MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 535, 6 March 1876, Page 2

MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Monday, March 6. (Before G. L. Mellish, Esq., R.M.) The following inebriates were dealt with:— John Wills, case dismissed ; Alfred Hart, fined 5s ; Charles Hudson Gilmore, fined 10s; William Wright, who was also charged with destroying private property in breaking a window - belonging to Mr Rossiter, watchmaker, Colombo street, fined ss, and £1 6s damage; Thomas . Butler, who. was also charged with using obscene language, fined 20s ; Ellen Talbot, an old offender, was fined 60s, and told that if she appealed again she would not be let off with a fine.

Larceny.—John Wills was charged with stealing four tumbleis from the Clarendon Hotel. It appeared that the prisoner was being taken to the watchhouse for drunkenness on Saturday afternoon, when a tumbler fell out of his pocket, and three others were found upon him. It was proved that the prisoner was in the Clarendon bar on Saturday afternoon, and the glasses were identified by Mr Wagner as his property. The prisoner said he was drunk, and did not know anything about it. He begged for mercy for the sake of his wife and four children. Inspector Buckley said that the man was a new arrival ; he knew nothing against him. Mr Mellish said that the Bench could not wholly pass the matter over ; it was another instance of ruin through drink. Prisoner would be sentenced to seven days' imprisonment with hard labour.

Violently Assaulting his Wife.— Peter McGregor was charged with violently assaulting his wife, Ann McGregor. A constable deposed that from information received he went to defendant's honse on the Sandhills, and found him much under the influence of drink and wandering in his mind. Mrs McGregor said that she wished to withdraw the charge; he was a good husband and an industrious man when sober, but latterly he had been drinking. He had promised to join the Good Templars, and she wished to withdraw the case and to get him home. The case was adjourned for a month.

Lunacy from Deink. George Amor, who had been remanded to Lyttelton for eight days for lunacy through drink, was further remanded for eight days. Theresa Dixon was brought into Court suffering from delirium tremens. The house surgeon said that that they had no nurses in the hospital to take care of her in the state she was in. He wished the police to take care of her, as they had no special nurses or special wards for such cases. She was very violent, and disturbed the other patients. She was admitted suffering from a broken leg.. As soon as she was recovered from delirium tremens, she could be re-admitted to the hospital. She was remanded to Addington for eight days. False Pretences.—Thomas Poster was brought up on remand, charged with this offence. Thomas S.Lewis deposed that he resided at St Alban's ; about the sth or 6th of October last prisoner was at witness's house, and said that he lived at Armagh street east, and was in partnership with Mr White, the jeweller j on the faith of his statement witness let prisoner have a clock to repair, which was worth about £3. Subsequently prisoner said that the clock was with Mr McCallum, a jeweller ; saw part of the clock on Saturday last. Upon the prisoner's application the case was remanded until to-morrow, in order that prisoner might obtain the advice of a solicitor and send for witnesses. RAILWAY ASSESSMENT CASES. Monday, March 6. (Before G. L. Mellish, Esq, 8.M., and H; Pi Murray-Aynsley, Esq, and C. B. Blakis» ton, Esq, Assessors. The following cases for land taken on the Bacecourse and Southbridge Railway, and the Northern Line, were heard : THE CROWN V PEPPER. Mr Duncan appeared for the Crown. It appeared that 20 perches had been taken at Papanui for railway purposes on the Northern Line. Pepper was an absentee, and could not be found, and Mr C. Cuff had been appointed to value the land. He valued the land at £2O. The Court awarded the sum of £2O. THE CROWN V MCGREGOR. This was a similar case to the last, sections 18 and 19 being part of block S in the Lincoln township were taken. Mr Cuff valued section 19 at £l2, and section 18 at £lO. The Court awarded £22. THE CROWN V B. WARD. Another similar case, in which land had been taken in the Lincoln township, and for which the Court awarded £2O. THE CROWN V PARSONS. In this case the Court awarded £lO for land taken in the Lincoln township. THE CROWN V JAMES WYLDE. In this case land had been taken for railway purposes at Lincoln. Mr Wylde had been communicated with, and admitted service of the summons, but did not appear. The Court awarded £2O. THE CROWN V CHARLES FRANK PYNE. Mr Duncan for the Crown ; Mr G. Harper for claimant. The amount of land taken at Lincoln was 2a 3r 26p. An offer of £lO per acre had been made on the part of the Crown, which was declined by Mr Pyn°, who wanted £SO an acre, After hearing evidence as to the value of the land, and the enhancement or deterioration by the railway of theclaimant's property adjoining the land taken, the Court gave judgment for £29 2s 6d, being the amount of the Government offer, claimant to pay costs.