The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, JANUARY 17, 1870. RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 14, 17 January 1870, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, JANUARY 17, 1870. RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Before J. Sharp, Esq., R.M., Saturday, January 14. Cattle Trespass. Wm. Phillips, John Bray, S. Wadman, J. Drew, J. Hale, and JaDet M'Donald were charged with allowing horses and cattle to be at large ia the streets and fined in the usual amount. Furious Driving. Joseph Bradcock, charged with furious driving was fined £2 and costs. Jackson v. Disher. Claim for £2 10s. balance of wages. Defendant paid £1 10s. into Court stating that there was at the time plaintiff received his discharge that amount owing to him, the other pound beiug claimed in lieu to a week's notice, the facts being that plaintiff's month expired on Saturday Ist iust., that he was drunk all Sunday and absent from his work on the Monday, on his return he was discharged for being drunk and neglecting his duty. His Worship ruled that sufficient cause had been shown for plaintiff's discharge, and that he was not entitled to recover the week's wages, but that he must be paid up to the day of his discharge. Judgment was given accordingly for £1 ss. Bd. and costs, 9s. This Day. Cattle Trespass. Henry Adams was fined 5s and costs for permitting one horse to wander at large. Vagrancy. Hans Peterson, on the information of Segeant-Major Edwards was convicted of this offence, and sentenced to one month's imprisonment. H. E. Nathan applied for a pawnbrokers license for premises in Bridge-street — application granted.

The Flying Squadron passed the Otago heads under sail at 4 o'clock this morning, most probably for Lyttelton. Masonic Gold Mining Company. — There is a meeting of shareholders to be held this evening at eight o'clock, at the Masonic Hotel. Permanent Building Society of Nelson. — The January meeting of this Society is to be held at the Temperance Hall, this evening, at half-past six o'clock. Eclipse op the Moon. — A total eclipse of the moon will take place touight and to-morrow morning. The following are the phases of the eclipse: First contact with penumbra, 11.28 p.m.; first contact with shadow, 1.30 a.m. ; middle of eclipse, 2.19 a.m.j last coutact with shadow, 8 a.m. Registered Letters. — In a circular issued from the General Post-oflice, aud dated Jan. 1, Postmasters are informed that on and after the first day of January, , 1870, the colonial fee on registered letters, packets, &c, for places beyond the colony will be reduced from one shilling to sixpence. Thatcher. — It will be seen by our advertising columns that the "inimitable" has arrived, and intends to give an entertainment for "one night only" in the Masonic Hall, with the assistance of Messrs Small, Daniells, and Salaman. This Hall has been' nicely fitted up, and made quite comfortable looking, and what with tbe promised new locals, Small's comic, and Daniell's descriptive songs, Salaman-'s piano, and million prices, we may reasonably anticipate him a good house. Amusements at the Lunatic Asylum. We are glad to hear that our old friend Ben Crisp has attracted the attention of, and entertained the patients at the Asylum with an exhibition of the Magic Lantern, which was appreciated by them in no inconsiderable degree, This Is a step in ■

the right direction, and one which we ' hope will be followed up. Recreation and ! amusements, in all well-conducted establishments of this kind, being acknowledged powerful auxiliaries tc- the most desirable end of effectiug cures. Too much praise cannot be awarded to Mr Crisp for his gratuitous endeavors in this behalf. Some more slides to the Magic Lantern would tend greatly to improve and vary the exhibition, and we have no doubt that this only requires to be known, to induce true philanthrophists to assist in supplying the want. Waitotara and Patea. — The Premier has visited Waitotara and Patea in company with Mrs. Fox, Mr. Browne, his private secretary, Major Noake, and Captain Morrison, inspector of Road parties. They were feted all along the distance ; they inspected the progress of new roads, block-houses, and bridges, expressed themselves satisfied, and found the country ali through the Waitotara and Patea districts just now looking splendid. Grass enough to feed any amount of flocks and herds. The Late Boat Accident at Timaru. — The body of Mr. Smallwood has been found by some Maories frightfully mutilated, and the head entirely denuded of flesh, identification from the body itself was impossible, but the conteuts of the pockets left no doubt as to the identity of the deceased gentleman. Mr. Balfour's body has also been found on the beach north of Timaru, and the Resident Magistrate has forwarded per instructions from the General Government, the remains to Dunedin, to be buried alongside the late Mr. Patterson, one of Mr. Balfour's greatest friends in life. New Zealand Flax. — The following has been "communicated" to an Auckland paper: — Almost all tbe experiments on methods of separating the fibre from the cuticle, gum, and cellular tissue, which have been made since the material begau to attract a large share of attention, have been made ou the green leaf — it having been set down as an axiom that ifc is impossible to remove the impurities thoroughly under other conditions. We have recently, however, seen an account of an experiment wliich was tried on a small scale on the completely dried leaf so long ago as the year of the Great Exhibition. The leaf, wbich had been cut twelve months previously, was simply submitted to the action of a common English flax hackling machine and then thoroughly washed. The account says that the result was a first-class article, totally free from extrauious matters. It would, perhaps, be advisable to make further trials with the completely dried plant — not the half dried — for ifc is a question not yet properly decided as to whether in that state ihe objectionable matters may nofc become so friable as to be readily crushed and then washed out.