LOCAL NEWS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 20, 27 March 1866, Page 2

LOCAL NEWS.

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT. This Day. [Before J. Poyxter, Esq., It. M.J DRUNKARDS. Michael Clifford was fined 10s. and costs for drunkenness. A NAKKOAV ESCAPE. William Jones was charged with drunkenness, also with having a basket ot seeds in his possession, belonging to Thomas Jones. Prisoner when asked what lie had to say for himself, said, he found the basket between Messrs. Shannon and Hammond's. He was. no doubt, in liquor, but he had not stolen the basket. He lived at Spring Grove, had a. wife and three children there, and was well known to all the residents. Constable Dickson said he arrested the- prisoner about half-past one this morning, in Colling-wood-street. He had the basket on his back, and said lie got it from Michael Shannon. The basket contained seeds. Prisoner was drunk. Michael Shannon said he did not know the prisoner, did not see him yesterday, and did not give the basket to him. Tnomas Jones identified the basket as his. He last '-aw it about 11 o'clock last night, lie then covered it with a board to keep the rats off, and put it in a cupboard in his house. He went to bed soon after 11 o'clock. He knew not he had lost the basket till the police told him they had seen his son with it, who said he was going to Takaka where his sister resided. This was about 11 o'clock. The basket contained peas, beans, and other seeds. 1c seemed more empty than when he left it, although he had not counted the contents. It was quite possible his son took the basket out after witness was in bed, as he was in the habit of getting up in the night. The basket and contents were worth about 6s. The Magistrate said he would not convict prisoner of the robbery. It was doubtful if he stole the basket -, he most likely picked it tip somewhere. He should fine Mm 20s. and costs for being drunk. Professor Jacobs. — Last evening this very clever performer gave the first of his entertainments at the Odd-fellows' Hall, to an audience not quite so numerous as the performance deserved. The Professor intimated at the outset that there had been hardly time allowed to get the people together, and that, in all probability, this evening, in consequence of friends having communicated with friends, there would be a full house. The Professor told the company he deemed it unnecessary to say that there was nothing

preternatural in the modus operandi by which the tricks were performed. They were of the simplest kind, and appeared extraordinary to the observers only because they were ignorant of the why and the wherefore of them. The magic mill was the first trick in the performance. It consisted in the selection by the company of a number of cards, the numbers being known to the selectors. By a touch of the magic ■wand these were made to appear on the sails of the mill or tumble out of the door, at the bidding of the performer. The magician's target which was made the receptacle of a gentleman's watch previously locked up in a strong box, excited considerable wonderment. The Professor admitted he was a poor dancer so far as the heels are concerned, that part of the body mostly used by the genus homo in their saltatory exercises, but his liliputian hornpipe with the fingers amused the company as much as a genuine hornpipe would have done. The mysterious transformation showed what little control the ladies had over their handkerchiefs when the Professor chose to transfer them from one part of the room to another. Perhaps the wizard's library is as neat a trick as even the Professor can perform. He says lie invented it on board the Great Britain. A copy of Byron, Milton, and Wordsworth are handed to a gentleman, whose poetic taste inclines him to the former. Another gentleman is supplied with blank paper and envelope, which he folds and duly seals after seeing there is no writing upon it. Another gentleman selects a page and line of the poetry, which is found duly transcribed on the blank paper when the envelope is opened. As the line was read, " What sacred trophy marks the hallowed ground," simpleminded people could not help thinking that the Professor, notwithstanding his protestations to the contrary, had dealings Avlth confederates unseen to mortal eye. Time would fail to describe the freaks performed by mysterious cards, which flew from place to place as the professor willed ; of cabalistic vases which exchanged their contents in defiance of the space that intervened ; and of le chasseur Erancais who fired rings for bullets in a manner so clever as to pour contempt upon Jackie Bull, and wipe out the disgrace of Waterloo. The magic bottle, the transfixed mosquitoes, the wonderful canary, the enchanted seat, and extraordinary watches, were all in keeping with the wonder working powers of the professor, whose bargain with inanimate things to touch and go, seems of the most strict and indissoluble nature. The audience are kept in good humour by Smalltalk, racy anecdotes, and Hie fun every now and then poked at the individuals who assist in the experiments. The professor is really a good hand at extemporaneous song, and Sprightly, though wishing to pass for a goose, is strongly suspected of having more to do with the tricks than he seems to have. Mr. Oakey presided at the pianoforte with his accustomed ability, aud gave some delicious music during the intervals of the performance. We forgot to mention, that to please the juveniles, the professor gave a specimen of his ventriloquial powers. The colloquy between him and Mr., Mrs., and baby Gobble, tickled the children of a larger growth, to an extent that would render indigestion impossible for a long time to come. A Bailiff at Fault. — A few days ago a bailiff, not unknown to fame, by virtue of her Majesty's writ, took legal possession of the goods and chattels of a certain son of Crispin. The bailiff, mindful of the maxim, quifacit per alterum facit per se, was nothing loth to leave his under bailiff in charge, with strict injunctions however, to keep watch and ward, and prove a worthy locum tcnens, on his return. Whether tempted like mother Eve, hy the luscious fruit in the garden, or desirous of making some astronomical observations at the still hour of night, the under bailiff jrood easy man, gave up possession, and quickly found return impossible by the locks and bolts speedily called into requisition by the ladies' of the house. Here was a position for the bailiff to be in, and no wonder that visions of the wrath of his superiors' flitted before him, and that his wits were stimulated to the utmost to undo the mischief which his careless subordinate had been the cause of. An ingenious fellow was found who undertook to personate a jolly digger just returned from the West Coast, with lots of money to spend. He attired in digger's garb, tapped gently at the window, and intimated his readiness to part with his cash for a pair of ornamental boots, with several pairs of which the window was studded. No sooner said than done, the bait took, and Mrs. Crispin admitted with the greatest cordiality the quasi wealthy wielder of pick and shovel. Our wealthy digger, after spending & reasonable amount of time in examining awls and lasts, and negotiating the purchase of the ornamental boots, drew a couple of warrants from his pocket, und told the good ladies he was in possession on behalf of the under bailiff, they had recently ejected in so unceremonious a manner. The bailiff soon made his appearance, a wiser and an angrier man, und despite the supplications of the women and the tears of the children, removed the goods and chattels to a place of safety. Bridge-street Baptist Sunday School. — A tea and public meeting will be held this evening, at the new school-room, Bridge-street, in aid of the funds of the school. The tea will be on the tables at six o'clock. The chair -will be taken by his Honor the Superintendent at half-pust seven. We learn by the s. Thane, that the John Mitchell schooner is ashore on the north beach Okarita. She was being towed out by the Bruce about three weeks since, when the line broke and she got washed ashore; they are now engaged in launching her across the scrub into the river.

The garrison of the 57th Regiment at Pipiriki has been removed, and marched down to Wanganui. There are now no English troops up the river.