TAIHAPE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 132, 5 June 1937, Page 11

TAIHAPE

MAGISTRATE’S COURT ■ The monthly sitting of the Taihape Magistrate’s Court was held before [Mr. R. M. Watson, S.M., on Thursday. ■ Unlicensed Radio Dealer ' William Barlow pleaded guilty to a charge of carrying on business as a radio dealer without a licence. In outlining the facts of the case, Sergeant McCrae pointed out that defendant had given considerable trouble each year in failing to renew his radio dealer’s licence until threatened by the P. and T. Department. He was without a licence at the present time. Asked if he had anything to say, defendant replied that he did not have enough money to pay the licence fee of 17 10s per annum. The magistrate: I see no necessity for you to have a set at all if you cannot pay the necessary fee. Sergeant McCrae: He's dealing in wireless. He has been previously threatened for a similar offence, but this is the first prosecution. He has not paid the fee yet. The magistrate: Defendant will have to give up the business if he cannot pay the necessary licence fee. Defendant: I will take out a licence before the end of the week. The magistrate: You are liable to a fine of 150, but I will adjourn the case for one month in order to give you a chance to pay th”, licence fee before fixing any penalty. Sly-grog Selling Roy Body was charged with (1) keeping liquor for sale in a proclaimed native no-licence area; (2) taking liquor into a proclaimed area without having a label on the liquor; (3) failing to notify the Cascade Brewery, from whom the liquor was purchased, that it was to be taken into a proclaimed area. Accused pleaded guilty to all three charges. In relating the circumstances connected with the above charges, Sergeant McCrae, who conducted the prosecution for the police, told the Court that defendant had been convic.ed and fined 130 for sly-grog selling at Ohakune on February 3, 1937. Since then Body had taken over a small store at Ohakune and the police had good reason to believe that he was trafficking in liquor again. Consequently, his movements were watched, particular attention being paid to his visits to Taihape. "On April 28 Constable Batchelor noticed defendant's car in Taihape and suspected that a quantity of liquor was

concealed therein," said Sergt. McRae. "He notified me and a search warrant was issued. Constables Corston and Batchelor were instructed to follow accused's car to Ohakune, while the Ohakune police were deputed to proceed in the direction of Taihape so that Body would have little chance of escape. Defendant stopped at a store at Karioi and when accosted by the police he demanded a searen warrant and we satisfied him on this point. Twelve dozen bottles of beer were found in his car and Constable Corston said to him: ‘Still sly-grog selling up here?’ And defendant replied: 'Yes, a man must do something for a living.’ ” The following morning Constables Frost and Chestnutt searched accused’s premises at Ohakune and found 200 to 300 empty beer bottles, which indicated that Body was dealing in liquor in a fairly big way. Men were seen coming from his premises and in some instances, breaking bottles. "I cannot say anything in defendant’s favour since his last conviction,” concluded the sergeant. Mr. R. C. Ongley, who appeared for body, said that after defendant's previous conviction he ceased to trade in liquor and bought a business in Ohakune, but fell into arrears with his payments and started to traffic in liquor again in a small way. He was a bottle dealer and this would account for such a large number of bottles being found on his premises. Body was a semi-invalid with a wife and family of young children, and was in poor circumstances. The magistrate: He has a Rolls Royce car and probable a wireless set. Mr. Ongley: He needs a car or truck in connection with his business. The car is a 1924 model. The magistrate: I won’t impose a term of imprisonment opon defendant this time, but if he is convicted of a further offence of this nature he can take it from me that he will be sent to gaol whether he comes before the Magistrate's Court or the Supreme Court. For selling beer in a proclaimed area, Body will be convicted and fined £5O and costs 12s and expenses £1 10s 7d. On each of the other two charges he will be convicted and ordered to pay costs amounting to 10s in each case. An order will be made for the confiscation of the 12 dozen bottles of beer. Mr. Ongley asked that defendant be allowed time to pay and the Bench decided to allow payment to be made at the rate of £5 per month. Noxious Weeds John Robinson, noxious weeds inspector, proceeded against Arthur Herbert Brown for failing to clear hemlock on his property. The inspector stated in evidence that he first sent defendant a notice in 1936 and Brown cut the weed, but then allowed it to grow again. Witness toid Brown to spray with sodium chlorate, but when he visited the property again the hemlock was in flower. Subsequently, defendant was served with a final notice and engaged a man to cut the weed. The inspector went on to say that when he paid another visit to the property three months later he found the weed in flower again. Only a small area was affected. A fine of £2 and costs (10s) was imposed. Pongo Raumaewa was fined £2 and costs for failing to clear his property of ragwort.

