MAGISTERIAL.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2257, 23 May 1881, Page 3

MAGISTERIAL.

OirKISTOHUKOH. Monday, May 23. [Before J. Ollivior find R. Weatenra,

Esq., J.P.’s.] DrT7NKENN3BS- —Eor this offence, Thomas Jackson, James Standeven, and Thos. Peart, wore fined 10a each ; Thou. Lambert, Albert Harris, Eliz Price, andH. Humber, were each fined 5s ; Jameo McLean, alias Bell, was dismissed with a caution ; M. A. Needham, who had been sent to Lyttelton Gaol for a short term, to be treated for lunacy from drink, was now brought up recovered, and dismissed with a severe caution.

Bkmandhd. George Thomas Hulston, charged with larceny as a bailee of a horse, dray and harness, valued at £35, the property of Fred. Horsman, and Hugh Donolly, charged with stealing £ls from George Thos. Hulston, were remanded till Friday next. Thbowing High in PuuLic-noirsßS. —J. O. Sheppard, licensee of the White Hart Hotel, was charged with having allowed the throwing of dice for money. Mr Thomas appeared for defendant. David Scott deposed that, on May 7th, ho and two companions, Bon Hirst and Thomas Knibbs—the latter of whom hos since boon committed for trial for highway robbery from Hirst, and in the hearing of whose case the police became aware of the present offence —wore in the bar of the White Hart Hotel. They got the dice from tho bar-maid, and threw eeveral times for half-crowns, the winner of each pool to shout. Oroso-examined —The barmaid did not know that tho parties proposed to play for money. When Mr Sheppard saw them playing he immediately stopped the game. Bonj. Hirst gave similar evidence. J. O. Sheppard stated that the gambling was commenced without his knowledge. He would not on any account allow gambling in his house. Tho Bench said they bad no doubt that the gambling had boon stopped immediately the licensee found it was going on. The ease would bo dismissed, but Mr Sheppard was recommended to get rid of the dice altogether, lest at some future time they should cost him a deal of money. M. B. Smith appeared to answer a similar charge. Mr McOonnel appeared for defendant. The parties concerned in the previous case were those involved in tho present one,and the evidence was nearly the same. The Bench said that there was no evidence to show that the licensee knew what was going on. The case was dismissed.

Stealing veom a Dwelling. Hugh Lindsay pleaded guilty to having stolen a watch, valued at 30s, from the house of Edwin Davis, whore ho had been on a visit. The police stated that prisoner was unknown to them. He was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment with hard labor. Miscellaneous. —o. Dunn, for allowing a chimney to take fire, was fined 10s and costs. For having horses wandering at largo, E. W. Millet and W. H. Miller wore each mulcted 5s and costs. A esse against Thomas Osborne for burning rubbish on his premises was cautioned and dismissed. Alfred Mell'sh, for leaving a vehicle unattended, was fined 10s. Geo Moo, for a like offence, was fined 10s. Job Horroll, for tethering a cow on a thoroughfare, was fined 20s, and Abraham Gregg, for driving over a railway crossing while a train was approaching, was fined 50s, Trespass with Dog and Gun.—Jules Seelies was charged with trespassing in pursuit of rabbits on the leasehold property of F. and H. Gwatkins on an island in the Waimakari, known as Coup's Island, on the 9th' of May last. Mr J. S.'Williams appeared for the prosecution, Mr Spackman for defendant. Tho taking of the rabbits was admitted, defendant making, his living in that manner. He, however, paid a royalty for permission to shoot over the land to a Mr Floshburr, who he understood was the lessee of tho run. Another person claimed the land, and instituted the present action. The land referred to is situated in tho river Waimakariri, and has been so dealt with by the action of river and the various Government surveys, that very long examinations of many years’ residents now failed to show in whom the title is vested. Mr Spaokman raised tho objection that the information being laid under tho Protection to Animals Act, which says that tho trespasser must be in the pursuit of game, and as it was admitted that defendant had been taking rabbits, which ore not protected by the Act, the case must fail. The Bench thought a great deal of matter had been imported into this cose which did not belong to it. The time of the Court had been taken up for a long time discussing the intricacies of a title that could scarcely affect tho case, and which had not been made any clearer. The defendant appeared to have been acting in good faith. The trespass—if there were any trespass—had been done unwittingly. The case was dismissed. Another case of tho same kind was abandoned.

LAHKlElNiair. —lsaac Oooksley, a stout boy, aged sixteen or seventeen, pleaded guilty to having maltreated a Chinaman, named Wong Sun, at Wcolston, on May 17th. Mr Stringer appeared for plaintiff. Plaintiff, in answer to the Bench, stated that defendant, without provocation, throw stones at him, pulled him down to the ground and beat him. Defendant, his brother and his companions made a practice of annoying Chinamen. A bystander gave corroborative evidence. His Worship pointed out to defendant the cowardly nature of this assault, and of his general behavionr to Chinamen, simply because they were Chinamen. He meant to mark the opinion of defendant’s conduct in a signal manner. Ho would be fined £5, to be paid in twenty-four hours, or in default one month’s imprisonment with hard labor ; costs of Court and solicitor’s foe was also allowed. | Left sitting.]