Resident Magistrate's Court.

Hawke's Bay Times, Issue 1523, 7 November 1873, Page 6

Resident Magistrate's Court.

WEDNESDAY, sth NOVEMBER... Before H. B. Sealy, Esq., B.M. Stowaways. George Jackson and H. Price, were charged by Captain Lloyd with having stowed themselves away on hoard the s.s. Rangatira on the occasion of her last passage from Wellington to Napier. The defendants in each case pleaded drunkenness, stating that the act was quite involuntary on their part, as they had no intention of quitting Wellington. The Resident Magistrate could not admit the plea, and fined them £1 each, in addition to the passage fee of £2, with the alternative of a fortnight's imprisenmeut in default. Drunkenness. One offender was fined five shillings.

THURSDAY, Cth NOVEMBER, Before S. Locke, Esq., R.M. Larceny.

Hapimana, a native, was charged on the information of Henry Brown, with stealing a courier bag, of the value of £l, with its contents, on the 6th instant. Mr J. P. Hamlin was sworn as interpreter,

The prisoner, on the information being read to him, said, " It is quite correct, I carried it away." The arresting constable, in answer to the Bench, said that the prisoner, when taken in charge, was under the influence of liquor. He gave up the goods without any trouble. James Johnson, landlord of the Ferry Hotel, sworn, deposed: Brown, yesterday was in my bar, and left his hat and the bag on the counter. The prisoner afterwards came in and called for ,-ome drink, and kicked up a row because it was ri fused him. He was allowed to have a glass or two to quiet him. after which he went away. He came again, and paid for the driuk, and made a disturbance because he was refused more. He thrust his elbow through one of the windows. Soon after, as we were sitting at tea, I saw the Maori going away, with the bag on his shoulder. He was just mounting his horse, and Brown went out and stopped him. He was a little the worse for liquor. The bag, when stolen, was in my charge. Henry Brown, sworn, deposed : The bag belouged to Mr Bold, and was full of papers ; it contained vouchers to the extent of two or three hundred pounds. It was locked, Mr Inspector Scully, in reply to the bench, said that the hag was originally worth 86s. f but was not now worth more than 10s.

Prisoner, being called upon for his defence, said : Toha and I crossed the ferry, and had a glass at the public-house. Toha went out and mounted his horse, leaviug nie inside. The bag lay on the counter, and the weman of tie house pushed it to mc. Thinking it was Toh.;'s, I took it. When I overtook him, I asked if it was his, and he replied that it was m.t I was just taking it back when Brown tame and said I had i-tolen it I saiil I was in. the act of bringing it back. Brown spoke angrily, and gave me a push, knocking me down. I made an angry reply, and he pushed me down again. The police then took me.

Toha Eahurahu, sworn, deposed : I am a Wairoa .native. Yesterday I left the Spit in company with Hapimana. 'J£o was very drunk anc I had to assist him to mount. He had two glasses more on the other side of the ferry. I waited some time for him, and called him to come on; he was then rolling about. I went on without him, and met Brown and another pakeha. That is all I know of it.

By the Bench : Hapimana dit not follow me. I have not seen him from the time I left him till I saw him in Court this morning. I went back to look for him, and saw his horse. I asked a boy where he was, and he told me he was tpken in charge. I aßked what for, and the broken window was shown to me. Hapimana vas very runk.

Mr Locke said he wished the native had been brought up at the time ou the charge of drunkenness, which would have prevented the commission of thefmore serious offence. Something must be done without delay to atop the practice of Maoris drinking about the town. He knew the prisoner well; he was a native of good character, but given to drink. He must le fined £2, being four times the value of the article stolen, in addition to the costs of Court, Cs 6d, in default of payment, a fortnight's imprisonment with hard labor. The fine was paid.