MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Thames Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 17585, 26 March 1929, Page 4

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

(Before Mr F. W. Platts, S.M.) The following,cases were heard this morning: Uniform Missing. Harry Marshall McCollum was charged with not delivering up to the Government certain articles of clothing. Sergt.-Major Cossgrove gave details that McCollum had been asked for the clothing repeatedly and caused a good deal of trouble. He was fined 50/- and costs. Straying Stock. James Leonard Hardman allowed nine head of cattle to wanted on the main road at Kopu. Sergt. Rowell said the offence was not wilful, but the, cattle were the cause of a cyclist being smashed up. He was fined 10/- and costs. Thomas Stephens permitted a horse to be at large in Queen Street. Convicted and discharged. On the Footpaths. Roland Edgar Ferguson rode a motor-cycle on the footpath at Tararu. He did not appear. Constable Devereaux gave evidence, and Ferguson was convicted and fined 10/-. Charles Duncan Cameron rode his bicycle on the footpath at Tararu on March 9. He pleaded guilty and was convicted and ordered to pay the costs. William Dufty preferred the footpath to the road at Parawai when* riding a cycle. He did not appear and was convicted and ordered to pay the costs. After Hours. Chas. M. McLiver and Joseph EHotham were found at the Puriri Hotel after hours. They both pleaded guilty. Sergt. Howell said he visited the hotel and found defendants, there. There was no drinking in the room in which the defendants were. McLiver said he visited the hotel to see the piano-tuner. His Worship said this could have been done in the day time. They would be convicted and fined 10/- and costs. Negligent Driving. Ray Kim was charged with negli- | gently driving a motor-car on the Coast Road. He did not appear. Sergt. Howell said the speed was anything between 25 and 30 miles an 'hour, which was excessive. There were signs on the road limiting the speed to 15 miles per hour. He was convicted and fined £3 and costs. Drunk While in Charge. Stanley King Walker was charged With being found drunk while in charge of a motor-car. Mr Garland appeared for Walker. Sergt. Howell said the accused was seen at 6 p.m., obviously drunk. He was followed and arrested. He was quite unfit to control a car. His living depended on his driving cars. He had been previously convicted for the same offence. He was a good tradesman and citizen but for the drink. Mr Garland put up a defence on the same lines. His living depended entirely on his licence. On the day he was arrested he came to Thames to. do a repair job, and as his man did not arrive in time he had a few drinks. He knew he was not in a state to drive a car, so decided to stay in the town and drove his car to garage it for the night. Walker should be prohibited. His Worship said it was quite clear ,the defendant should not be allowed to drive a car. He would be fined £lO and his licence cancelled, no licence to he issued for two years after the expiry of the present one. Spring Scales. Wang How was charged, on the ininformation of the inspector of weights and measures, with having in his possession a pocket scales of 301 b. capacity which was not in accordance with the Act. Lee Chun and Co. were similarly charged. Mr Garland appeared for the accused. The inspector gave evidence in support _of the charges. Mr Garland said a warning should have been given the Chinese. They bought the scales in this country and thought they could be used. The men were wholesale gardeners. The Magistrate ordered the payment of costs, the scales being confiscated. W. Taylor was also charged with using incorrect scales. The scale was in the shop, and told against him every time. He was convicted And ordered to pay the costs. John Galloway was similarly charged with using a micrometer scale with a broken spirit-level, which should have been replaced. Mr Garland, in defence, said the scale cost £35, and it was possible to see with the eye whether it was weighing correct. The agent for the machine had offered to replace the spirit-level at a cost of £B, which was thought to be excessive. Mr Galloway could not obtain a level, and so had scrapped the scale and purchased another. He was convicted and ordered to pay the costs. Maintenance. William Duncan applied for a variation of a maintenance order. He was also charged with disobedience of such order, being in arrears £ll/15/- to February 15, 1929. He admitted the arrears. He said he had been out of work, having had relief by work at Coroglen, where he was for three months. He could not keep the payments going. He had been looking for work for a month. His Worship said there was no excuse. He would make an order to

pay 15/- weekly, the warrant to bo suspended for one month. James Evans was £5/15/- in arrears of a maintenance order. He was ordered to pay forthwith, in default one month's imprisonment. Joseph Sullivan was in arrears of maintenance £ls. He gave evidence that he was short of money and asketl for a further month to pay. The case was adjourned for a month..