SUPREME COURT, GISBORNE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3723, 21 June 1883, Page 3

SUPREME COURT, GISBORNE.

Gisbohne, This day. The first sitting- of the Supreme Court in Gisborne commenced yesterday before His Honor Sir James Prendergast, who, in his charge to the Grand Jury, congratulated the district on having succeeded in getting a Court established here. Gisborno was a very nice place, and he was very much pleased with the signs of prosperity on every hand. Tf the Court was to be continued the requisite representations would be made for the erection of a suitable building. The Court being held in the theatre, His Honor said it was the first time he appeared on the stage in his life. There was only three cases set down for trial, namely, murder, arson, and assault with intent. The Grand Jury returned true bills in each case. Several important civil actions are to come on, in which prominent men are interested. The charge against Mcllldoe, for criminally assaulting Mrs Mickie, alias Prangley, lasted all day, and the \my returned a verdict of not guilty. To-day Enoke Whatiatie, charged with setting

fire to his own whavc in revenge, pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment with hard labor The murder case is now on. The prisoner pleaded not guilty. The case is not likely to be finished to-day. The Judge remarked on the Maori custom of chiefs giving 0110 man's wife to another, and said suoh practice, if tolerated, would lead to serious crimes. Mr Nolan, the Crown Prosecutor, in his opening speech, said in this case, as in the other two disposed of, a woman was at the bottom of it.