RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Grey River Argus, Volume VIII, Issue 526, 1 June 1869, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Monday, May 81. (Before W. H. Revell, Esq.,R.M.> Drunk and Assaulting the Police. — Francis M'Keauney was charged with being drunk and disorderly, and fined 10s., or twenty-four hours' imprisonment. He was charged with assaulting and resisting the constable who apprehended him. It was proved that he struck Constable Moeller on the chest, kicked, bit" and scratched him, and otherwise behaved, according to the constable, like a wild beast. For this offence he was sentenced to one week's imprisonment with hard labor. He was also charged with the wiU ful destruction of the constable's uniform, valued at 155., and was ordered to pay that amount, on suffer an additional three days' imprisonment. Charge of Stealing a Boat.— John Dickson was charged, on the information of Samuel Croft, with stealing a boat, the property of John Bradley, from the Omotumotu Creek bridge, on the 27th May. The informant stated that the bqat was left tied to the bridge about 12 o'clock and was taken away about 1. In the evening, from information received frpm a survey party, he found the boat about 5 o'cloc'c the same evening, half-a-mile further up the creek, tied to a bush. He did not see the prisoner take the boat, but received information which induced him to take out a warrant for the prisoner's apprehension. He did not wish t"o press the charge. The boat had been so frequently taken away, that he wished to make an example. He did not believe the prisoner had any.felonious intent. A remand was asked, for the production of a witness who saw the prisoner take the boat. The prisoner admitted that he took unwarrantable liberties with the boat, but he had no intention of stealing it. He meant to bring it back, but had to return another way.— The Magistrate j said that from the nature of the case, and the statement of the prosecutor, there did not appear to be any felonious intent, aud the charge was dismissed. Obstructing a Thoroughfare. — Williams and party were charged with obstructing the thoroughfare in High street. The fact was that they had rebuilt the dam which they were previously ordered by the Court to remove. The defence was that the obstruction was not a fence under the meaning of the Act. Mr Wylde and the Town Surveyor were called to prove that it was a fence, and Messrs Cooper and Sale to prove that it was not a fence but " a big dam." The defendants were fined 10s and costs. — On another charge against them of a similar nature they were fined Is and costs, and two additional informations were withdrawn by Mr Perkins. MIDNIGHT BRAWLS. The Magistrate said : Before adjourning this Court, I cannot allow one matter to pass without comment — I refer to some midnight orgies and disturbances which have taken place in town on one or two occasionslately, whereby valuable property has been destroyed by persons who ougjit to have known better, and who occupy a position far better than the majority of the men who are brought before this Court for being drunk and disorderly. The men who occupy, perhaps, a lowep position are brought before me, but those who occupy a better position in society are allowed to go free. I cannot sit here and allow such a state of things to be. overlooked. There is blame attachable to some parties in connection with it. The police were not ignorant of these doings. j The public-houses in which they have oc- / curred have been open without lawful permission, and the police could not very well be ignorant of it. Either they have neglected their duty, or they have not been aware of it. Such things are a disgrace to the community, a disgrace to the police, a disgrace to the Bench, setting the law at defiance, and making it of no effect, and creating one law for the rich, and another for the poor. As long as I sit here I shall not allow such a state of things to exist. If no notice is taken of these things by the police in future, and they are allowed to pass, I will make an investigation into the matter myself, and if the persons to whom I refer are bronght before me, they need not imagine that they will get off with a light fine, for I will inflict a term of imprisonment. I speak feelingly with regard to this matter, but I am only discharging my duty in saying what I have done. Mr Sub-Inspector James : The police have made every inquiry The Magistrate : I cannot hear any remarks from you now. I can hear these things talked about all over the -town. I don't wish steps to be taken with regard to what is past ; but the scenes and disturbances which have taken place lately have been the talk of the whole town. Mr Sub-Inspector James : Only one report has been made to the police on such a subject, and that was nearly three years ago.