SUPREME COURT, WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume I, Issue 22, 8 March 1845, Page 3

SUPREME COURT, WELLINGTON.

On Saturday, the Ist instant, this Court sat for the trial of prisoners. After the preliminary forms had been gone through, his honor Mr. Justice Chapman shortlyaddressed the Jury, congratulating them upon the lightness of the calendar, and contrasting it with those which had preceeded it at the earlier stages of the colony. Whether this diminution of crime arose from the weeding of the troubled spirits and bad characters who usually resort to a new colony, or was the more satisfactory results of the engagements of many persons in the active pursuit of agriculture, which he was glad to see proceeding around them, it was extremely gratifying, that in this large population there was only one prisoner for trial. It was true, as we understood, that that prisoner had escaped from jaol ; but the Grand Jury would have to consider the bill of indictment to be presented to them, and according to the evidence to be brought before them make their return. If a true bill was found, the Court would deal with the matter according to law; in the meanwhile, it was the duty of the Grand Jury to consider the evidence as if the prisoner was awaiting his trial, as the indictment contained two counts, — the first for 1 burglary, and the second Tor common larceny. His Honor explained very clearly the law on the crime of "burglary, pointing out to them, that if it did not appear clearly that the robbery had taken place before nine o'clock of the evening, rather to find a true bill on both counts, leaving this matter to be more narrowly sifted before the Petit Jury. The Grand Jury retired for some time, and returned, finding a true bill against James Robinson for burglary. The learned Judge intimated to the Grand and Petit Jurors, that there was no other "business then before the Court ; and, having thanked them for their attendence, they were discharged. A bench warrant was then applied for to the Court, which was granted. The sitting of the Court for the tiial of Civil causes commences yesterday, and as we have been favoured with a copy of the Cause List we publish it.

Died. — At Wellington, on the 3rd of February, 1845, Robert Wallace/ son of Florence Wallace, of St. Andrews, Scotland, in the 22nd year of his age.