afternoon, a magistrate was told yesterday.

Percy D. Caines, 26, of Spice Hill Road in Warwick, pleaded guilty to driving while impaired on October 25.

Senior Magistrate the Wor. Will Francis fined Caines $400 and disqualified him from driving for 12 months.

Prosecuting, Police Sgt. Peter Giles said officers were called to an accident on Harbour Road shortly before 6.30 p.m. that day.

Caines' car had hit a tree stump, after which it was in collision with another car, Sgt. Giles said.

Caines smelt of alcohol and told officers he had been "drinking wine since 2 p.m.,'' he said.

CHRISTMAS AID TOPS $100,000 CHU Christmas Aid tops $100,000 The Salvation Army distributed $109,670 worth of goods at Christmas to needy families in Bermuda.

And the Santas Anonymous Programme, sponsored by The Royal Gazette , was able to provide 2,790 toys to children who otherwise would have received little else on Christmas Day.

The Salvation Army reports that a total of 676 families were assisted, including 929 children and 820 adults.

Contributions of clothing made it possible to give away 600 articles. The League of Mercy, made up of volunteers, distributed 1,600 personal treats to patients and the elderly in nursing homes and hospitals.

At Harbour Light, the Salvation Army was able to serve Christmas dinner to 180 of the Island's homeless, because of donations from wholesalers and restaurants.

COSTLY CANNABIS CTS Costly cannabis Possession of a small amount of marijuana cost a St. George's man $100 in Magistrates' Court this week.

Raymond Richardson, 27, of Wellington Hill, pleaded guilty to committing the offence on October 15. Prosecuting, Police Sgt. Peter Giles said Richardson was searched outside the St. George's Liquors store on York Street.

Police found a paper twist and a yellow envelope on Richardson, which together contained .41 grams of marijuana, Sgt. Giles said.

HOMES FLOODED FIR Homes flooded Torrential rain flooded a number of homes on Wednesday night, keeping fire fighters busy.

Cellars and ground floor rooms of many private houses all over the Island were affected. In Hamilton the worst flooding occurred at the Fourways Restaurant on Queen Street.

The Fire Service used pumps to remove the water and to squeeze out soaking carpets, but they reported no major damage.

EXPENSIVE BEER CTS Expensive beer Taking a sip of beer proved expensive for a 39-year-old Pembroke man who was fined $50 in Magistrates' Court this week for drinking liquor in public.

Harry Maxwell Smith of Angle Street was seen drinking a beer on Union Street, Hamilton, by Police officers on January 22.