LAW INTELLIGENCE.

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 82, 12 May 1843, Page 3

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

SUPREME COURT. APRIL SITTINGS. Wellington , Friday, April 7, (CROWN SIDE. —BEFORE CHIEF JUSTICE MARTIN.) (Continuedfrom our last\) Cross-examined by Mr. Ross. —Witness came from Price's whaling station to Nelson about. five months since, and from Nelson here; he came here from Footter’s house, who is in the police; he is in his custody; has been committed to take his trial for this robbery ; has not yet been tried; has. not been committed to take his trial for any similar offence; thinks he was not committed for robbing Mr. Nattrass’s house; .cannot sweair ; that he has not; was brought up about it,; bit'does not, know if he has been committed fpr trialhe confessed, he was concerned in robbing Mr. Nattrass; cahnofcsay? how long he had been here when .the meeting at .Garrod’a. took-place ; it might have been a week or three or four days at the furthest; Mr. Lyon’s store is at the bead of the bay; ,Garrod’s is at the lower end of the toWn near the gaol ; the things were taken to Joseph Root's house ; he wfent out by .Brown's' house to, get. Avery's, where witness lodges, and Joseph Root's house, are two or three hundred yards apart; lie was. taken out of the Bright Planet three or four months since; it was after Christmas; cannot say how long the otters' were : taken into custody before witness; cannot say when he made his first statement to the • Police-Magistrate; it. might be seven or eight weeks since,; beljeves.his state-, inent was put down in-writing ; is not sure, he has been up so Often; cannot say if hii statement has,been taken down in writing; knows the Police Magistrate took spine.thing he said down in writing; does not knojy if it was in reference to this matter? ; , cannot say when he made his last statement; has.never.been called npoa to sign any statement; he has never signed any statement; has not been called upon to do it,; did not make any statement on Monday last relative to Mr. Lyon’s Tobbery; is sure he is right ; he only heard about a boat } cannot say how long it is sinee he was taken into custody 1 four months ago since he was first taken; has broke, out of gaol.since; believes the statement was, made after he was taken into custody second time by the prisoner Mullens ; his wife was not asleep; Mullens came to his bed side and touched jj.im; his wife was in bed with him ; she did not get up ;

By the first person he saw. at Garrod’s on the night, of the robbery was ,Joseph Roots; he was the proposer,; it!was proposed ht Gar'rod’s ; r io inducement was held ohf; >•?. . gaoler of Wellington! kndvjrs the, y/itness Wilkins j remembers the goods being given to him in December .last.; those are part of the goods delivered to witness by J. Wilkins ; they were in large Maori baskets; those baskets with a part of the goods were given to Mr. Lyon; a sample was kept; there was one bundle tied, up in an :old handkerchief: they have been in my; custody ever since they were given to, me.

Geqrge'White sworn.—ls a magistrate of this territory ; lately acting as Police Magistrate; Knowland has not beeh r exalnined before me on a charge of robbery ; he has made a statement; no statement was reduced into writing except as regards Dennis Macarthy; the stater ment was taken before; me on the 3d of April; thinks he .has committed Knowland in all cases in which he has confessed; has committed him in four cases; witness made no' promise all Knowland asked was that he might be kept away. from the other prisoners ; he said he did not pare what became,of Kim.

This closed the evidence for the prosecution! . There were no witnesses for the, defence. The Crown, Prosecutor addressed the Jury at great length, reminding them that though the witness Knowland was not entitled to the implicit credence which they would, give to a witness who came before them under different circumstances, yet if upona careful consideration of the whole evidence they found his testimony corroborated by circumstances of which lie would not by possibility have any knowledge, it would be for them to consider whether his evidence would not be a fabrication ; if it was hot, it would be their duty to find all the prisoners guilty. , Mr. Ross addressed the Jury for the prisoner Joseph Roots. ; The learned Judge having made some observations on the nature of the Offence with which the prisoners were indicted, and on the evidence which the law required in such cases, read over the whole of the evidence to the Jury. The Jury after some, deliberation returned a verdict of guilty against all the prisoners. They were severally sentenced to ten years’ transportation.

