News of the Day.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 7, Issue 381, 31 May 1866, Page 3

News of the Day.

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT. Monday, 28th May. (Before J. Curling, Esq., R.M., and G. S. Cooper, Esq., R.M.) DRUNKENNESS. George Sinclair was fined 5s for drunkenness. XiAECENY. Enoka, a native, was charged by Mr T. Reynolds, Havelock, with stealing two blankets, and breaking three panes of glass, value 75., at tho Exchange HoteL Mr G. S. Cooper acted as interpreter. Thomas Reynolds (who was not sworn) said that on Saturday the prisoner, in company with another native, called at his hotel, and asked for a. bottle of rum, which he refused to supply to them. The other native then went away, and tho prisoner became violent. He was ejected from the bar, and went to the back of the house, where he broke three panes of glass. In the morning, he (prosecutor) missed two blue blankets, and at once suspected that the prisoner had stolen them. He, therefore, sent a policeman to the pa, who found the blankets in the possession of the prisoner, who was then apprehended* and conveyed to Napier. Enoka, in his defence, said that he and another native, named Paul, were on their way to Napier to see the Superintendent, but on arriving at Havelock they found they would not bo able to arrive in Napier in time to see him, and decided on remaining at Havelock all night. They went into Reynolds’s public-house and had a glass of grog each, and afterwards some more. He (prisoner) then asked for a bottle of rum, which was refused him ; so he asked a pakeha to buy it, and he would pay him. This being also refused, and he being half drunk, he raised a disturbance, when Mr Reynolds took a piece of board and laid his head open with it. Ho was then turned out into the street. The blow had nearly taken away his senses, and he went to the back of the honse to show Mr Reynolds that his head was bleeding, profusely. He made a noise at the door, but no one came, and he then broke the windows. Several men eame at once, took him into a backyard, and fastened him by the leg to a post with a chain and padlock. He asked the cook for a bucket of water and a towel to wash his head, and the cook brought him a bucket of water and threw it all over him, at the same time bringing him a towel. This he tied round his heack-to staunch the blood, and be remained there some time, drenched to the skin, and shivering in tho cold night air. He afterwards escaped by taking off his boot, and slipping his foot through the chain. He saw two blankets in a shed behind the house, and wrapped them round him to obtain some warmth. He found his horse where he had left, it, and at once rode to the pa, where he told the Maoris what had happened, and charged one of them to taka tho blankets to Mr Reynolds, as they were his, and he (prisoner) was going to

Hapier. The native did not do so, and a policeman shortly after came and apprehended him for the theft. He showed the policeman the blankets, and told him they were Mr Eeynolds’s. The policeman said he would take him to Mr Reynolds to talk about it, but instead brought him to Ivapier. That was all he had to say. Upon being asked, Mr Beynolds admitted that he had “just touched” the prisoner with the board, and also that he had fastened him up in the yard. He had water and a towel given him to wash the blood off his head with, tut no water was thrown over him. Upon going at II p.m. to release the prisoner, he found he had made his escape. The man was well known, and was a great nuisance to him—always hanging about his public-house. The policeman (who was not ewom) who apprehended the prisoner, said that he first denied having the blankets in his possession, and afterwards showed him where they were. The prisoner was then fined £1 for stealing the blankets, and 7s damages for breaking the glass. Fine paid. Tuesday, 29th May. EUEIOUS BIDING. James Hague and James Lopdell were charged with furious riding in Shakspeare-road on the 19th. Fined 5s each. Wednesday, 30th May. DEUNEENNESS. William Kelly was charged with being drunk and disorderly at a land sale on the 29th instant. Fined 10s.