RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 27, 5 April 1866, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

This Day. [Before J. Poynter, Esq.., E. M.] A FAMILY QUAREEL. Mary Ann Manson of Takaka, complained of her husband, Magnus Mauson. She swore that he had repeatedly threatened her life, she was afraid he Avould do her some grievous bodily harm, and wished to have him bound over to keep the peace. Defendant said it was not true that he had ever threatened his wife's life. The Magistrate said he had reason to think the defendant was not in his right mind. Defendant said that might be, he was the same that he had always been, and during the 13 years the magistrate had known him he had never been before him once. The Magistrate : This may be true, but I have seen your letters and they were certainly most extraordinary ones. Defendant : They were written to the Superintendent, complaining of the action taken by the Government in reference to the sale of land in my district. Mr. Taylor, District Constable of Takaka, was requested by the bench to state what he knew of the defendant. Mr. Taylor said, in answer to» questions put to him by the Magistrate, that all he knew agaiust the defendant was that he was" an eccentric person, and sometimes acted in a somewhat excited manner. He lived at Motupipi, from six to seven miles from witness. He had seen him excited from, time to time, and ■without any particular cause. He complained that the Government had not sold the land properly; on any subject, in which he felt aggrieved, he got excited. He thought defendant was harmless. He had heard of quarrels in his family, and that his sons had ielt it necessary to bind him in some way. The wife and family had never applied to witness for protection. The Magistrate : After the information which your wife has sworn, I must bind you over to keep the peace, though I don't know what effect it will have. I shall also require good sureties, as there can be no reasonable doubt of what your wife has sworn to. Defendant : Am I not permitted to question my wife or make a statement ? The Magistrate : If you cannot live peaceably together you had better separate. Defendant : Of course, if my wife is anxious for a separation. I want to state facts. Ask Mr. Taylor if he knows anything against me. Mr. Taylor stated, in reply to questions from defendant, that he had never seen any harm in him. He understood he was sometimes eccentric and passionate in the house. He was industrious, and provided for his family to the best of witness's knowledge. The Magistrate: This question has not been raised. Your wife has sworn an information that her life is not safe. Under these circumstances I must bind you over to keep the peace. The defendant then made a long statement of his family affairs. He had been married 21 years, and lived happily with his wife until about three years ago, when she went to see her father and mother, at Wellington. On her return she wanted him to sell his laud at Massacre Bay, and remove the family to some town. He objected to the ruinous course of sacrificing 160 acres of land, with stock and cattle. Since that time he had no peace. His wife would not hear of working the land. His sons were earning only 8s 9d. a day, by carting to Takaka, when they could

plough half an acre of land. His wife objected to the farming, and on the 3rd March called him lazy, Tie took her by the arm, and pushed her out. She broke open the wiudow, and, with his sons, pelted him with rubbish and stones. He then struck at them, and his wife, two sons, and daughter, bound him with a rope. He fell on his side, and broke one of his ribs. His wife left the house. The quarrel was made up, and renewed, because he would insist on controlling the children, and being master in his own house. He was determined to be master, but solemnly denied he had ever threatened to kill his wife. H© wanted to work his land, and not pay 2os. for a team of bullocks when he was getting only Bs. 9d. His wife wanted to break up the establishment, and send the children to service. The Magistrate : She swears you have threatened her life. Defendant : How have I lived with her then these 21 years ? The Magistrate: If you threaten people and act like a wild beast you must be bound over. Defendant : It is all because I want to be master, aud won't sell the land and stock, knowing what misery it will bring on us. Mrs. Manson was called. She said she could bring the whole family to prove her case. The defendant had uttered the grossest falsehoods. He had repeatedly threatened her life, and that of the children too. The Magistrate: Your wife persists in the information, and I shall bind you over to keep the peace towards your wife aud family, and all her Majesty's subjects in two sureties of £50 each, and yourself in a surety of £150. Defendant : Then I must go to gaol. I don't know any sureties, being quite a stranger in Nelson. The Magistrate : You must talk to Mr. Sharp about it. Western Parish Nelson. — We perceive by our advertising columns that a meeting of the congregation of the Odd-fellows' Hall, wilS*be held at the Bishop's school-room, this evening, for the purpose of electing a churchwarden and vestrymen. Nelson Ag-ricultural Association. — The show of live stock and agricultural produce will take place to-morrow, on the fair ground, Richmond, and the dinner will take place the same day at 5 p.m., in the Agricultural Hall. Nelsox Institute Exhibition. — We remind our readers that this is to be the last Aveek of this Exhibition. Those who have not already availed themselves of the opportunity to inspect the fiue collection of watercolor paintings which may be seen there, are advised to lose no time in doing so.