OUR AUCKLAND LETTER.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume IV, Issue 323, 13 October 1875, Page 3

OUR AUCKLAND LETTER.

(imoM Otfa Owtf COMBESPOND' Kt ) Auckland, Btlx October. Mr Justice Gillies gets through his work in a much more expeditious way than Sir George Arney did. The Criminal Sessions began on Monday and the whole 19 cases were disposed of by I hursday. As the Judge remarked in his charge, there were no very serious charges, and the heaviest sentence has been three years, which was awarded twice. One of the most notable prisoners was that fine young man, Constable Axam. He pleaded guilty to two charges of forgery, and was found guilty of a third, while ho was acquitted of forging the receipt to his grocer’s bill, mainly through the want of corroborative evidence. The great fellow stood and blubbed in the dock like a big overgrown child. He stuck to it to the last that Sergeant O’Connor’s signature to the bill was genuine. This assertion places*‘the long sergeant, as he is called, for O’Connor is about 6ft. 4in. high, in an awkward position, as many believe that he has committed perjury over the affair, for you will recollect he swore most positively he never saw the bills till he saw them in the hands of the police. Axam was only charged at the Supreme Court with forging Neil Campbell’s endorsement, and he was awfully disappointed that he was not allowed to prove O’Connor’s. He admitted that Campbell’s endorsement was written by himself but by permission. His sentence has caused a good deal of misapprehension. For each offence he received two years’ hard labour, all three sentences to run concurrently. About twenty letters have appeared in the papers asking what this means, and whether he w r as to serve six years or only two. When it was generally understood that he would be set at liberty in two years people were rather disappointed. Axam was only in Auckland about three months, and ho made himself in that time the most detested man in the place. I think every one was glad to see the Grand Jury throw r out the bills against the two unfortunate women, Podesta and Absolom, accused of perjury in connection with the late breach of Licen-

sing Act at Mr Evans’ Hotel, in Queen street. Although there was no doubt they swore what was distinctly false, yet there were grounds for what the Judge said in his charge, viz., that they might have thought “alcoholic liquors” did not include beer , and again that in saying they were not supplied by the landlord with liquor, they had in mind the fact that it was tho companions who were with them in the room who actually brought them their drink. Mr Justice Gillies makes a very fair judge except when Mr W. L. Rees brings a case before him, and then he seems not to be able to avoid showing a little bias against him; this has been remarked by a good many. In his addresses to prisoners he docs not preach with the facility of Sir George Alfred, who could always turn on the unction at a moment’s notice.

The charge of attempted rape against Mr W. Kirby has caused a great sensation in town. The acciued is as well-known as any citizen in Auckland, and used to take round the plate on Sundays at the Roman Catholic Church of St. Patrick’s. His excitable temperament has always been remarkable, but no one thought him capable of such an abominable crime. But if surprise was manifested at his arrest, far greater surprise and general indignation has been caused at his acquittal by Cosgrave and Marshall, the sitting Justices, The evidence was certainly of an extraordinary character, but it was not at all contradictory, and a clear prima facie case was made out. I am inclined to think myself that Kirby fell into a trap. Two circumstances point to tliis conclusion—the fact of the husband being concealed in the ehoffonier, and the fact of tho woman going round to Kirby’s yard to get change only a short time before tho offence was alleged to have been committed. But ibis does not excuse the Justices, who have caught it redhot in articles and letters in the papers. It is now nearly certain that the matter will come before the Minister of Justice. The scandal of the dismissal was heightened by a rumour that Mr Cosgiave’s wife is a relation of Kirby’s. That she was a Miss Kirby is quite correct, but I believe tho story of relationship is unfounded. The Paknranga Hunt Club Races on "Wednesday went olf exceedingly well. Mr Owen McGee’s mare Auckland Kate was the heroine of tho meeting, as she non two and was second in a third race out of four. Rarcy and Middy Ashore, who were backed for good money for the Steeplechase and Open Hurdle Race, worn never in it with her. There were quite 600 people on the ground. Another sporting event of tho week lias been the Pigeon Shooting [Match between the Ilamley Gun Club and the Waikato Gun Club. The match was as close as it could well be and tho Auckland lot had nothing to crow Over. A very jolly reunion took place at the dinner in the evening, at which Mr W. J. Marks, the most enthusiastic and disinterested sportsman in Auckland, made a capital speech. Tho news of the wretched death of Cyrus Haley, the incendiary and wouldbe murderer, was received here on Monday. A sad history is that of poor Haley. A man of good attainments and pleasant address, lie might have done well had he not had his ideas and passions distorted by fancied wrongs. A man with whom I walked to town the other morning said he recollected Haley walking with him in the same manner years before, and a more genial conversationalist ho did not wish to meet, and then to think of the man burning down the Choral Hall twice, setting fire to Archard’s kerosene store, and. (it is supposed) to the ship City of Auckland, and to end all being shot down like a dog while trying to escape from prison. It has always been said that Mr Thomas Russell has gone in fear of his life since Haley’s confinement. He had an inkling that if he escaped he would take the first opportunity of revenge by murdering him. Warder Miffar will only have to send in his claim to receive a handsome reward Rom Mr Russell.

The appointments of Mr-Brookfield as Resident Magistrate, and of Judge Fenton as District Judge, will be met with very general gratification; both gentlemen are thoroughly independent and will do their duty well. It was quite time the offices were divided. There is plenty of work for Doth, and notv I presume we shall not be so much at the mercy of chance J.P.’s for our Police Court cases. By the way I am truly sorry for the J.P. hailing from your neighbourhood, who when in Auckland prowls round the purlieus of the Court and solicits accommodation on the Bench. It will he a sad blow to him to find his services uncalled for during his next visit to Auckland.

At the annual meeting of the Auckland Presbytery on Wednesday, the principal subject mooted was the formation of a Colonial Hall of Theology

j or Training* College for Presbyterian i Ministers. A committee lias been formed to test the practicability of the scheme. Tho Rev. David Bruce, in speaking of the project, urged the fact that the wants of the Church in tho colony were no longer satisfied by the home source of supply. The Harbour Board have determined to set to work at onee with the Freeman’s Bay reclamation works, and with tho completion of the road under the cliff to Mechanics’ Bay. Both those works are greatly needed and have been hanging over for so long that it is quite rofreshining to find that they are at hist under weigh. Tenders * are to bo called for at oneo for both undertakings. Tho case of suicide at Moyle’s hotel on f l uesday was a very sad one. Mr Lockhart Glass had only just arrived by the Ocean Wave from Levuka, where lie was well known. He was suifering from a painful skin disease, and it is thought that this led him to commit; the rash act. The conduct of the jury in returning a verdict of felo-de-se is'inexplicable, as such a verdict is now seldom recorded, and this was certainly not one of tho exceptional cases which demanded it. Moyle is a curious fellow; he is going in for ■ damages against the deceased’s estatefor loss of business occasioned by the occurrence. No doubt ho has a good claim, but will it be allowed ? Tho next inter-provincial bit of spoit is to bo a chess tournament between three or four of the provinces, including Auckland, conducted by telegram. The preliminaries are being arranged, and the use of the wire has been granted by the authorities. Messrs Stewart, Morton, and T. L. White aro well-known as first-class players, and will take plenty of beating.