LETTERS FOR NEW ZEALAND. The following is a list of letters for New Zealand, detained in the General Post Office, Sydney, in consequence of the sea postage thereon not having 1 been paid : A. Aldbrdire, Auckland; Thomas Aims, 96th Regiment; Auckland; Captain James Anderson, Port- Nicholson.; Mr. Ashworth, Auckland; Rev. J. Bauman, missionary, New Zealand; Jphn Brann, H.M.S. Tortoise; Major Thomas Bunbury, 80th Regiment; James Berry, 80th Regiment; Messrs. J. Browley and Co., Wellington ; Messrs. Brown and Campbell, Wellington ; Mr. J. G. Babington, Port Nicholson; F. Bell, Esq., Bay of Islands; J. A. Buttey, Esq., Auckland; Mr. T. J. Brown, Port Nicholson ; Thomas Baker, Esq., New Zealand; Captain R. Bush, 96th Regiment, New Zealand; A. B. Brandon, Wellington ; Mr. Wm. Brophy, Port -Abercrombie, New Zealand; Mr. J. Bunie, New Zealand ; Mr. G. A. Baker, Bay of Islands; J. Busby, Esq., Bay of Islands; Mrs. Bills, Wellington ; Mr. Bagnal, Port Nelson; H. R. Cretney, Esq., Wellington; Mr. Wm. Clunie, Kororarika; D. F. Carnegie, Auckland; SCoffin; Mr. G. Cooper,. Bay of Islands ; Rev. R. Cole, Auckland; J. R. Clendon, Esq., Bay of Islands; Mr. Wm. Colenso, Bay of Islands; Mr. H. Coolaghan, Auckland; Messrs. Dalziel and Co., Wellington ; Mr. C. Debooz, New Zealand ;. Mr. William Dickison, Wellington ; Mrs. J. Dickson, Kororarika; Mr. R. Davis, Waimate, 2 New Zealand ; A. Dalziel, Esq., Auckland ;.Mr. G. Duke, Wellington; William Deans, Esq., Port Nicholson ; Mr. T. Florence, Caie, Wangwoo, New Zealand ; William Fox, Esq., Wellington ; J. S. Freeman, Esq., Auckland ; Mr. H. Faubaine ; William Godby, 96th Regiment, New Zealand ; John Gardner, H.M. S. Tortoise; Michael Green, H.M.S. Tortoise; Mr. R. Graliam, Kororarika; William Hall, 80th Regiment, New Zealand; Mr. P. P. Humble, New Zealand ; I;I. S. Harrison, Wellington; John Hart, Waimate, New. Zealand; Mr. J. ,P.. Haswell;. Manacao, Auckland; Captain E. Hill, 96th ! Regimen!:, New Zealand; Messrs. Hanson and Alsdorf, Wellington; Helen Hines, Kororarika; ' Peter Paxton Humble ; William, Hornbrook,, Wellington ; J. Joseph,. Esq., Wellington*,; R.': Jenkins,. Esq.,. Wellington ; W. Jeffrey, H.M.S. Tortoise ; James C. Kellert, 96th Regiment; John Knowles, Wellington; Samson Kempthorne, Esq.; Edward Leary, Bay of Islands.; George Lawrence, Esq),. Auck-land^-Captain Lockharf, 80th Regiment; Geo. iLilyv Auckland.} ' Commissary. Lardner, Auckland*; ; )iVilliam ~*• Miliken,. H.M. S. Tortoise; Thomas Morris,, 80th,Regiment; James Marable, 80th Regiment; George M'Kellar, H.M.S. F. J. Mullens, Esq., Wellington; : iCaptain Mayher-,; Bay of Islands ; Alexander MTnnCs, Esq. ; William, Marshall; Mrs. Mor-. ton ; Mrs; Milner, Posthumous ; Ewra M*Lennan, Esq. ; Donald M'Pherson; Matthew Mar-, tin,, H.M.S. ‘Tortoise ; Mons. Maroe ;: John M'Quoid, Auckland ; W. Miles,,Both Regiment; A. Mowbray, surgeon; Miss Janet Marshall; Captain Milner, ; Posthumous .; Captain J. Na-« gle.; R. Esq.Mrs. .Otterson. Wellington.'; Thomas Paton, Esq.; William Plummer, Esq.,; C. F. Penny, Esq.; Hon. Henry William Petre ; Alexander Perry, Esq., Wellington; Thomas Poynting; Isaac Robertson, 80th Regiment Messrs- Ridgway, Guyton, and Earp j Mrs. Reeves, ex.. Prince of Wales ; Mr. Ritchie, Auckland; Samuel . Raynard ; . Mrs. Riddiford; Wellington; R. Riddiford, Esq,; Henry Rudlin ;.. Joseph,WV : Ring ; - Andrew Rowarid; Mr. Roberts/ cabinetr-maker; J. Ront,

