LEGAL & MAGISTERIAL NOTES

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XI, Issue 529, 7 February 1901, Page 19

LEGAL & MAGISTERIAL NOTES

John Woolston, of Utiki, was fined at Mangaweka £25 and £5 with costs, on two charges of dy-grog selling. For attempting to obtain liquor at the Addington Sale-yards Refreshment Booth, Edward Standering, a prohibited person, was fined 40s and costs at the Christchurch Magistrate s Court.

At the Auckland Police Court Robert J. Galbraith was fined £2 and costs or 14 days hard labour for being found in the Avondale Hotel, during the currency of a prohibition order against him.

On the 21st January at the Dunedin Magistrate’s Court, Joseph Biggins, licensee of the Great Northern Hotel, was fined £lO and costs for Sunday trading. On a second information for selling liquor the magistrate held that he was not warranted in convicting.

At the Wellington Police Court Minnie Aldridge'was fined £lO, with the option of two months’ imprisonment, for having committed an aggravated assault on Jane Ormsbee, licensee of the Clyde Quay Hotel.

A large number of cases of Sunday trading were heard in the Melbourne Police Courts after the Christmas holidays. The “Sportsman” gays:—“ Of a verity the police instituted a busy Christmas crusade among our hotelkeepers.”

From the Melbourne “ Sportsman ” I clip the following:—A case presenting some peculiar “features,” owing to the strong likeness of two sisters, was heard at the Fitzroy Court on Wednesday. The police sought to obtain admittance to Patrick Lynch’s Gertrude Family Hotel, Ger-trude-street. They alleged they were kept waiting five minutes by Miss Dee, sister to Mrs Lynch. That lady, however, swore that she was never near the gate Theßench, believing that & mistake had been made, dismissed the case. Mr Lynch subsequently donated £1 to the poor box.

According to the “Herald,” the following interchanges of courtesies took place at the South Melbourne Court on Friday, between Mr David Gann son and Inspector M’Gann in a licensing case:—Mr Gaunson: You are a disgrace to the uniform. Inspector M’Gann: You are a disgrace to the profession. Mr Gaunson : The inspector knows as much law as my foot. He is only fit for the asylum. The. Inspector: If I drank as much as you I would. Mr Gaunson ; You want another jacketing. You ought to have your epaulettes removed. The Inspector (laughing) : lam not afraid. Mr Gaunson (winking) : It’s a pity to have to meet a maniac like you.

At the Kaiapoi Magistrate’s Court, before Mr H. S. Wardell, S.M., William Wilson was charged with having supplied liquor to William Christie, a prohibited person. Mr Papprill appeared for accused, and admitted the offence. He explained that Wilson, who was a labourer, did not appear, as he had secured two months’ work grass-seeding on the Peninsula. He had a weakness for liquor, and apparently did not realise the gravity of his own offence. Constable Cartmill stated that when accused supplied Christie with the beer he continued drinking and would not work. Since the offence was detected, however, Christie had gone to work. Wilson had been prohibited himself, and therefore knew the wrong he was doing Accused was fined £2 with costs £1 ss, in default two months’ imprisonment. A month was allowed in which to pay the fine.

As the outcome of a disturbance which occurred on January 22nd at the Governor Hotel, Christchurch, Stanley H. Joseph and Henry Kelly were charged before Mr H, W. Bishop, S.M., with having assaulted George Kellar, the son of the licensee. The dispute and subsequent disturbance seems to have arisen owing to a question as to whether or not certain drinks were paid for. After some lengthy evidence had been tendered on both sides His Worship said that the evidence exonerated Kelly altogether, and he would be dismissed. As to the accused Joseph the case was different, An assault with serious results had been committed, but how it had been committed and by whom was for a jury to decide. Joseph was committed for trial, bail being allowed, himself in £25 and one surety of £25.

It would be well if any member of the Trade who may be an aspirant for civic honours would note the question which arose in Adelaide recently. It reads as something of a joke, but there seems to be no joke about it as the Adelaide correspondent of the ‘ ‘ Argus ” wired that the police court on Tuesday gave its decision in the case of Wm. Jones v. Arthur Ware, in which the former claimed to be mayor of Adelaide on account of an alleged informality in Mr Ware’s nominations. The court decided that the office of mayor should be declared vacant, as Mr Ware should have been described as “a licensed victualler” instead of “a gentleman.” The information was upheld with costs ; but the court could not see that plaintiff had any claim on the mayorality, and held it was for the city council to take the necessary steps to carry out a fresh election.