had just come into town. Senior-Sergeant Gibson said that the accused had been sleeping out at night. They could not get rid of him. Accused was convicted and ordered to come up i'o sentence when called on, a special condition being that he leaves limaru immediately. MOTOR CASES. Henry Kelly was charged with carrying a person on Ins motor-cycle, same not being fitted with footrests. He was turtner charged with riding a motor-cycle without being in. possession of a driver’s license. Delendani piouuod guilty to both charges. Senior-Sergeant Gibson said that the charge of carrying a passenger without having footrests was the first of its kind in Timaru. Defendant said that he had had footrests on, but had taken them off. On the first charge, he was convicted and ordered to pay 14s 6d costs, and on the second charge was convicted and fined £1 and 10s costs. Eileen Hill did not appear to answer a charge of driving a notor-car across the intersection of Stafford and Church Streets in a dangerous manner. She was convicted and fined £1 and costs. CYCLING WITHOUT LIGHTS. No appearance was made by Alexander John McPherson to answer charges of riding a bicycle at night without a light and without a rear reflector. On the first charge he was fined 5s and costa lUs, and on the second charge was ordered to pay costs 10s.

Charles Sim, similarly charged, was also fined 5s and costs for riding without a light, and was ordered to pay costs Ids for liaviug no reflector on his bicycle. INEFFICIENT SILENCER. Patrick O’Keefe, for riding a motorcycle on February 8 without having a sufficient silence attached, was convicted and fined £5 and costs 12s. MILK UNDER STANDARD. Mr J. Emslie, for defendant, pleaded guilty lo selling milk which did not comply with the standard prescribed by tfio Sale of Food and Drugs Act. Mr W. D. Campbell, who appeared for the Health Department, stated that the case was one of the usual kind ol selling milk under standard. There was no suggestion 'that the milk had been watered. Mr Emslie further stated that the case arose out. of a case which was before the last sitting of the Court. An argument had arisen between the milkmen as to who had supplied the milk on that occasion, and lie understood that defendant’s milk had actually been tested on the morning the milk was taken from a shop, and which, having been, below standard, was made the subject of a case. The sample taken by the inspector passed the test. The District Health Officer (Mr J. Menzies) stated that defendant’s milk actually passed the test on the date in question Mf Emslie said that the trouble was that two men were supplying the one shop, and the sample taken from the shop was from the bulk supply. The sample was taken on the 11th.. and the analysis was not made until the 18th., of the month.

The Magistrate said that if a man bought milk and did not take a test, then ho took a big risk. Defendant would be fined £3 and costs £4 Bs. INFORMATION DISMISSED. Clarence Victor Leslie was charged with failing to keep a vigilant lookout when approaching the Strathallan Street railway crossing on January 25. Mr L. INI. Inglis appeared for defendant, entering a nlea of not guilty. Constable Monk stated that the signal was against the defendant, but he did not stop. An engine approached from the south, and struck defendant’s Mr Tnglis said that defendant approached the crossing immediately behind two other cars. They crossed the line, but lie then saw the signalman holding out. a green flag, and as he did not know the exact nature of the signal, lie stopped. He was then about three feet off the first set of rails. Defendant had not previouslv driven a geared ear, and when lie stopped the engine stalled. He saw the engine approaching slowly, but seeing 'that lie was three feet off the line, he stayed there. The engine did not stop, and when passing the car, some projecting part caught his mud-guard. Defendant gave evidence along these lines. The Magistrate said he did not think the, ease was one for a .conviction. The information would be dismissed.