Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1870.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 16, Issue 903, 28 December 1870, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1870.

Colonial Prize Firing.-—Tq inqr row the different company representatives will compete for the selection of men to represent this Province at the Colonial, prize firing. We trust the weather may prove favorable, and that the result will show Hawke's Bay competent to send her full complement to Auckland. Pleasure Trip.—By advertisement we abserye that a pleasure trip round the Bay in the s s. Rangatira is to take place on Monday next, 2nd January.—The Bangatira will proceed to Wellington the same night, English Mail.—The Hawke's Bay portion of the above, via Suez, may be looked for by the Rangatira on Saturday next. Independent Order of Rechabites. —¥e understand that a picnic in connection with the above order is in contemplation for Monday next, 2nd January. Fatal Accident.—We are informed that a man named John M'Carty fell off Cobb'* coach yesterday, near Te Aute, while drunk, and was killed. Further particulars are not yefc to Jiand. The Hawke's Bay Almanac for 1871.—We have to acknowledge the receipt from the publisher of a copy of this little annual. We notice considerable improvement in this issue, complete and useful as we have always found it to be ; it is now a perfect vade mecum either for the office of the merchant or the use of the private family, containing as it does a large fund o£ information, both local and general. A large proportion of the almanac is oc pupied with etrictly provincial matters, relating to the port and harbor, a very full provincial directory is also gnen, and of general matters it contains much that is necessary to be known concerning the Post and Telegraph departments,, stamp duties, administration of justice, &c. It also in.cju.des a handy diary, wjiicji alone, will recomeiul it to many.

Resident Magistrate's Court.— Thii> morning a single case of drunkenness appeared on the charge sheet. The individual not appearing, his bail (£1) was forfeited. James Macdonald and Frederick Taylor were charged with having stolen a cheque from Michael Featherston. The case was heard before S. Locke, E?q., J.P. From the evidence it appeared that the prosecutor, a laborer, living at Te Ap?.ti, arrived in town on Christmas eve with a cheque for £ls, He made some purchases at Newton, Irvine and Co.'s and received among other change a cheque for .£6, which he put in his pocket, book. He. stayed that evening and next day.at Mr Trask's Crown Hotel, where he met the prisoners. About 11 p.m. on Sunday he was asleep on a chair in one of the rooms, the iwp prisoners and Mr Trask being the only others present, Mr Trask was called from the room, and on returning, a few minutes after, saw MacDonald apparently feeling Featherston's pocket?, while. Taylor looked on. Mr Trask called out, " What are you doing?" when Macdonald seemed startled, and said he was trying to awoken the prosecutor. Mr Trask then turned the two men out, and closed hjs house. Prosecutor, who was somewhat intoxicated and rather confused, went to bed. Next morning he complained that the pocket book with the cheque had been stolen, as well as a pocket-handkerchief. Information was given to the police, and it was found that the prisoners had called in at Mr Steed's hotel between 11 and 12 o'clock, and one of them had taken a £Q cheque out of a pocket-book and asked him to cash it, which he declined to dp. It was also found that Macdonald had cashed it at Swan's just before midnight, and had divided the proceeds with his companion Taylor. They were arrested about noon on Monday,' at the Napier Hotel, when two £1 notes and the pocket-handkerchief were found upon Macdonald. Taylor had 10s in his possession. Macdonakl said to constable Rice, who took them in charge, " I suppose we shall get six months, Mr Scully?" On the way to prison he attempted to throw away the two £1 notes. The piisoners declined to say anything in defence, and were corn in i tied to take their trial a l- - the next criminal sitting of the Supreme Court.