MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18418, 21 March 1928, Page 9

MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

CHRISTCHURCH. (Before Mr 11. P. Lawry, S.M.) REMANDED. Albert William Smith was remanded till March 23 on a charge of unlawfully converting to his own use a motor-car valued at £75, the property of Alfred Daniel Hassall. The chief detective said that accused was employed occasionally in the garage from which the car was taken. Mr Cuthbert appeared for accused. On his application, bail was allowed at £SO, with one surety of £25, accused to report to the police. DRUNKENNESS. A first offender for drunkenness was fined £l, the amount of his bail, plus 2s 6d cab hire. A statutory first offender, described by the sub-inspector as “ a bit of a wreck, who has been drinking consistently,” was fined 10s and cab hire, 2s, in default twenty-four hours’ imprisonment. He consented to take out a prohibition order against himself. AT THE CROSSING. For crossing a railway line when it was not clear, the Rev Father James O'Connor was fined £1 and costs. NEW BRIGHTON TRAFFIC CASES. Patrick Henry Webb and Eric Vernon Wilson were charged with driving motor-cycles along the Esplanade at New Brighton in a manner dangerous to the public. Webb was charged with refusing to stop when ordered to by the traffic inspector. Evidence showed that the young men were travelling at twenty-five miles

an hour. Wilson stopped at the signal of the inspector (who was in plain clothes), but Webb went on. Webb was fined £3 and costa on the first charge, and £1 and costs for refusing to stop. Wilson was fined £2 10s for riding in a dangerous manner. AT LYTTELTON. (Before Mr H. A. Young, S.M.) George Frederick Grigg was proceeded against by the police, acting for the Education Department, for the recovery of £55 15s arrears for maintenance of his illegitimate child. Grigg admitted the charge. Sergeajit J. W. M’Holm said that the defendant Had been sentenced to one months’ imprisonment in June last in connection with the order. Since then he had paid only 15s off the arrears. Grigg said that he had been unsuccessful in his application for admission to the Waterside Workers’ Union. His average earnings were only 25s per week, and he had to siipport his mother. He had been unable to get work in Christchurch. The Magistrate sentenced Grigg to two months’ imprisonment, to be released on payment of the amount of the arrears. Walter Henry Davey was the subject of an application by the police on behalf of the Child Welfare Branch of the Education Department for the maintenance of his fourteen-year-old son. Defendant said that he had a wife and six other children to maintain, and he was not physically strong. His wife had to go out to work to help him support the family. His average earnings as a waterside worker amounted to £3 per week. The Magistrate adjourned the application for six weeks in the hope of employment being found for defendant's two eldest daughters.