MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 890, 2 May 1877, Page 3

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Wednesday, Mat 2. (Before Gf. L. Mellish, Esq., R.M.) Drunk and Disorderly. —An inebriate, who appeared for the first time, was fined ss. John Cunningham, who had been before the Bench eight times during the present year, was sentenced to fourteen days’ imprisonment with hard labor, and cautioned that if he appeared before the Bench again he would receive a long sentence. Wm. Havey was fined 20s, and Thomas Grcinger 10s. Illegally onPremises. —William Phillips, charged with being found illegally in the stables adjoining the Criterion at two o’clock in the morning, was sentenced to twenty-four hours’ imprisonment with hard labor. Wife Desertion. —The adjourned case against David Mitten was called on. At the request of complainant —who said they had made it up —his Worship allowed the case to be withdrawn. Stealing rnorvi a Shop. —Mary Fitzgerald was charged with stealing a leg of mutton from the shop of Messrs Langdon and Judge, Colombo street. Constable Wallace, when passing the shop at leu minutes past five the previous afternoon, observed accused inside, looking round in a very suspicious manner. There was no one in the shop besides herself. The wit ness went along a short distance, and when accused came out, immediately afterwards, ho observed she carried something under her arm. In reply to him she said she had nothing there, and, having lifted up her shawl, he saw she had a leg of mutton. Accused was partly under the influence of drink at the time, and begged to be let off, and her husband would pay for it. Mr Judge identified the leg of mutton produced as one cut but a very short time previous to bein'' stolen. He was in the office at the time it was taken, and was certain the mutton had not been sold ; he valued the leg at 2s. In rcplv to the Bench, accused said she was under the influence of drink, and did not know what she was doing. If let off she would take the pledge for life. Accused had been previously convicted of drunkenness, and his Worship sentenced her to seven days’ imprisonment with hard labour. Child Desertion. —Emmanuel Trcnwith was charged on summons with having deserted his child, and leaving him without reasonable means of support. Mr J. Tetley, called, stated that defendant had asked him a week ago to take charge of his boy for a few hours. Ho did not return at the time promised, anti witness saw him a day or two afterwards, when he again promised to come for the lad, but did not do so. In reply to his Worship, defendant said he was an accountant and collector, and would make provision for the boy. Sergeant Hughes, called by the Bench, stated that defendant had been drinking about the town for nearly a month, and the child bad been very much neglected during that time. Defendant told his Worship lie had placed the boy in charge of a woman, who bad neglected him. The child was eight years of age. His Worship ordered the boy to be sent to the Industrial School for seven years, to be brought up in llieteachingof the Church of England, and told defendant he would have to pay for the maintenance of his son.

Protection Order. —Mrs Agnes Fox applied for an order protecting her earnings against her husband, C. I’. Fox. Complainant stated that her husband had been drinking for some little l ime past, and bad lived at a hotel during (bat t ime. She bad not resided wilb him for five weeks. Had beard that be bad gone (o Oamaru. His Worship suggested that an information should be laid for desertion, and allowed the application to be withdrawn.

Tn .-: Ministry. —The New Zealand Times states that all the members of the Ministry will assemble in Wellington during the next month, when full Cabinet meetings will be held to further consider the measures to be submitted next session.