SUPREME COURT. (From the Nelson Examiner, Oct. 13.)

New Zealander, Volume 5, Issue 370, 31 October 1849, Page 3

SUPREME COURT. (From the Nelson Examiner, Oct. 13.)

The Court was opened on Friday morning by his Honour Mr. Justice Chapman, who had arrived in the Government brig; a few days previously. There were only tyro criminal cases for trial, and the civil side ore. sented no business whatever. The first case was that of Sarnue! Goddard, for killing a cow, the propei (y of Mr. J. Greaves. The prisoner was found guilty, and sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment. James Stirling, aieaman, late of the schooner Comet, was charged with stealing sundry carpenters' tools The prUoner wai found guilty, and sentenced to six months imprisonment The Grand Jury then made the following presentment :— " The Grand Jurj present to your Honour the expression of their strong and united opinion that the contemplated introduction of a portion of the criminal population of Great Britain into this colony, under whatever designation, whether as convicts, exiles, or tlcket-of-leave men, will be attended with the most fattl consequences to its welfare and moral character. It. will be indirect contradiction to the express pledges oi the Home Government, and will destroy the confidence which has hitherto been reposed in its word, and in its sense of jus' ice. It will entail upon the colouy a great additional expeuse in theltraintenance of an increased and efficient police, and it will have a moit prejudicial effect upon the habiti and feelings of the natives, furnishing them with instructors in crime, and practically contradicting all the professions which the Government has made of being actuated on all occasions by the single desire to promote their improvement and welfare. The Grand Jury therefore desire t9 expren their earnest hope,|that;the disgrace and misery of such an infliction may he spared this hitherto unpol'u'ed colony, and that your Honour will r present, in the proper quarter, their unanimous sentiments cit a subject so intimately connected with the administration of justice and the peace and happineis of the whole community." His Honour, in reply, said, that it would afford him great pleasure to transmit the presentment to the proper quarter, as it expressed hit own sentiments on the exile question. He however hoped, from the opinions which had been stated in jo many ways as decidedly adverse to Earl Grey's suggestion, that the colonial minister would not carry his proposal into effect.

Tkb Weather. — The weather durirg the past month has been ai unseasonable as any we have ever witnessed in New Zealand. Although the winter may be said to have taken its leave of us with August, we have had more than the uiual quantity of cold rain ■during September, and snow has fallen on some of the Wlli of no great elevation. The spring is tliere'ore unusually backward, and agricultural operations on wet lands hare been impeded. On the other hand the crops on fern lands are looking remarkably well— the win at, in particular, being very promising. In the gardens the ungenial influences are most seen, and all early veg«tables have been much retarded. Peas, which we have sometimes seen gathered before this period mty be in vain sought after at present, nor do we believe any will be obtained for a month to come ; and the same remark is a,>p'i(able to other thitigi. The long winter has been unfavourable also to pastures, for at no time did we ever see the country so bare as it has lately been. Cattle are therefoie vi an exceedingly low condition, aud dairy produce is swice and dear. Markets.— The wholesale pi ices for produce during: the late month have been, for wheat, 3s. 6d. to is. per bushel ; barley 3s 6d. to 45., cats 3s. 6d., flour £10 10s. per ton, potatoes £i JOi. ditto, beer £4. 10*. per hogshead, bacon sd. to 6<J. per H\, best ship biscuits £1 per 100 lbs. Flour has retailed at lls. to 12« per 100 lbs , bread 7d. per 41b. loaf, eggs 6d. per dozen, butter Is. 2d per lb., cheese Is , beef and mutton 5d , poik 4d. — Ibid, Oct. G.

According to the official abitract ifc apppars that the Eevenue for the Nelion District for the Quarter ending the 30ih of September, 1849, was £1,378 Is 5 aurl the Expenditure, £908 10s. 2cl.