PORT AWANUI COURT

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1631, 20 December 1905, Page 2

PORT AWANUI COURT

(Times’ Correspondent.) The quarterly sitting of tbo Magistrate’s Court was held at Port Awanui on tbe 11th inEt., before Mr W. A. Barton, S.M., when tho following busiaess was dealt with : ALLEGED OBSCENE LANGUAGE. Benjamin Gardiner Milnor ; charged with using obscene language, defendant was fined £5, costs 7°, in default one month hard labor in the Napier gaol. OrgL: a second charge of assaulting Constable*! i Mellsop, in the execution of his duly, t * accused was sentenced to two months’ hard labor in the Napier gaol. OBSTRUCTING THE POLICE. Michael Fry was oharged with obstructing Constable Mellsop in the execution of his duty, ond wa9 fined £5, or 30 days' hard labor in the Port Awanui gaol. A SERIOUS CHARGE.

A. Campbell, charged with indecent exposure, was convicted and bound over in one surety of £5, to corns up for sentence if called upon within six months, and to pay costs, £2 0s 6d. ILL-TREATING A DOG.

A native namod Wi Henaro was charged with cruelty to a dog at Waipiro Bay. Mr H. Bright appeared for the defence, aha Constable Mellsop for the prosecution. It was shown that on 18th November some dogs had been worrying defendant’s sheep, and he caught one of them and tied it by the collar to tho top wire of a fence, its forefeet being a couple of feet from tbe ground. The cries of the dog attracted the attention of Messrs H. J. Wilson and J. Hargreaves, who went to the rescue and gave information to tho police. Evidence for the prosecution having been heard, Mr Bright applied for aud obtained a remand to 12cb March, 1906, to enable witnesses for the defence to be subpoenaed, defendant having only been served with a summons on tbe Sih inet. FURIOUS RIDING.

Faora Hura and Hota Papntene were charged with furious riding at Waipiro Bay, aud fined £2 each and costs Bs, in default seven days’ hard labor in Port Awanui goal. CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

Wi Kuki was charged with cruelty to an animal by riding a horse with a sore back at Tokomaru Bay on 12th November. Mr H. Bright appeared for the defence. Constable Mollsop, for the prosecution, said that information was given to the policei-, in this caso by Peta Mulligao, who is constable appointed by the Maori CouDoil t at Tokomaru. Evidence was given by him as to defendant having ridden a horse while suffering from a bad sore back. Defendant on oath positively denied having done so. At tbo request of Constable Mellsop Mr Barton adjourned the case to 12th March to enable rebutting evidence to be called, the dofenoe also to be allowed to call further ovidence. DISORDERLY BEHAVIOUR. •

Police v. Kereanie Tibeaie, disorderly behaviour while drunk at Port Awsnui or 2ad ins'., pleaded guilty. Finod £3, eosti 14s 63, in de'ault 14 days hard labour ii Port Awanui police gaol. 1 THE LICENSING ACT. Patrick Hayes was charged with t bleach of section 155 of tbo Licensing Act, 1881, by exposing liiquor for sale during prohibited bouts. Mr H. Bright for tho dofonoe, and Constable Mellsop for the prosecution. The oase for the prosecution rested on the evidence of the nativo Constable A. Mika, who gave lengthy evidenoe in regard to having visited the defendant's hotel at 10.10 p.m., 10.20 p.m., and 10.45 p.m., on the Ist November last and found tho house open and defendant in tho bar sirving liquor on each occasion. Ha warned defendant on tho first occis’oa and told him ho would summous him on the Jait occasion, Henaro Pokal, a Maori waggon driver, partly corroborated the nativo oonstablo’s statement. Tbo defence showed by (ho evidence of soveral witne ses, that defendant Hayos was absent from the bo'cl botwoen tho horns of 10.15 p.m., and 11 p.m., on the date in question. The information wes dismissed, the migistrsta saying tho evidence was far too contradictory to convict. A sooond information under tho same section was withdrawn by lovo of Court.

CIVIL CASES. Sixteen undefonded civil debt casos were dealt with. Io the defended Maori oase Itawai Rehutai v. Petuera Awatere and Heue Tukehu, Mr H. Bright apP'arod for tho defoncc. The olaim was for tho possessioa of a hois'. Plaintiff wis uonsuitcl with costs, Orders for im-

prisonment were made in ths judgment summons cams of exeevtors hto C, Butler nV , Roman, 12 days, and Connelly v, Wabap lea Karakia, 18 days Port Awanui Police Gaol.

TOKOMARU. SUCCESSFUL CONCERT. (Times Correspondent.) On Saturday evening last a very successful concert was held at tho Tokomaru Hall. It was organised by the teachors of tho native school, and was in aid of a fund ,for prizes and a picnic for tho Maori children. Tho Europeans generously assisted tho object by their presence and help at the concert. "A largo numdor attended, tho affair being one of the most enjoyable of tho year. The children of tho nativo school supplied the major portion of tho entertainment. Between 50 and 60 of thorn gave songs in unison and rounds. A squad of eight Maori girls gave an exhibition of tho poi dance. This was so vociferously applauded that it had to be twice repeated before the audience had had enough. The girls kept perfect time, the music being suppliod by a boy pupil with a mouth organ. Another children’s item that was encoded was a»„.

children are to bo complimented on : f their excellent performances. Other ' items that were much enjoyed were: "• Song, Mr Porter; instrumental duet (violin), Miss Ball and Mr W. Oates, jun.; song, Mrs Perry; song, Miss Ball; Coon song (encored), Mr Littlo, and two phonograph selections by Mr Warner. Before closing the concort with “ God Save tho King ” the pub- i lie were thanked for their attendance, special thanks being givon to Mrs Buchanan, who kindly lent her piano for the occasion. After tho concort was finished dancing was indulgod in till 12 o’clock, MrPota Mulligan makin^ift, efficient M.C. ■4si)\JSaturday afternoon the local Tennis JOlub had an enjoyable timo at tho tennis court, thoro boing several visitors prosont, among them Mr Oldfield, of Tolago Bay. Last soason tin latter camo boro and vanquished al opponents. On Saturday he was no so successful, being boaton by Mr Sig' ley in a set by six gamos to oue. Ho, however, succeeded in defeating. Mi Buchanan by Gto 4. It is only fair tc state that Mr Oldfield has nad little or no practice, while tho local players praotice assiduously.