MAGISTERIAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9211, 14 April 1908, Page 3

MAGISTERIAL.

CHRISTCHURCH. Tuesday, April 14. (Before Mr H. W. Bishop, S.M.) Drunkenness. — William Bowron (Mr Hunt) was charged with having procur,ed liquor during the currency of a prohibition order. He admitted the offence, and was fined 20s and costs, in default seven days' imprisonment. He was also charged with being an habitual drunkard within the meaning of the Habitual Drunkards' Act, 1906. The case was adjourned for four weeks, and bail wag allowed in one surety of £50. Refusing to Quit. — John H. Hill (Mr Malley) admitted a charge of having refused to quit Coker's Hotel when drunk. He was fined 20s and costs, in default seven days' imprisonment. Theft. — William Wellington, a young man, was charged with having, on March 18, stolen a bicycle, valued at £5, the property of Hillary and Baxter. Mr Dacre appeared for the accused, who pleaded not guilty. The evidence for the police was that on the night of March 18, the bicycle was stolen from the public library. Over a week ago, the bicycle was seen in the possession of the accused outside the public library. The accused, in defence, said that he had found the 'bicycle in Edinburgh Street the day previous to his" arrest. He took the machine to his home, and the following day rode it to the library, where he read the daily newspapers, to see if the owner of the bicycle was advertising. He was on his way to advertise' his find when Detective Ward stopped him and asked him if the machine was his. He told the detective that he had found it. Evidence was also called for the defence to show that Wellington had not been near the library on March 18. The Magistrate 6aid that he did not doubt that the accused had stolen the bicycle. Wellington was fined £5, and costs, in default one month's imprisonment. Dismissed. — William Lawrence (Mr Donnelly) was charged with ha ving_ disobeyed a maintenance order requiring him to contribute 30s a week towards the support of his wife. It was proved that he and his wife had lived together since the granting of the order, and had therefore cancelled it. The charge was dismissed. Order Increased. — The maintenance order requiring Edward Frederick Toby (Mr Cassidy) to contribute towards, the maintenance of his wife, was increased to make the weekly contributions 20s, on the application of the defendant's daughter, for whom Mr Donnelly appeared. Building Troubles. — George L. Ostler (Mr Cassidy) was charged with having allowed a house to be occupied without having first obtained a certificate, from the Chrietchurch City Council. Mr Cowlishaw appeared for the Council. The defendant, it was shown, had not obtained the certificate owing to a misunderstanding. He was convicted and ordered to pay the costs of the action. He was also' fined 20s and oost6 for having failed to maintain a brick parapet at' eighteen inches above the highest point of the nearest gutter, as required by the Christchurch City Council's by-laws. Public Health Act.— -Herbert Narris Hoskins was charged with having used a living room as a storeroom for milk. Mr Hall appeared for the Public Health Department. The defendant ad- i mitted that the milk had' been placed in the room, but the room was not used as a store. Mr Bishop eaid that milk was the one thing: that was subject to the influence and contamination of its surroundings, and the defendant had no right to place the milk in the room. He would be fined 20s and costs. '