WAIHI POLICE COURT

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XLVIII, Issue 6093, 9 April 1948, Page 2

WAIHI POLICE COURT

OASES AT MONTHLY SITTING THEFT OF SLEEPERS LEFT NEAR COMPANY’S LINE Cases at the monthly sitting of the Waihi Magistrate’s Court yesterday were dealt with by Mr W. H. Freeman, S.M. Police prosecutions were conducted by Sergeant J. H. McLeod. Theft on April 4 of four sleepers worth £1 2s belonging to the Martha Gold Mining Co. (Waihi), Ltd., was admitted by Herbert Harold Bailey. Sergeant McLeod said that on April 5 Mr Hart, a ganger employed by the company, complained to the police that four or five sleepers had been removed from beside the company’s railway line near the Ohinenuri..River bridge, about one and abalf miles from Waihi. Constable K. N. Crisp made inquiries, and in the course of them had oceasion 'to interview defendant, who told a story about finding them, but who finally admitted that he had taken them, saying he needed them for an electric fence. It was the first appearance in court of defendant, who was a married man with one child, and who helped farm a 246-acre property adjoining the line. The sleep-e-s had been sent back. “He had no right to take property belonging to others," said the magistrate, who imposed a fine of £5. Trespass on Baeeeourse Trespass on the Paeroa racecourse . during the holding of a race meeting by the Ohinemuri Jockey Club was admitted by John Thompson.

Constable A. H. Valentine said he saw defendant, who was prohibited from attending race meetings, in front of the totalisator. Defendant, who had a long list of convictions, said that he had gone for a day’s outing. Mr F. C. V. Clark, for defendant, asked the Bench to take into account the fact that any previous offences had been paid for. Thompson was not in a position to pay a big fine, and had responsibilities to his children. He had not got the money to bet. The Magistrate: That applies to a lot of people. Mr Clark: It applies to me, sir. The magistrate said the idea of the regulations was to keep racecourses clear of people of a doubtful character for whom they seemed to have an attraction. A fine of £2 was imposed. Liquor While Prohibited Obtaining of liquor while prohibited was denied by Alexander Murray. Constable D. Mitchell said that at 5.25 p.m. on March 28 he, in company with Constable J. P. McHugh, saw defendant ascend the Martha Hill steps in upper Seddon Street with something in his hand that seemed like a bag, and when defendant came down again he had nothing. Constable McHugh went up the steps and found two bottles of beer in a parcel and one unwrapped bottle. Murray said be had been carrying a parcel for his wife. In evidence, Constable McHugh said that he was with Constable Mitchell in Mueller Street and saw defendant sitting. He found a v/oman’s shopping bag and one unwrapped bottle. Defendant said the bag belonged to his wife, who had given it to him t"s carry up the steps. The bottle he had found on the side. It was his habit to carry anything up the steps for her. He had not had a drink since he had been prohibited. “I cannot find any bottles on the side of the road,” remarked the magistrate. “The next time you find them wait until your order is up. You ask me to believe that the bottle concerned belonged to your wife; the other two might have.” A fine of £l, with costs 10fs, was imposed. For a breach of his prohibition erder, Ernest Trevor Bright was fined £l, with costs 10s. He was fined a like amount for entering licensed premises while prohibited.