Hauiti te Whaaro (Rae Winiata) was fined a similar amount for . the same class of offence. The inspector said that he had met with a lot of

trouble over these native sections. The magistrate: The owners will have to declare war on ragwort or the fines will be much heavier next year. Wandering Stock John McDonald, county overseer, I proceeded against John H. Garmons- [ way for allowing eight cows to wan- [ der at large on Mataroa Road. Evi- i dence was given by H. W. Whale that ; he saw the cows in question on the roads. A fine of 20s and costs (22s 6d) was imposed. INTOXICATED DRIVER FINED £25 A man, whose name was suppressed owing to the extenuating circumstanes, appeared before Messrs E. Loader and H. Johnston, J.P.’s, at the Taihape Magistrate’s Court this morning to face a charge of being in charge of a motor vehicle on the main north road on June 3 while in a state of intoxication. Accused pleaded guilty. Constable Corston conducted the prosecution for the police, and related the facts concerning the case. He said that at 11.30 the previous night Traffic Inspector Hartigan came across defendant’s lorry in a ditch on the main north road on the wrong side of the road. Defendant was walking about with a torch in his hand and couldn't give an account of what had happened. He was brought to Taihape and examined by two medical men who testified that he was not fit to be in charge of a motor vehicle. "I have been instructed to apply for a heavy penalty and cancellation of defendant’s licence," declared Constable Corston, whe added that accused was a man of good character. Mr R. C. Ongley appeared for accused and pointed out that there were extenuating circumstances. The lights of accused's lorry had gone out and he had tried to proceed with the aid of a torch. Yesterday was the first occasion on which he had visited Taihape for a considerable time. Defendant had "celebrated” a certain event. Counsel went on to say that defendant realised that he would have to pay a heavy line, but if his licence were cancelled he would be forced out of business as he required his lorry for carrying goods. Constable Corston pointed out that the traffic inspector had found the lights on accused's lorry to be in order when he examined the vehicle. Accused: The lights are all right lor three minutes and then they become dim. The Bench: Does accused's present licence bear any endorsement? Accused: None at all. The Bench: Accused will be fined £25, but on this occasion his licence will not be cancelled, though it will be endorsed. If he comes before the Court again on a similar charge his licence will be cancelled. Mr Ongley applied for the suppression of accused's name, and the Bench granted the request owing to the special circumstances. The Bench pointed out that the police had acted right!;' in pushing cases of this kind, as it was most desirable that they should be wiped out. GENERAL NEWS Attention is drawn to an advertisement in this issue to the effect that the Taihape Borough Council has opened a showroom in Tui Street (opposite Butler’s) lor the purpose of displaying electric ranges, water heaters and other appliances. Consumers are invited to inspect the showroom and view the very latest in electrical appliances. The "zip ’ water heaters merit special attention, as they have been specially designed to meet modern requirements. Terms will be granted to purchasers of electrical goods. OBITUARY MRS. E. M. McCOLL The death occurred recently of Mr?. Elizabeth McCowan McColl, relict of the late Mr. Archibald McColl, of Point House, "Lismore," Taihape. Deceased was born in the Parish of Galston, near Cumnock, Ayrshire, Scotland, in 1855, and came to New Zealand in the ship Omaru in 1877 and settled at Dunedin, where she was married in 1879. The late Mrs. McColl arrived in the Taihape district in 1896 and resided at Moawhango for three years before taking up residence at Point House, "Lismore," Taihape, in 1899. She was of a quiet, retiring disposition, but possessed qualities of heart and mind that endeared her to all. Her many friends spoke of her with affection as a "dear old lady ” Deceased was a pioneer of St. David's Presbyterian Church and did everything in her power to promote its welfare. She is survived by one brother, Mr. Robert Henderson, • of Gisborne, and two sons and three daughters, namely: Mr. J. McColl, "Lismore,” Taihape, Mr. T. H. McColl (Kaitieke), Mesdames R. Te Dobson (Taihape), C. C. Morgan (Otorohango), H. Jensen, “Matapouri” (Taihape). The funeral of the 'late Mrs. McColl was largely attended and many beautiful wreaths were placed at the graveside and provided a silent but eloquent tribute to the memory of one of Taihape’s most highly-re-spected settlers.