INTERPROVINCIAL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 224, 24 September 1880, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL.

Wellington, Friday. A serious charge of ill-treatment of a prisoner has been made against two constables. A strict enquiry will be held by the police authorities. Proceedings are about to be taken against Kennedy, M'Donald, and Co., for a breach of the Auctioneers Act in selling jewellery by public auction between the hours of eight and tea last night. New Plymouth, Friday. At the trial of the native prisoners, Mr Halse, the counsel for the prisoners, took exception to the indictment, as it stated that the offences the prisoners were charged with were committed on the boundaries of the confiscated land as defined by tlao schedule of the Act, and no fourth boundary was given in the description, only three Bides being defined. He said it was of the utmost importance in a case of this kind where the liberty of individuals was at stake that the indictment should be strictly correct, and as the indictment was not it should be quashed on the ground of its uncertainty. Mr Samuel replied, contending that it was essentiul to take notice of the preamble of the West Coast Settlements Act in order to answer the objection raised by Mr Halse. It was clear from the preamble of the Act thai the land mentioned in the fourth schedule was the saruo aa that msetioned in the Act for appointing a Eoyal Commission to enquire into the native affairs on the West Coast. The description in that Act supplied the deficiency in the fourth schedule of the West Coast Settlement Act, 1880. In •upport of his argument that ths preamble of the Act should be considered he cited several cases. Mr Halse replied that nothing had been advanced on behalf of the Crown to meet the objections he had raised. They had nothing to do with the intention of the Legislature, and it was not a question for -the Court to consider whether the provisions of the Act would be rendered inoperative on account of the omission of the fourth boundary line, but the Court must consider whether the Act itself was sufficiently definite to convict the prisoners of an offence. It was the description of the land given in the Act itself that the Court would have to go upon. The land described in the schedule was wanting in its proper boundary, and though it might be said that the intended boundary was not mentioned iv the Act, the omission rendered the indictment invalid, and he therefore asked his Honor to quash the indictment. His Honor said that he could not at that stage say that the boundaries were incomplete, as it was quite possible for three lines to form a complete boundary. He would, however, take a note of the objection. After the evidence bad been taken defining the boundaries of the confiscated land, also of the nature of the offences committed by the natives, his Honor summed up and the jury retired to consider their verdict, and after remaining absent about' three quarters of an hour returned into Court with a verdict of Guilty. His Honor in sentenciug tho prisoners to three years' imprisonment in Lyttelton gaol and to 'find security iv the amount of £50 each to keep the peace for six mouths after the expiration of their sentence, also tqid the interpreter to tell the prisoners that

■1 1 - the length of their sentence depended upon bow the natives they left behind behaved themselves. Timaru, Friday. The Geraldine races took place yesterday, when there was fine weather and a large attendance. Maiden Plate t Clarenfie 1, Swindle 2, Knottingly 3.— Handicap Hurdle Race: Lone Hand 1, Milo 2, Little John 3.-Publi-cans Handicap ; Virginia Water 1, Luna 2, Tena 3.— Selling Race : Bellman 1. Donkdin, Friday. Miss Dalrymple, on behalf of Mr Dalrymyle of Port Chalmers, waited on the Hon Mr Dick to ask him to use his interposition with the Premier to give at his earliest convouience his promised consideration of the desirability of having placed on the syllabus of Education, the conducting of Penny Banks in every public school as a practical nienns of cultivating habits of thrift amEdg the young people of the Colony. Mr Dick promised to bring tho matter before the Cabinet. Pirangi, aped CO, one of the Native prisoners, died in gaol last night from consumption, i i Lee Guy has been committed for trial for the murder of Mrs Young. Oamaiiu, Friday. ; At the Magistrate's Court, the Returning Officer for one of the Borough wards was sued tor not accepting the nomination of a candi date at the election of Councillors, the ground of objection being that the qualification of the candidate was not of the usual value of £25 Since then it has been discovered that this qualification had been withdrawn by Act of Parliament, and defendant was therefore, fiued £13 and fi33 cost?. Christchukcii, Friday. The entries for the aunual Horse Parade to-morrow comprise 67 animals. Last year the number was 84. One hundred picked merino rama from Kermode and .Gibbons' flock in Tasmania are expected to arrive by the Ringarooma to-day for the Hon W. Robinson. Lwercargili,, Friday. The Waste Lands Board has iuformed the deferred payment settlers at Dipton that all in arrears must pay or vacate. The Borough Council has voted a sum of money to the proprietors of the Zealandia Exhibition for views of Invercargill. The Chamber of Commerce met to consider the desirability of asking the Bluff Harbor Board to reduce the port charges on wool and grain to the same as at Poit Chalmers. The settlers state that pbosphorised oats are not efficacious since the young grass has begun to spring. . On several large areas where the oats are sprinkled the rabbits have left the poisoned grain untouched. Auckland, Friday. At the Police Court to-day an information was laid against John Lamb for selling bread of short weight at Kaipara. Arrangements for a grand Volunteer ref view in the month of November are proceed* ing. The Thames, Waikato, Waiuku 1 : Pukekohe, and Whangarei will send a strong force of Volunteers.