\Yellington; Captain R. Sedgwick, Osprey i Jeremiah Saltan, Tortoise ; D. Sindle, Esq.;. Wellington •; John Stuart, Hibernian Hotel,' Rey/C. W. Saxton ; Dudley Sinclair,. Esq.; Messrs. John Scott and Co.; Thomas Spfeafs, Esq. .; C. Ssweetbnliam; Esq., 57th Regiment; ’ Miss Lucy Saxton; Charles Sweet, Esqf. j Dr. Edward Shootland j Captain John Salta on i Mr. Spicer ; David Scott; David Scanlan ; Edward Smallwood, Wellington; Mr. Sherrerd; . [ James Schubert; W. Trusted, Esq.; Messrs!;' 1 Trimmer and Smith; W. H. Tibbey; Key:, ‘ Henry H. Turton ; Richard Tembletonj R. V B. Tyser, Esq.; William Winter; 96th Rfcgiment; David Whitton, 96th Regiment; John Wade, Esq., Auctioneer; Edmund Webber, Esq. ; Mrs. Eliza White; Horatio Warnd; Messrs, Waters and Smith; Rev. Henry Williariis: Mr. Alfred Weldhen ; Messrs. Willis and Co., Wellington ; Rev. W. Williams, Paetrea; Wil-. liam Webster; John B. Williams, W. L. cdnSiil.; . The Belfast Society for the promotion and ' . improvement of the growth of Flax in Ireland,held their annual meeting on 17th November last, in the Commercial Buildings at Belfast. . Lord Lurgan was called to the chair; and Sir Robert Bateson, Mr. G. Macartney of Lissa- ■ noure Castle, Colonel Blacker of Armagh, Mr. D. R. Ross, Mr. P. and Mr. Shaman Craw-, ford, M.P., took part in the proceedings. The Chairman briefly pointed out the object of the Society. Eighty thousand terns of flax are annually imported into Great Britain, while five or six millions of money are annually expended in purchasing flax in other countries ; arid the: object was to save that exportation of money, by enabling Ireland to produce the raw material, and thus to acquire a lucrative trade. Sir Robert Bateson remarked that the soil and climate of Ulster did riot appear to him good enough for the cultnre; but on visiting the Netherlands, it once occurred to him that the plant would admirably suit the soil and climate of the South df Ireland. A well-grown sample of hemp from the neighbourhood of Caledon was exhibited. The meeting was addressed by Mr. Crawford, Mr. Ross, and other’s; and parted after a very satisfactory transaction of the business before it.— Spectator. Fatal Leap from Sunderland bridge, — On Friday evening, John Thompson, a tailor of Sunderland, in a drunken freak, declared that ; he would that night rival Smith, .the diver; by . jumping off Sunderland bridge; which rash act he performed. He was followed by a person who heard him boast of his intention; who strove ao persuade him not to do so, at the same time considering that Thompson was not sincere; and that he would not attempt it. In this, however, he Was mistaken, as Thompson pulled - off his coat, and. ascended the railing on the bridge, while his companion. and adviser was a short distance behind him. Assistance was called for, but before it could be effective he jumped down from the bridge into the river, upwards 100 feet. He was picked up by the police boat; and taken to a neighbouring public house, and a surgeon sent for. It was found that he had received such injuries from the fall as to leave no hope of recovery. He died the same night. ORDER IN COUNCIL.—FREE PORTS IN NEW ZEALAND. His Excellency the Governor has been pleased to direct the re-publication from the London Gazette of the 7th' October, 1842, of the following order in council:—

