RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT, PORT CHALMERS.

Evening Star, Issue 3703, 5 January 1875, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT, PORT CHALMERS.

Tuesday, January 5. (Before T. A. Hansford, Esq., 8.M., and A. MHv'innou, J.P.) Assault.—Charles Berbidge and Samuel Pickards, who were charged with assaulting Thomas Houston, master of the ship Florence, pleaded guilty, and were sentenced to four weeks’ hard-labor each. Damaging Stores. —Charles Behridge and Samuel Rickards were then charged with damaging stores to the value of L 6 5s Bd, aud pleaded not guilty.—Captain Houston deposed that on the evening of the 25:h December they were both put down the store room in irons. Next morning when witness went, it seemed as if there had been a hurricane of wind, as everything the men could get hold off had been thrown about, and tins of coffee kicked open and emptied. Shortly afterwards wi ness saw Rickards with a bottle of port wive in his band, which he threw down. Everything was m its ftlace previous to the men being put there !n defence the prisoners stated that being in irons, and all in darkness, they could not destroy anything, and, ss far as drinking went, that they were sober when taken out of the store room, although drunk when put in there. t hey were each sentenced to two weeks’ hard labor, and the damage, amounting to L 3 2i lOd each, was ordered to be deducted frun their wages.

ITsobeying Lawful Commands—John Bell, William Munay, and Thomas Stark were charged by Captain Anderson, of the Aelson, with combining to disobey lawful commands. Stark was discharged, and Bell and Murray were each sentenced to four weeks' hard labor.