RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT, LYTTELTON.

Lyttelton Times, Volume II, Issue 75, 12 June 1852, Page 5

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT, LYTTELTON.

June 2nd, 1852. (Before the Resident Magistrate.) Chapman v. Denne. —Thomas Planter Denne was brought up under a warrant, charged with assaulting William Chapman, and with being intoxicated. Mr. Dampier appeared for defendant. W. Chapman sworn—l am satisfied with an apology, and do not wish to prosecute. On Monday evening, Denne called at my house, and asked for me ; I went down with a carpenter to Derme —he threatened me, and was to the best of my knowledge intoxicated—he struck me more than once—the Carpenter tried to pull him off. There had been a difference between us, for I suspected him of having let a pig of mine loose from the sty —there was no further provocation. By Mr.. Dampier—What I have stated occurred close to Denne's own door; I told a man that I thought Denne was mean enough to let my pig loose. (A. paper was here produced, which Mr. Chapman stated had been left on the sty, inscribed as follows : " I let out your d—d pig, T. P. Denne—you go to blazes.") Mr. Jagoe and Mr. M'Can having given evidence that they did not see Denne at all drunk on that day, the complaint was dismissed. June 3. Pearson v. Coad. —Defendant was fined ss. for drunkenness and abusing complainant, and ordered to find sureties to be of good behaviour towards Mrs. Pearson for 12 calendar months, in two sums of £5 each, with hi& own recognizance in £10. All costs to be paid by him. W. Jones was fined ss. for • being drunk in the middle of the day. June 8. Taylor v. Strickland. —R. Taylor sworn—On Sunday last, Mrs. Strickland said to me " the next time you send my boy away I'll break your head." I remonstrated, and said I would tell her husband; she then said she would break my d—d legs ; I was on my way to church. A boy of Mrs. Strickland's had been dabbling with the water about the house I am building—l said to the child •' come, sir, you go home." I have given no further provocation. I have complained of the child to Mrs. Strickland, and she has called me a liar. Mrs. Strickland, in defence, stated—l saw my child at a distance from Mr. Taylor's playing ; Mr. Taylor ordered him away—this nettled me, and when Mr. Taylor passed to church I threatened to break his head if he again ordered my child away. Taylor having sworn that he believed himself in danger from Mrs. Strickland, the defendant was ordered to find two sureties in £5 each, to keep the peace for 12 calendar months, and to pay the costs.

CHRISTCHURCH, June 9th. (From a Correspondent.) The Rev. Mr. Hogg has terminated his sojourn amongst us—he has visited many parts of the Plains—taking a humble " shake down" here and there, when too far off to reach his Hotel, with as much cheerfulness as a seasoned Bushman—he speaks very highly of Mr. Fletcher's exertions and success in improving the mental condition of the Maoris at Xaiapoi. 1 The interment of the Maori chief Tekao has just taken place; the natives from the various " Pahs" assembled and travelled in a body through here to Kaiapoi, in number between 70 and 80, to be present upon the occasion: Tekao was a magistrate at Pigeon Bay; his successor to this office is likely to be the chief Na Pita. ■ The remains of the unfortunate man Cone who was killed on the Bridle Path, were deposited in the cemetery here on Monday afternoon. He had been a quiet good humoured man, and having been much respected, his body was followed to the grave by many who had known him. We have had a sharp attack of winter weather this week ; water has been frozen during the night to the thickness of half an inch ; what with frost and rain, the roads have became very heavy for draft, especially those newly finished. The sharp frosts we have had .every night, (except Friday last), aiyl the passing bursters, have made the good folks here think rather seriously about making provision for the

winter. Mr. P. who has come down from Mr Stoddart's station this morning, says that on Saturday night last they had a heavy fall of snow there, which kept on the ground during the greatest part of next day. A Wild Cat.—On Sunday afternoon as Mr. Thomas Shand was walking along the Christchurch Plains, accompanied by his famous otter terrier, about four miles to the north west of Mr. Beard's residence, he crossed the trail of what he supposed to be a Wi|d Pig, and with scent breast high, he came upou Master Puss, at the foot of the Sand Hills, and after a gallant burst of fully two miles he was brought to bay, when a most furious encounter took place, but the thorough game of the: terrier enabled him to vanquish his opponent after a struggle of fully half an hour. The immense size of the cat, which to all appearance, reserar bled a small tiger, induced Mr. T. Shand to carry him home, when he weighed and measured the beast, and found him to be eight pounds, and three feet long from nose to the end of his brush, standing 14 inches high, his color was very dark grey, with black stripes across his back, and round his legs.