RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT, PORT CHALMERS.

Evening Star, Issue 4060, 1 March 1876, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT, PORT CHALMERS.

Tuesday, Mabch 1. - [(Before T, A. Hansford, Esq., R.M.)

Drunkenness, —Cornelius M’Carhby, a seaman b longir g to the ship Sir Lauuceiot, was charged with beina drunk and disorderly on the railway ph.tfoim yesterday afternoon, and pleaded guilty.—Captain Hepburn informed his Worship that the prisoner’s conduct had been very bad during the time the vessel had been at the pier.—The Bench inflicted a penalty of 20s, or forty eight hours’ impii-onmeur.. Disobedience of Lawful Commands.— W. C. Newman, W. Goring, W. Radford, H. Le Gamble Tui, W. Farnell, and Samuel, seamen belonging to the barque Splend d, were charged up; n the information of Captain Millar With disobedience of lawful commands at Port William on the 24th ult. Mr Joyce appeared for Captain Millar, and Mr Stout for the prisoners, who pleaded guilty.—Mr Stout in addressing the Bench stated that the men, who had acknowledged their refusal of duty, had done so under a misapprehension. They were led to suppose the vessel wa; proceeding to sea, and not coming to Port Chalmers. hence their action. He urged the Bench to take a lenient view of the case.—From the evidence of Thomas Millar it appeared he ordered the chief officer to have the windlass manned for lifting the anchor oh the 24th u t., with a view of proceeding to sea on a Whaling cruise, when, the prisoners refused to lift it on the grounds that they did ite following day one of the owners came on bard, and the men still refu ed to lift the anchors. They gave no other reason for .thS*rr efusal.— In answer to the Bench, the prisoners, through their spokesman, W. C, Newman, expressed their willingness to go on board, but stated th-y would not go to sea again with the same captain.—His Worship thought it would be the best for all parties if the case were adjourned for a week, which would afford the men an opportunity of entering into some arrangement. He did not wish to send them to gaol.—Mb Joyce lemsrked that the piisonera had no cause of complaint.—A remand till Tuesday was granted.