At the Court at Windsor, the 27th day of August, the Queen’s most excellent Majesty in Council. Whereas, by an act passed in the session of Parliament holden on the third and fourth years of the reign of his late Majesty, King William the Fourth, intituled “ an Act to regulate the trade of the British possessions abroad,” it was; amongst other things, enacted, that no goods should be imported into, nor should any goods, except the produce of the fisheries in British ships, be exported from any of the British possessions in America by sea, from or to any place other than the United Kingdom, or some other of such possessions, excepting to or from the several ports ih such possessions, called free ports, enumerated or described in the table in the said Act contained; and it was thereby further enacted, that if any goods , should be imported into any port or place in aiiy of the said, possessions,, contrary to the said. Act, such goods should be forfeited; and it vvas thereby provided that, , if his Majesty should deem it expedient to extend the provisions of the said Act to . any .port or porjts not enumerated in the said table;, it should be lawful for his Majesty, by order in Council, to extend the provisions of the said Act to siich port or ports, and that, from and after the day mentioned in such Order in Couneil, all the privileges and advantages of the said Act, and all the provisions, penalties, and forfeitures therein contained, suhject, nevertheless, to the limitations and restrictions thereinafter provided,, should extend, and he deemed and construed to extend, to any such port or ports; respectively, as fully as if the sanje had been inserted and enumerated in the said table at the time of passing the said Act: . And whereas by the said last-before recited Act, it is enacted, that it shall be lawful for hi Majesty,, by and with the advice of his Priv s .Council, by any Order or Orders in Council Y. be issued from time to time, to give such dire ta

lions’efnci make ' sucli ; ‘ regulations! J WbliitogtW’ trade and commerce'to' ..aritl 1 ironi 1 any British possesions o‘n or near the continent of Europe/ or within tlie Mediterranean Se a, or in Africa, or within limits of the East India Company’s charter (excepting the possessions of' the said' Company,) as to his Majesty in Council shall appear most exjpedient and salutary, any thing in this act .to the contrary notwithstanding: and and if any- goods 1 shall be imported' or exported in any mail,heir contrary to any such order of his Majesty in 'council, the s’ame shall he forfeited, together with the’ ship importing or exporting the same L ; — .... .>•. And whereas her Majesty doth dbem it expedient to extend the before-mentioned provisions’ of the said act, respecting such' free ports, to the ports of Wellington,' Auckland, and Russell, in the colony of New Zealand: Now, therefore, under and by virtue of the said Act of Parliament, and ‘in the' exercise of the powers, thereby in her Majesty in counsel in that behalf Vested, her Majesty, by and with the advice of lier Privy Council, doth order,And' it is hereby ordered accordingly, that, from and after’ the first day of January, one thousand eight hundred and forty three,’ the provisions of the said act, As far as the same relate to the free ports respectively therein mentioned, shall be, and the same are hereby extended to ports Wellington,' Auckland, and Russell, in the Colony, of New Zealand : arid that, from and after the said first day of January, one thousand* eight hundred and forty-three, all the privileges and advantages of the said act conferred upon the free ports therein, mentioned, and all the provisions, penalties, aria forfeitures in the said act contained, subject to the limitations and restrictions therein provided, shall extend to the said ports of Wellington, Auckland, and Russell, as fully and effectually as if such ports had been situate in her Majesty’s Airierican Colonies, and inserted and enumerated in the said table at the time of passing tlie said'Act: And'the llight Honourable the Lords Commissioners of her Majesty’s Treasury are to give the necessary directions herein accordingly. C. C. GREVILLE.

