RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume I, Issue 7, 15 August 1861, Page 3

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Friday, August 9. Charles O'Brien and Thomas Me.Uugh were charged with the following offence. The prisoners, who were fencers, had agreed to supply Mr. John Marshall with 1,000

posts, he providing them, whilst they were splitting, with provisions, and giving them the use of a pack horse. They had provisions to the value of <£9l; and in the course Qf last month informed Marshall that his timber was all cut, but that in a fresh it had all been carried away on to Maori land, and the natives refused to give it up without payment, and they asked him for <£lo to redeem 1,000 posts, 300 of which were to be sold to raise funds to redeem more, and the residue were to be taken to Mr. Marshall’s farm. Marshall paid the £IU, went to the native pah, and was shewn ths posts, and delivery was then given to him. Some days afterwards, he heard that they had sold the posts to Mr. Chapman, and had set off overland for the diggings. A policeman was sent after them with a warrant, and they were captured and brought back. Mr. J. Marshall having proved the foregoing facts, Mr. Allen, who appeared for the prosecution, applied for and obtained a remand till Monday, for further evidence. On Monday, Mr. Allen informed the Resident Magistrate that, having examined the other witnesses, he did not feel in a position to press for a committal, and after being severely cautioned by Captain Curling, the prisoners were discharged. Native Offence.

Mr. E. N. Smith, of Te Haukawai, applied to the Resident Magistrate, on Saturday last, for a warrant against certain natives who had broken into his house, and earned off a gun, powder, telescope, and other articles, as compensation for the death of dogs said to have been poisoned by him. Mr. Smith had inserted a notice in the paper cautioning people that he had laid down poison on his run to protect his sheep, and the natives’ dogs had eaten it and died. Captain Curling had the particulars taken, that he might write to the chief of the tribe on the subject.