Local Intelligence.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VII, Issue 467, 25 April 1857, Page 6

Local Intelligence.

The events of the few past days have been few, though perhaps interesting, and have been concentrated in Lyttelton, where the Supreme Court has rested, on one of its 'Angel's visits' to our province.

The first exercise of the power of the law should undoubtedly be in upholding its own majesty, and it is, of course, for this reason that two cases of larceny have been punished at these assizes with three months' imprisonment, and felonious assault by a notorious ruffian with twelve months, while escape andresistance. to the

police, on the part of a man whose original offence was drunkenness, have met with a similar penalty of two years' duration. After the distinction drawn by the ■ charge of the Chief Justice between offences that more or less affect the moral character, the public must look upon -any one of the above sentences not so much as a punishment to the offender, but as a warning and example to the public. Our old acquaintance Ronnage has been found less guilty than < was expected. A sentimental jury having ignored the greatest part of his crime, much to the astonishment of court and" prisoner. If he behaves himself, he will only give the labour of his hands without recompence for a twelve-month to the province. On Thursday morning, several new Justices of the Peace for the province were sworn in before the Judge. This puts in an effective state the last commission issued by the Governor for this province. If Shakespeare is correct as to the ordinary diet of Justices, capons will be henceforth at a premium in Canterbury. The Zingari, on Thursday afternoon, took away Chief Justice Stephen, and an unusually large number of passengers. Amongst them were, on one hand, the Bishop of Christchurch, the Rev. James Wilson, and Mr. Tancred, members for Canterbury of the new Church Convention soon to meet at Auckland; and, on the other hand, a short score of 'diggers' bound for Nelson. These latter, we must think, are running a great risk, considering the time of year, and the great uncertainty which attaches to all reports of gold. Unfavourable accounts are daily becoming more loudly heard. We hear of some late arrivals in our province overland from "-the diggings, who give a most depressing narrative of the state of things. There are, as we said before, private letters from the spot, giving all shades of opinion. There has been a reward offered by the Council for the discovery of an available .gold-fieldin this province. If gold exists, it will be found without a reward ; if not, it will not be found by the offer, which willthen be doing no small injury. Whether it exists or not, the case is one in which one is quite justified in being incredulous, until the discovery is actually made, as we are. . :

We have a credible report from the Waitangi of a late discovery ,of a number of sheep at large, on a portion q£ the .-^Mackenzie, plain; evidently belonging, to the flock driven off by Mackenzie, from the Messrs. Rhodes, about two years ago. This will no doubt lead to further discoveries.