CHRISTCHURCH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7583, 23 December 1902, Page 3

CHRISTCHURCH.

Tuesday^ Dec. 23. (Before Mr H. W. Bishop, S.M.) Drunkenness.— A male first offender, who did, not appear, was fined 5s and costs, in default twenty-four hours' imprisonment. Vagrancy.— James Smith, chargeduwith being an idle and disorderly .person and the' associate of reputed thieves t was sentenced to three months' imprisonment with hard labour. % The Half-holiday. — Frank Sutherland I and J. Alexander were each, fined Is and costs for committing a breach of the Shops and Shop Assistants Act. In both cases the defendants pleaded ignorance of the bylaws. , \ Reserved Judgment. — Mr 1 Bishop} gave judgment in th-e case Ghristchurch Drainage Board v. Edward William Taylor, the two charges being of 'having under* taken plumbing work connecting with the Christchurch. sewers without being licensed by the 'Drainage Board. Mr Bishop said it was quite clear that an offence had been committed, and, always with some reserva- ■ tion } he had been unable to satisfy himself that there was anything unreasonable in the by-laws, or that they exceeded the power given to the Christchurch Drainage Board by the Christchurch Drainage Act. Although he recognised the powers given to the Drainage Board, ib was quite conceivable that these powers might entail considerable hardship. The defendant would ba fined 5s on «ach charge, costs only being allowed on one information. Theft. — James Thompson Gow, charged, with having, on Dec. 17, at Christchurch, stolen £6, liio propevty of William Black, who had been remanded for the report of the Probation Officer, now came up for sentence. The report of the Probation Officer was favourable, and the Magistrate admitted the accused to probation for three months.