CORRESPONDENCE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 117, 16 May 1873, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editok or the Nelson Evening Mail. Sib, — Would you oblige me by. ihsertingjhis, letter in your valuable, paper. I attended Court this morning -and, to* my utter astonishment, saw two very respectable men charged with drunkenness; being rather curious, I thought I would wait and listen to the evidence The first gentleman that came forward was fined five shillings and costs, being the first offence.,; All he had to say for himself was that he was walking quietly - home when one of our respectable bobbies touched him quietly on the shoulder, and gave him a night's lodging. JSovr, Mr Editor, I wish to ask you whether your think it is the business, of policemen, who are supported by the public,' to interfere with respectable citizens in this manner, ; after having their glass, and in no way interfering with the public Supposing one of our .worthy Government officials had taken a little too much, would he like to be led. to the dungeon by the brawny hands of our efficient Constable • '•Rash ?" Certainly not. Now I come to thefntfxt ■ case, which was that of a respectable brewer 'of ' this town being charged with a similar offence,! and the only evidence against whom was that of the police, whose word must, of course, be taken in preference to that of the .evidence of a number of worthy citizens, but for why I can't imagine. Surely such trivial cases as these should never be brought into Court at all unless the police are hard up for a job, and if so, have the work tendered for. ' '\ £ ' I am, ,&c, , XX. May 13, 1873. Kip Van Winkle. For remainder of news see fourth vaae. . . ... .

■ The following is extracted from the ■Lyttelton Times :•— The members of tbo Colonial Houses of Legislature resident in this province are about to make a graceful acknowledgment of tne many favors bestowed upon them by Lady Bowen during their periodical visits to the seat„pf Government iwbile Sir George Bowen was Governor. Acting upon instructions from them, Messrs Petersen & Co., High-street, have manufactured a beautiful gold cross set with precious stones, and a silver casket, which form an elegant souvenir, and will beUransmitted to Lady Bowen at an early date.; The cross iB of Greek design,. and nearly four inches in length. A sapphire of great purity and large size occupies the centre, encircled by 8 small diamonds, 11 much larger diamonds being so arranged in settings on each of the four sides «. of the sapphire as to form a cross of brilliants on a dead gold groundwork, producing a very rich effect. The casket is made as a repository for the cross, and, the design is very neat, with sufficient yet not too much ornamental chasing. The interior is lined with white silk velvet, and the inner side of the^ lid bears thefollowing inscription: — " We the undersigned, members of the General Assembly, resident in the Province of Canterbury, request your Ladyship's acceptance of the accompanying cross' in grateful recognition of the hospitality and kindness which we have always received at Government House during the tenure of office of his Excellency Sir G. Bowen, G.C.M.G."