BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

Evening Star, Issue 3858, 6 July 1875, Page 3

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

»i. •/. XT-nr . AUCKLAND, July 5. A tenific N.W. gale last night did considerable damage to the small coasting craft in the harbor. A number of fences were blown down, but there was no record of any loss of life. Waymouth s boat building yard was completely wrecked. Henderson and Spraggon’s yard was also damaged. At the Supreme Court ciitninal sittings today, Judge Gillies, in charging the Grand Jury congratulated them on the lightness of the calendar and the absence of crime. Ho said forgery, embezzlement, and obtaining money under false pretences were once very common. In allusion to the charge against the landlord at the Thames for obtaining forcible entry to his house after giving the tenant notice to quit, his Honor said there was no doubt that landlords so behaving were guilty of the crime of forcible entry. A landlord has no right to use force to obtain possession of hia property, nor even to make a show of violence in order to overawe a tenant a tenant into obedience to his wishes.

After further correspondence between Superintendent and the Colonial Secretary and the signing by the latter of an agreement submitted by the General Government, L 7,000 has been paidfinto the hank from the Colonial Treasury for the use of the Pumping Association. The Superintendent signed the agreement submitted under protest.

Wellington, July-5, Jha new arrangement between the Banks came in force to-day, and discounts now are 7 per cent, under 95 days, and 8 per cent, above that period, while the highest rate of interest to be allowedps 5$ perjeent. It is expected this will release a great deal of monev which was withdrawn from the oidinary channels of investment so long as the Banks gave 7 per cent, lor deposits.

• ' Invercargill, July 6. Seventeen applications have been received for the head-mastership of the Invercargill Grammar School. The Committee have selected five, and meet this evening to decide which of those shall have the appointment.

_ Gbahamstown, July 5. There was a terrific north-west gait and ex-' traordinary high tide last night. A large amount of damage has been done. Grahamstown is flooded, the water being over a foot deep in some pf the stores at the shore e: d. Thompson’s timber wharf is carried away. There is a large gap in the Gbahamstown Wharf,' The Tararu Wharf is nearly all carried away, and it is believed to be damaged beyond redemption. The gardens along the beach had all <he soil washed off, and fears arc entertained of the quay being carried away. The Grahamstown and Tararu Tramway Co.’s engine shed has been destroyed, the sea wall having been undermined.

July 6. At a public meeting last night it was decided to petition Parliament for increased representation, The district contains a population of nearly 13,000. The new electoral roll will contain 3,000 names, and the district has only one member.

Christchurch, July 5. The Criminal Sittings of the Supreme Court opened this morning. Judge Williams, in his charge to tho Grand Jury, expressed satisfaction at the new prison regulations. Several cases were heard, but the sentences in each were deferred till to-morrow. {From our own Correspondents.)

Auckland, July 5. In the Judges’ charge to the Grand Jury today, the only two cases specially commented upon were one of shooting with intent to do bodily harm, and one of forcible entry. Judge Gillies said of the shooting case that there was no doubt about the shooting or intent, but the peculiar circumstances of this case were that prisoner alleged, in justification, that the person he shot at had seduced his wife. His Honor proceeded to say that such a plea was no excuse, for the man some time after the seduction, coolly going and purchasing a gun and proceeding a distance of several for the deliberate purpose of shooting a person against whom he felt aggrieved. I’hat wap a matter for the Court to deal with in sentencing in case of conviction, Jn the case of forcible entry by a landlord to eject a tenant the Judge said it was quite clear in the law that a person could not take possession of even his own property by force. He must apply to law. It had been laid down, aud was no doubt law, that a landlord who with force or threats went into his own property after a tenant’s time had elapsed was guilty of forcible entry. It was not nect ssary that force should be actually used if means were employed to overawe and terrify by show of force so as to lead the persons in possession to believethatviolence would be used, unless the wishes of the person threatening such force were complied with. In the present case the tenant had received notice to quit, and upon disregarding it the landlord burst open the door, which was fastened, and tied with a rope. He then turned out the furniture, and there was no doubt that persons so acting were guilty of forcib’e entry, notwithstanding that they might consider what st ps they were in assertion of a right. Country land was sold to-day at one shilling to two shillings per acre.

Christchurch, July 5. ; The criminal sittings of the Supreme Court opened this morning. The Judge’s cha?ge was very short, and principally ie:erred ti the alteration in the system of remission of sentences. John Annfield was found guilty on two charges of illegally pawning; Hudson, charged with feloniously entering a shop and stealing L2O and a draft, was also found guilty. Sentence was deferred in both cases. Roxb.rgh, July 6. There has been a large discovery of Maori relics at Benger Burn, on Kitching’s station. The find includes clothing, feathers of birds that are now extinct, and evidently there had been a large encampment there. Relics are being deposited with Mr Kitching, and when cumplete will be forwarded to the Museum.