THE COURTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18518, 15 March 1930, Page 21 (Supplement)

THE COURTS

DRUNKEN MOTORIST SEVERELY PUNISHED. By Telegraph—Press Association. ROTORUA, March 14. In the Magistrate’s Court, before Mr Paterson, S.M., William George Curren was charged with having been intoxicated while in charge of a car. He pleaded guilty. Sergeant Hogan said that the case was a very bad one. ' The Magistrate said that accused was fortunate there was no loss of life. Accused was sentenced to fourteen day’s hard, labour, and prohibited from obtaining a license for five years. HEAVY COSTS AGAINST HON. O. F. NELSON. By Telegraph—Press Association. AUCKLAND, March 14. Additional costs amounting to two hundred guineas have been allowed by Mr Justice Herdman to the proprietors of the “New Zealand Herald” on their claim against the Hon. O. F. Nelson in i connection with Nelson’s discontinuance of the action for alleged libel, as the defence necessitated a prodigious amount of research and great expense. The judgment includes a proviso that costs on the discontinuance, in the aggregate, do not exceed £SOO.

UNLICENSED PETROL PUMPS. By Telegraph—Pres* Association. AUCKLAND, March 14. The first prosecution of this kind in Auckland was brought by the Chief Inspector of dangerous goods at the Police Court against Raymond Wilfred Clare, of keeping or storing in pumps and tanks at a garage at Panmure, 855 gallons of petrol. Defendant pleaded guilty. The Inspector said he did not press for a heavy fine, but wanted to warn owners, The Bench imposed a nominal fine of 10s, but also forfeited the pumps and tanks. Eight of the pumps were owned by proprietory companies, who had not taken out licenses for them.

AFTER THE BALL. By Telegraph—Prea* -Association. WELLINGTON, March 14. Four men—Lifton Hall, James Mouat, Harold Smith and Stanley King -—were ‘fined £6 each with costs, for being concerned in a disturbance at Brooklyn at mid-night on a recent Saturday. The evidence showed that all defendants had had liquor. They were in a motor-car with some girls, and an argument was in progress for and hour which, annoyed the neighbourhood, and resulted in the police being sent for.