MACRAES.—Oct. 12.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 397, 20 October 1876, Page 3

MACRAES. —Oct. 12.

Resident Magistrate's Court. (Before H. W. Robinson, Esq., R.M.) George Cockerell v. Deem.—Claim for £5. For damage sustained by reason of defendant harassing his flock of ewes and lambs with a dog upon his (plaintiff's) agricultural lease area. Plaintiff brought evidence to show that, on the afternoon of September 5, there being snow on the ground, his son had gone, by his orders, to feed and fold the ewe flock by the oatstacks. Afterwards defendant and another person had been seen with a dog, going in the direction of the agricultural area held by plaintiff, which adjoins the land claimed by defendant. He (plaintiff) had from a distance recognised the defendant upon the land, but had not seen the other man, or the dog. Next day five lambs were found dead near the centre of the ground, some distance from the stacks. This was all the evidence for plaintiff. Defendant and his companions positively denied having hunted the sheep, or allowed the dog to do so. Case dismissed, with 18s. expenses of defendant, and 5s for one witness. Vagrancy—Catherine Bazley and Ellen Collins appeared to answer the charge of having no lawful visible means of support. The police called evidence to show that the women were not leading a good life, but, as both were able to prove that they had some honest means of livelihood, they were discharged with a caution. Breach of Licensing Ordinance. —William Campbell, of Waihemo Hotel, appeared to answer an information, charging him with allowing music and dancing in his licensed house. It was explained that the defendant had erred through ignorance having only just taken the house, and, being new to the business; and, as the police did not press the case, he was discharged with a caution. W. E. Griffen v. Frank Payne.—Claim for £30 6s. This was a demand for goods supplied to the defendant and another person, who had been his mate. Defendant was willing to pay a sum of about £13, which he estimated as his share of the liability. His mate had left the Province. The Court struck out some items

for clothing supplied to the mate, and also an amount of £4 odd charged as interest, and gave judgment for £24 0s. 6d., and £2 7s. 6d. costs, to be paid by instalments extending over a period of nine months. Judgment Summons. Griffen v. Christensen.—Defendant did not appear. He was ordered to pay £18 6s. 7d., and 21s. costs forthwith or, failing payment, to be imprisoned for one month in the public prison, Naseby. Attempted Suicide.—Emma Gay Tan was brought up, on a charge of attempting to cut her throat with a meatchopper, but, as it appeared that she had not hurt herself, and there was great doubt whether she intended to do so, she was discharged with a caution —her husband undertaking to remove her from Macraes. Warden's Court. (Befoxe H. W. Robinson, Esq., Warden.) Grants. M'Pherson and others, extended claim and water race; W. E. Griffen, protection.