MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18652, 22 August 1930, Page 11

MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

TIMARU, AUGUST 21. (Before Mr C. R. Orr-Walker, S.M.) Drunkenness. A first offender on a charge of drunkenness in Stafford Street, who had spent the night in the cells, was convicted and discharged. Dangerous Driving. Arthur E. Didham did not appear to answer a charge of having driven a motor car along Evans Street in a manner dangerous to the public. Traffic-Inspector Newcome estimated the speed at 35 miles an hour. A fine of 20/- and costs was imposed. Unlicensed Driver. Henry Walter Lister was convicted and fined 20/- and costs 10/- on a charge that, being the owner of a motor omnibus, he employed Charles Sim, aged 17 years, a person unlicensed to drive the ’bus. Defendant did not appear, and was convicted and fined 20/- and costs. Order Reduced. George Joseph Taylor made application for the reduction in weekly payments of a maintenance order in respect to his three children, and for cancellation of arrears amounting to £34 9s. The Magistrate reduced the order to 3/9 per week for each child, and cancelled the arrears. Dismissed with Costs. Maud Eva Garland (Mr W. D. Campbell) pleaded not guilty to a charge of having failed to supply the Traffic Inspector with information as to the driver of her car, likely to lead to the identification of a person alleged to have committed an offence. Inspector Newcome stated that several letters had been written to defendant, but in each case defendant had failed to give the necessary information. Mr Campbell maintained that there had been unavoidable delay, but that Mrs Garland did not desire to hide any information. Defendant could prove that her car was in Ashburton on the day the offence was alleged to have been committed in Evans Street, and it looked like a case of someone else having the same plates. The Magistrate said that the Inspector had been put to a good deal of trouble. He had been patient throughout, and should be given credit for the patient manner in which he carried out his work in Tmaru. He did not think that defendant had wilfully withheld the information and the case would be dismissed on payment of costs. No Returns. The Commissioner of Taxes (Mr W. D. Campbell) proceeded against Samuel Cain, sen., farmer, for failing to furnish a return of land of an unimproved value of £SOO or over. Defendant pleaded guilty. Mr Campbell said that defendant was, like a number of other farmers, under the impression that the Commissioner knew all about their land. The Department were put to a great deal of inconvenience owing to returns not being sent. Defendant said he had been farming for 60 years and for the past forty years there had been no alteration in the acreage of his property. At the end of last year a fresh valuation had been taken, but no alteration had taken place in the size of the property i owned by him. I Defendant went on to give his farming experience and evidence of his integrity during his long life in New Zealand. The Magistrate (smiling): “It is the innocent looking man that has to be watched carefully.” Defendant: “These land sharks might want watching, but I assure you that I am not one of them.” The Magistrate: “No, you don’t look like it.” The Magistrate said he would have to enter a conviction, and would fine defendant the minimum £2, With costs £2 14s.