MAGISTERIAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4578, 24 February 1893, Page 3

MAGISTERIAL.

♦ ■ CHEISTCHUECH. This Dat. (Before E. Westenra and G. Hart, Esqs.) Dbunkennbss. — James Gardiner and a woman who did hot appear were fined 5s each, with the usual alternative. . * : * LABi-iKiNS. '-*-' W. Halo and Tbbmas O'Connor, aged about seventeen years each, pleaded "Guilty" to a charge, of using obscene language on. the previons evening in Colombo road south, Sydenham, and were sentenced each to be imprisoned for forty-hours with hard labour. Breaches op By-Laws. —J. French, A. A. North and W. Harris were fined 10a each and H. Bockett ss, with coats, for riding bicycles on footpaths. James Alexander, for allowing a chimney in hiß honse to take fire, was fined ss, with costs. Cbueltt to Animals.— -Vincent O'Neil, a boyi and Mary O'Neil, hiß mother, were charged with cruelty in packing geese in a box. Mr Cress well appeared for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Mr Andrews for the defendant. A. W. Smith, Inspector for the Society, stated that on Jan. 28 he saw a box, measuring 3ft long by 17in wide and 14in deep, in which were eight geese, two of them dead. The box would hold only four or five at the outside. Constable Greig gave evidence of the overcrowding. Joseph Peek, yardman at Wilson's saleyards, remembered the case, and took delivery. There were two dead in the box, and the others hot and wet. It was a very hot day. Six was the greatest number that shonld be in snch a caae. Would not send geese packed so closely if he valued them. In crossexamination, he admitted that the birds might have been killed by crowding in the van. This was the case for the prosecution. Mary O'Neil, the defendant, said she placed the geese in the box, alternately heads and tails, so as to give more room. They could get plenty of air. Had she tied the legs they would have travelled all right, but she knew that was against the law. Packed them as Bhe thought the beßt way, and had no intention of any cruelty. She had had a good deal of trouble over I this case, and had to leave the baby. Cross-examined : Had had eighteen years' experience. Did not look for a larger box, sb she thought it quite large enough. Vincent O'Neil, eon of the last witness, and a defendant, said he took the geese to the station. Had to drive two miles. The atationmaster took th 9 box and made no remark. The Bench dismissed the boy, and the other defendant was fined 5s and costa. It waß pointed out that she had rendered herself liable to a heavy fine and imprisonment. Assa-clt.— Jameu M'Givery was charged wiih assaulting Samuel M'Cormack in Wilson's saleyards on Saturday afternoon. Mr Eussell appeared for defendant, who was fined 5s and costs. Insulting Language. — Martha Hogan •was charged with using insulting language to Mary Ann Perham. Mr Cresswell for J complainant and Mr Hoban for defendant. The defendant was fined Is and costs.*— ln another case the same defendant was oharged with breaking three panes of glass, value ss, and waß ordered to pay the amount of damage; coats to be divided in the two cases.