Untitled

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 1, Issue 48, 2 December 1867, Page 299

Dirty Wool. —A correspondent, whose letter appears in another column, says that the way to clean wool is to. drive the sheep two or three times through; a river or two previous to shearing—the sheep to be taken ordinary care of meanwhile. This.is a very simple method, and as no harm can result from an experiu ent, we trust: some of our sheep farmers will be induced to give it a trial, And acquaint: us with the success, or of this simple .mode of washing:;'sheep.l We trust to hear, when the is over, that, an infinitesimally amsdlquantity ofwbol has

Wairoa. —A correspondent, under date Nov. 28th, writes:—“The old subject of steam communication with Napier has again been broujht forward here. At a public meeting held at Clyde Hotel last evening, after a long discussion it was resolved that a committeebe formed to enter into tbe business at once. This was carried out, so that with the aid of the Napier merchants and other* interested, we may now look forward to having a steamer solely for this trade in a very short time. It is not thought generally that the Cleopatra is suitable for this trade, on account of her inability to carry live stock.”

Embezzlement. —On Monday last, his Honor Mr Justice Johnston sentenced Robert James Curtis to two years’ imprisonment, with hard labour —taking into consideration the favorable recommendation of the Crown Prosecutor.

Stuart v. Atkinson and Another. —This was a special jury case, the principal issue being the validity of a bill of sale from Thomas Atkinson to his brother William Atkinson, who had advanced the money by which the former had carried on business. The bill of sale was declared invalid, owing to its having been improperly registered, and the property was decided to have been vested in Thomas Atkinson at the time of Stuart's suit. Toogood and another v. Barlow. —This important case, the hearing of which has occupied two days, was to compel the fulfilment of a contract entered into by defendant for the purchase of a run at Waikokopu. A portion of the land was held under a form of lease from Ihaka Whanga, and the defendant, becoming doubtful about the title of what was to him the most important part of the run. refused to carry out his part of the agreement. It was stated on oath by the plaintiff that the whole circumstances of the so-called lease were made known to the defendant, but the latter states that they were withheld from him. His Honor summed up the evidence in an able man ner at 9 o’clock on Wednesday evening, and the jury retired, having 26 issues to decide upon. Privileges of the Press. —ln the Supreme Court, on Tuesday last, Mr Wood, whose name was called on the special jury, asked if he could not be exempted, as he was acting in the capacity of a reporter. His Honor replied, certainly not. Mr Wood said that on a former occasion a person belonging to his office had been exempted on a similar account. His Honor said that if he had been so good-natured once, it was no reason why he should be so again. People seemed to have very mistaken ideas as to the rights of any person who was a printer, when in reality they were no greater than those of any other person. It was for his own gain and benefit that that gentleman had come, and not on any public grounds. Mr Wood said he considered that in the capacity in which he had come he was acting for the benefit of the public, and it was on that ground that he asked for the privilege of exemption. His Honor asked who appointed Mr Wood to the public service. His occupation was a very useful and honorable one, but he was no more entitled to special privilege than any other persons who work for their living. He could not listen to such nonsense. As for the privilege, it was on the other side. The privilege was to serve on the jury, and not to be exempted. Unfortunate Jurymen. — The twelve privileged gentlemen who composed the special jury in the case of Toogood and another v. Barlow, and most of whom had also sat the previous day on the case of Stuart v. Atkinson, had rather a hard day’s work on Wednesday, sitting; from 10 a.m. till 9 p.m., listening to evidence of a most conflicting character in a very intricate, case, with less than three-quarters of an hour’s respite for food, they found it impossible to agree on two of the most important of the numerous issues" which they had to decide, and accordingly had to remain, with a very^scanty,,supply of food, till! 5: o’clock the next morning. - .One gehtleman, v unable' to withstand the fatigue, became seriously unwell during the night, and a doctor had -to. be sent for.; The vexed < question, as; will be seen by our report, remains in; statu quo . '■ /:" r- f' ' ’! ;■ -

An Absent Juryman. —Mr. J. Chambers, a resident in the country, against whom a fine of £5 was re-.. * corded on Wednesday, the 20th, for non-appearance oh the Grand Jury, appeared on Wednesday, the 27th, and as . he gave a satisfactory reason for his absence, the fine, was remitted.

Sir George Grey. -—A correspondent writes:—“ls Sir George Grey going to pay a visit to Napier before he leaves for England ? If not (or, in fact, in either case) would it not be desirable, to hold a public meeting, and draw up au address to his Excellency, expressive of our regret at his recall, &c.” Our correspondent’s idea is a good one, and wo trust that those in “high places” will see into the matter. We entertain a hope that Sir George Grey will pay the people of Hawke’s Bey a farewell Visit.

Movements of the Governor. —His Excellency the Governor embarked on board the Government steamer Sturt at noon on Friday, and sailed for Kawau by way of the East Coast. According to Ins Excellency’s expressed wish, no ceremony was observed on the occasion, but a large concourse assembled-on the Queen’s wharf, and greeted him with three as he went on board.

Punch's Almanac. —We have to acknowledge the receipt of the Melbourne Punch’s Almanac for 1808. It is printed on good paper, and neither in the artistic merit of its sketches, the humor of its conteuts, or the excellence of its printing, does it appear to be behind its great London prototype. It is illustrated by T. Carrington, and bears the imprint of Mason, Firth, & Co., Flinders Lane, Melbourne.

Maintenance of Debtors. —The amount of money to be paid by detaining creditors towards the maintenance of debtors in custody, will now be 12a a week'; instead of 5s as hitherto. The new aej, which came into force on the Ist December, is silent as to whether this will apply to debtors taken to prison before that date.