Magisterial.
CHRISTCHDRCH.
This Day. (Before C. C. Bowen, Esq., R.M.)
Cattle Tbespass Ordinance. — The following fines were imposed for cattle found wandering at large in public thoroughfares within the precincts of the city: — Thomas Pye, ss; E. George, 5»; Anthony Mclntyre (two head), ss; Edward Stewart (no appearance), 53; Thos. Ro3krudge, sa. Dangerous Practice. Binning, for tethering a cow in Windmill road, was fined ss.
Furious Driving. — Jobn Fry was charged with having driven a horse and spring cart in Cashel street, on the 7th inst., in such a manner as to endanger the fives of passers by. Constable Halloran proved the offence, aivl t-i seeing defendant use his whip freely whilst the hnrre was galloping. Accused" denied the latter, and alleged that the horse hal bolted; but two witnesses supported the constable's evidence. Accused . then said he was trying to make up for lost time. His Worship saidpeople could not be allowed to do so at the risk of serious damage to more orderly persons, atid ordered accused to pay 10s, and expenses.
Negligent Drivers. — Arthur Pyne was summoned for having remained at such a distance from his horse and dray on Saturday last as not to have proper control over them. Constable Halloran deposed to the horse having bolted up Gloucester street, and passed through several other streets before it could be stopped, i He spoke to accused, who said that he was giving the horse a feed in front of Mr Neeve's premises, when it broke away. Alfred Gee proved to seeing the horse gallop up. Gloucester street, and to Mr Neeve's premises being 1 directly opposite his shop, but that he did not observe any one near the dray. Accused said, in defence, that he was taking the bit out of the horse's mouth preparatory to giving it a feed, when it took fright and bolted. His Worship said persons had no right to feed their horses in such places, and imposed a me of 10s. — Jumes Banks whs charged with a similar offence. Sergt. Pratt said hesaw^ accused's horse and dray bolting dawn High street, towards Victoria Bridge, near where it was stopped and put into Mr Osborn'a stables. Accused said he was getting some goods at the shop of Mr Lee, High street, when the horse accidentally took fright and bolted. Thomas Lee said be saw the horse aud dray soon after it started, and that accused was then in his shop. A boy told him, when he went to look after the horse, that another boy had started it, by throwing pebble 3 at it. His Worship said he had always held persons j responsible for their horses, running away during their absence. It was the way accidents frequently occurred, and great caution must by some means be enforced. A fine of 108 would be imposed.
Chimney on Fire. — John Bay lee waa charged with having neglected to keep clean a chimney in his licensed house — the Criterion Hotel — Gloucester street. Constable Wilson said on Sunday morning he saw the chimney on fire, and told accused, who was previously ignorant of it. In defence, it was pleaded that possessiou of the house had only just been taken, and that no negligence had been exercised, as accused understood there was a standing contract with a sweep to attend to the chimney. It had also been recently swept, as. he proved by a receipt bearing last month's date, and he had no idea that it was in a dirty condition. His Worship adjourned the case for further evidence as to the contract. ASund.it Amusement for Young Men. — -fflSre'l Piper, Charles Wilson, Thomas Wilson, Henry Fielder, and Charles Genet, five young men, ranging from sixteen to twenty years of age, were charged with having wiK fully damaged the new wire suspension bridge!
in course of erection across the river Avoßq The City Surveyor deposed to seeing tEe bridge the morning after the damage had been done, aud estimated the injury at £5. The wires must hare been wilfully broken. Thomas Haskett said he saw five . young men on the bridge last Sunday week, and, although not exactly positive about all the accused, he could swear to Fipec and Genet. They were all shaking the bridge, and swinging it about as much as they could. Thomae Bruce adduced to seeing all the accused on the bridge, and was satisfied in his own mind that they were wilfully trying to break it down. There were some other persons on and about the bridge, I but not engaged in the work of mischief. One of the wires gave way during the time that .witness saw the accused on the bridge. jj/arious excuses and pretexts were urged in rSefenee, one of which was that a number of the Scotch School children were the actual culprits. His Worship said he was aware that a number of the scholars had been about the bridge, but it being ..intimated that " children of a larger growth " had also beeu amusing themselves with the wires, he selected to hold them responsible for the damage. The money necessary for erecting the bridge had been perhaps in some cases unpleasantly extracted from.- the ratepayers, and it was a monstrous ,thing that 1 such wilful damage should be committed bj» persons old enough to know betfe?^ The accused would be fined 20s each andcostß. ,
Dangerous Tbespass.— Edward Garland was charged with having allowed a heifer to stray on to the railway lines at Hillsborough. Constable Kennedy proved to seeing the cow trespassing, and that the cow had apparently got through the fence between the wire and cap-rail. Accused said be had frequently complained to the authorities about the largeness of the open space between the wire and mil, but that he could not get it attended to. It was certainly not from hia negligence that the heifer strayed on to the lines— in fact it waa difficult to keep cattle off. His Worship said if accused's statement were correct there must be considerable danger all along the line, and he would like to communicate with
'the Government before deciding the case. He would accordingly adjourn it until Thursday next for that purpose. )/ Abusing a Railway Guard.— — Gladwell was summoned for having abused the railway guard on the Southern Line at the Prebbleton station, and for having forced his way out of the carriage in opposition to orders. It appeared that accused wanted to alight for a minute, and his Worship considering that there were extenuating cinum-j stances in the' case, besides accused having had to come from the Upper Kakaia Ferry in order to attend the Court, dismissed the • charge. Assault.— Robert Davidson was charged with having violently assaulted William Unwin, at Barnes' Foundry, on the 21st inst. Complainant, it appeared, turned a driving wheel for the lathe at which accused worked, and a quarrel had occurred, during which complainant was struck Accused urged previous irritating conduct, and language on the part of complaiuant when told to do some work which was a part of his duty at the shop, and which accused had authority to instruct him to do. Complainant had no witness, the only one present at the time of the occurrence having declined to attend Court, because being a -shopmate of accused's, he said it would make it unpleasant for him at his work; There was some contradiction as to the extent of the assault, complainant alleging that he was violently struck twice, whilst accused said he only pushed him once; and his Worship desiring to hear the evidence of the witness to the offence, adjourned the case for a week, in order that he might be called.
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Bibliographic details
Star (Christchurch), Issue 401, 26 August 1869, Page 2
Word Count
1,283Magisterial. Star (Christchurch), Issue 401, 26 August 1869, Page 2
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