A New Zealand Gentleman. —Some two months since, in the best room of the best hotel at Wellington, with one hand resting gracefully 'on the maritel-shelf, the other bedizened with mosaic jewellery, daintily holding,’twixt forefinger and thumb,” like Harry Hotspur’s “ dainty lord,” not a “ pouncet box,” but a cigar, which “ ever and anon he gave his lips, and took away again,” stood an elegante, dressed in what he no doubt considered the extreme of fashion. One eye of the subject of our sketch was hidden by a quizzing glass, through which he was apparently endeavouring to scrutinize the persons in the room, while the hand which ministered the segar would occasionally leave the smoking weed in his chops, and employ himself in twisting the obstinate locks that appeared from under his *smart beaver. The attention of this gentlemanly person Was especially directed to a respectable master mariner who had shortly previous entered the room, and after a protracted and fashionable stare, he at length broke silence in a tone of voice, and with a manner generally assumed by low forward persons, who, catching the affectedness and singularity of some fashionable fop, think they 'can, by their mimicry, pass •themselves off for gdfitlemen—“Aw,aw,Beeshop, aw! (puff) what brought you here ?” The gentleman thus familiarly accosted looked at the querist, and, disguised as he was by clothes, curls, arid jewellery, recognised him to be a person with whom he had formed a casual acquaintance at Launceston. Laughing at the absurd caricature Before him, Captain B. replied abruptly, but with the manly, cheerful voice, characteristic of the British tar, “ My legs, I believe; what brought you here ?” “ Beesiness, awl-(puff). Beesiness!” “ Oh!bolted,l suppose.” “No, Sar, aw! I found business excessively overcast at Laneceston-a, and I adventured to Part Pheelip-a—dem the place—where I lost extensively-a, apd so I came to New Zealand.” The little vagabond who thus described himself as “ losing extensively-a,” in this province, was" for some time employed as shopman in a linendraper’s establishment in Melbourne, but having been suspected of embezzlement, he was dismissed by his employer* without any cause having been’assigned. He was for some time in Melbourne after this almost destitute, but being recommended'to our notice by a gentleman who was acquainted in London with his father, and who supposed that a quarrel between himself and his master had been the occasion of his dismissal,.vie were induced to employ him as assistant collector and shipping reporter. Unsuspicious as we were Of his having at any time been guilty of dishonest conduct, .and finding him attentive arid correct in the performance of ■any duty entrusted to him, he was promoted, on a vacancy occurring, to the situation of book-keeper. While, so employed, heacquitted himself to our satisfaction, until becoming acquainted With a female of improper character (as we afterwards ascertained), he commenced anew a life of dissipation, contracting debts with any person silly enough to trust him. About this time we were induced, from certain awkward mistakes, to say the least of them, to enter - tain' suspicions Of his honesty, but these suspi-

bioiis/if.'well,founded/ t wdrb ) 'C<3 ! iif(!ei^cd^»h J lathi as'a shaft"time 1 province, having at the latest hour obtained/a special ClearariCe to proceed by ; a vessel "bound for New Zealand. We hrive 1 been informed* that a . ‘ iiumbbi- eff HYitise /persbhs who have 'bolted* from. !Melbbuffie,'Sydney* and Van Diemen’s Land, are. ; nowTmfestihg various parts of New Zealand', f * and f-that, . conspicuous; amorigSt the mririy'atWellihgtOb;' is : the* scamp of’whose career in Melbourne wehaVe given an outline. 1 It is to be hoped that' odr potipe pf. him will serve as a., hint /to our New Zealand contemporaries, that’they .may ;kdep l asha'rp “ look-out”’ ori' this ' tliief’ in disguise; andwe’ warn him thrit!j shditid %e f fagriitt' hdaf of his' audacious conduct, we shall feel 'it'/our duty’ fo publish siich an exposure of his character as will suffice to niiake his present abode'too hot to hold him. Our sole motive for now 1 feffafrP' ing is, that we do not wish;to wdufid the'feblihgs 1 of his parents, -and those who were his friends! —Melbourne Advertiser .