LOCAL NEWS.

Marlborough Press, Volume I, Issue 31, 4 August 1860, Page 2

LOCAL NEWS.

Tiie New Commission of Peace.— New Zealand Government Gazette, of July 7th, contains a new Commission of the Peace, by which we perceive that the authority of all magistrates is now made to extend over the whole colony, instead of as before, limiting their jurisdiction to a particular province. The only new name on the commission for Nelson is that of his Honour the Superintendent; but for the Province of Marlborough arc Mr. Downes, of Picton, and Mr. Goulter and Mr. J. Ward, of Wairau. The name of Mr. A Saunders has been omitted from the commission, in explanation of which the following lettter from the Attorney-General is given : To Mr. Alfred Saunders, Nelson. Sir—Your having been convicted in the Supreme Court at Nelson, and sentenced to fine and imprisonment for a libel on the District Judge there, has rendered itncccssary that you should be removed from the Commission of the Peace ; and I have to inform you that your name is omitted accordingly from the new Commission now about to be issued. In order to avoid any misconception on the subject, it is proper that I should add that the propriety of this course is not affected by the pardon which has been extended to you, as the remission of a portion of the sentence of imprisonment was granted on the ground that as your case was the first in which a conviction for libel had taken place, the law had been sufficiently vindicated by the punishment you had already undergone ; and it was not intended, by the course adopted, to express or imply any disapproval of the sentence which his Honour the Judge of the Supreme Court had thought it his duty to pass. I have, &e., Fredic. Whitaker. Attorney-General's Office, Auckland, sth June, 18G0. — Examiner. Revising Court. —This Court was held at the Court House, Blenheim, on Thursday, the 26th ultimo, and the business concluded on the following day; F. Bowden, j Esq., Revising Officer. There was a considerable attendance at the Court on the occasion. From the old Roll (which contained 164 names) 31 were expunged, namely, 8 for having made new claims, 1 dead, 5 gone away, and 17 on objections to qualifications; one claim for property at the Beaver and at Waitohi, had the latter portion struck off’, of the name remaining on the roll in respect of the former portion. The number of new claims was 210, of which 25 were expunged, 24 on objections to qualifications, and one as being a duplicate claim; 5 qualifications were expunged, the claimants still remaining on the roll in respect of other property. The number struck off the old roll, aud expunged from the new claims was 55 ; leaving 319 names for the new Electoral Roll. Notices of appeal were given in three cases, namely, Henry Harris and Samuel Saxon, on the definition of the word “ Householder,” and Jolm Barlcyman, on the form of notice of objection.—Costs were given against the Objector in the cases of Fabin and Ncavc. The Weather. —Last Friday week, we were visited with snow and hail storms, which covered the ground and house tops, and presented a novel sight to those who have been here some time. The snow remained on the ground the greater part of the following day, and may yet be seen in patches on low hills' adjoining the plain, whilst the high hills at the back appear to be covered. For the last three weeks we have had sharp frosts in the nights and mornings.