MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 53, 31 July 1874, Page 3

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Friday, July 31. [Before 0. 0. Bowen, Esq., R.M.J LARCENY. Charles Stephenson was charged with the larceny of a pipe. Detective Benjamin stated that he arrested the prisoner on the 27th instant, at the Criterion Hotel, on the charge of stealing the pipe produced, which Mr Richards had reported to him as having lost. The prisoner, when arrested, said he had got the pipe the evening before, from a man named George. E. V. Richards said he was staying at the Criterion Hotel. The pipe produced belonged to him. On Monday last he left it on the mantelpiece, in the commercial-room of the hotel, and missed it when he came out from dinner. Saw it afterwards in the possession of the prisoner at the hotel. He was smoking it at the time. Told him the pipe was his, and he (prisoner) said he had got it from a man on Friday last. The value of the pipe is from Is fid to 2s. He had lost other pipes and sticks frequently before out of the same room. The barman at the Criterion Hotel remembered the prisoner going into the com-mercial-room of the hotel on Friday last, about one o’clock. He was in and out during the whole of the afternoon. He had been frequently at the hotel during the last fortnight. Chief Dective Feast told his Worship that the hotelkeepers, were daily complaining of the loss of bells, sticks, and even tumblers, from their houses. The prisoner had been hanging about different hotels for some little time past. Prisoner said he had been off and on connected with the Theatre for a long time, and A young man who was working at the Theatre had borrowed a pipe from him and lent it to Another, and had given him this one instead. His Worship told the prisoner that he had already suffered by being charged with larceny, and he?(his Worship) did not wish to convict him on this charge. He regretted that Avery loose morality existed here in this practice of picking up pipes. He hoped this case would act as a warning to the prisoner. Discharged.

THREATENING LANGUAGE. The adjourned charge against Alice Moore for using threatening language to Wm Stocks, was called on.

Dr Foster appeared for complainant. Defendant said she would undertake not not to molest the complainant any more but everything he had stated in Court the previous day were lies. His'Worship said that he did not wish to go into the case again, and under the promise given, he would dismiss the case, but defendant must not under any circumstances commit a breach of the peace. Dr Foster said that now Mr Stocks was not under pressure, he was instructed by him to say to that he was willing to make future provision for the child. If the defendant wonld call at his office or send a solicitor, this would be done.

His Worship said that he was very much pleased to see that Mr Stocks had taken this course. Case dismissed.

The adjourned case of William Jordan for using threatening language to his wife, was called.

The parties had not come to any settlement. Defendant offered to allow his wife 10s a week, for herself and two children, but his Worship would not accept that amount as sufficient.

After his Worship had heard what both parties had to say, he told the defendant that he would have to bind him over to keep the peace towards his wife, if he did not come to some arrangement. He should like to hear thatthev bad determined to let by-gones be by-gone’s, and start afresh. He hoped they would try and live amicably together, and to give them time to fully consider the matter, he would further adjourn the case for a week. Adjourned to Friday next.

WESLEYAN MUSICAL FESTIVAL. The festival last evening on the occasion of the opening of the organ at the Durhamstreet Wesleyan Church was a great success, over 1200 persons being present. The proceedings were opened by the Rcv.|T. Buller giving out a hymn and engaging in prayer. The programme was then proceeded with. The first item was a prelude by Mendelssohn, played by Mr R. Barker in a manner which brought out the capabilities of the organ and the various combination of stops. One point about the organ is the absence of softer stops, and the tone of the organ will be greatly improved by the addition of a flute or clarionet. Of the choruses in the first part, mainly selected from “ Samson,” we may say that they were well rendered. The tenor voices once or twice were somewhat too quick in taking up their parts in the concerted passages, but else the whole of the choruses went capitally. We may especially note “ Round about the starry throne,” “ Let their celestial concerts,” and “ How lovely .are the messengers.” as being worthy of commendation, Mr Walcot sang “God of our Fathers” carefully and well, though a little tendency to drag the time was perceptible. The beautiful aria “ Return, O God of Hosts,” was taken by Mrs Taylor, and sung with an artistic finish and success which rendered it one of the gems of the evening. Mr Merton had only one solo, “ How willing my paternal love,” and the way he sung it made one wish to hear more. The difficult ana, “ Let the bright seraphim” was entrusted to Miss Rowley, and she sang the music admirably; the florid runs with which it is studded being taken easily and in a manner evincing thorough knowledge of the piece, and Miss Rowley deserves high praise for the way in which this number was rendered. The gentleman who sang “ If with all your hearts,” was evidently too ambitious, the music of the air being quite beyond his powers. The next piece, “O, rest in the Lord,” from “ Elijah,” sung by Miss Kent, was a perfect treat. This young lady possesses a really splendid voice, sympathetic and full of melody, and the music of this beautiful aria afforded her every opportunity for displaying it to advantage. This solo undoubtedly was the gem of the first part. Miss A. 8. Taylor sang “Jerusalem that killest ” with her usual finished execution. This also was excellently rendered. The trio “ Lift thine eyes ” did not go well, the time being unsteady, and the voices not harmonising. An organ solo, “Andante in F Major ” by Wely, was well played by Mr Parker, but suffered in effect from the. absence of the softer stops, Mr Parker having to play the piano passages so low as hardly to be audible. The other organ piece was an occasional overture by Handel, arranged as a duet, played by Miss Ashwin and Mr Parker. At the conclusion of the first part the Rev Mr Fitchett delivered a very eloquent address upon music as a help to education and religion, urging upon his hearers the desirability of aiming at a higher standard of popular music than that now obtaining, and the substitution of the sonatas of Mozart and Beethoven for the trashy pianoforte pieces so generally played. In the second part the choruses also went well, especially “ The heavens are telling,” and “ Achieved is the glorious work.” Mr Rowley sang “In splendour bright,” excellently, “ With verdure clad,” was allotted to Miss Winter, and that lady achieved quite a triumph in her rendering of it. It is the first time we have heard her in sacred music, and we trust to hear her often. It certainly was excellently sung throughout, the difficult runs in the piece being given with precision and without effort. The trio “ On thee each living soul,” by Miss Rowley, and Messrs Walcot and Knox, was also capitally taken, being by far the best concerted piece of the evening, Mr Parker played the “War march of the priests,” from “ Athalie,” and a march by Scotson Clark. The magnificent chorus “ The Lord shall reign,” splendidly sung, concluded a very successful festival. Mr Bpensley conducted, and the accompaniments throughout were very good.