MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8353, 9 February 1907, Page 3

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

+ MASTERTON—• FRIDAY. (Before Mr W. P. James, S.M.). Three first offenders were earji fined 5s in default 24 ment for having drunk. Peter Jagkson was charged with having been drunk, it being his third offence within six months. Defendant, who said he had work to go to, was ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. A young girl, 18 years of age, was charged with having insufficient lawful, visible means of support. Mr Pownall appeared for the defence. The mother of the girl said the girl left her home to go to her aunt's place at Masterton until she procured a situation. The girl had been keeping late hours and had lost several situations. She had repeatedly refused to go home or to her relations. On Saturday last the girl told witness that she was getting six shillings per week at a situation. ( ' By Mr Pownall: Witness only thrashed the accused very rarely. She really was not able to thrash her. She did not see her husband thrashing the girl Witness lived very unhappily while the girl was at home. If the girl did not want to go home witness would not press her to do so.

Mr Pownall: "I can assure you that's what she doesn't want to do; she'd rather go to gaol first." Constable Kyle said he saw the girl at the place where she was working., She said she was getting 6s per week, and would not go home. Her conduct was not disorderly. > ' The girl's employee said she employed the accused more for company while her husband was away on contracts. The girl had always kept good hours. Evidence was also given by Donald Nicholson.': The Magistrate said it was one of those unfortunate cases where a girl ' had a comfortable home and refused to live there. The case, he said, ■ did not come under the Vagrancy Act, and he would dismiss it. ; William Jesson, of Mauriceville, was charged on the information of Lars Mattsen, with having damaged, to the extent of 2s 6d, the top of a well belonging to the Mauriceville Co-operative Dairy Company. Mr W. G. Beard appeared for the Company. Lars Mattsen, secretary of the Company, said there was a well on the property of the Company. The defendant had been in the habit of taking water from the well. In October-last a resolution was passed by the Company forbidding the defendant to take water from the Company's property. The defendant still continued to take the water from the well, and a top was nailed over it. The top was removed by defendant, the damage being estimated at about 2s 6d. The boards were, again nailed down, and defendant again forced them open, and drew water from the well. John Brash, manager of the Company's factory, gaVe corroborative .. evidence. The Magistrate assessed the damage done to the Well by the defendant at Is, and inflicted a fine of Ss, with costs £2 2s Bd. ,