SUPREME COURT SITTINGS. Tuesday, December 1st, 1846.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume III, Issue 141, 5 December 1846, Page 3

SUPREME COURT SITTINGS. Tuesday, December Ist, 1846.

Before Mb. Justice Chapman. The following gentlemen were sworn in of the Grand Jury— Col. W. Wakefield, J. P. Foreman, Major Baker, J. P., Mr. G. Baker, Mr. K. Bethune, Mr. J. C. Crawford, J. P., Mr. C. Clifford, J. P., Major Durie, J. P., Mr. W. Fitzherbert, Mr. W. Hickson, Mr. G. Hunter, Mr. J. Kelham, Mr. A. Ludlam, Mr. A. E. M'Donogh, J. P., Mr. S. Mocatta, Mr. S. Revans, Capt. C. Sharp, Mr. R. Stokes, and Mr. R. Waitt. His Honor after some observations on the cases to be submitted to the Grand Jury, said, that on comparing the number of persons tried this year with that of previous years, it afforded great matter for satisfaction, as each year exhibited a considerable diminution in number on the previous year. In the year 1843 the County Courts were established, and at its first sittings a more than usual number were tried owing to the previous want of proper tribunals for the disposal of offences. In that year 49 prisoners were tried ; in 1844, 17 prisoners were tried in the County Court, and 19 in the Supreme Conrt, which was established in that year, making a total of 36 persons. About the year 1844 the County Courts were abolished. In 1845 28 prisoners were tried, and in 1846, if true bills were found on the present occasion against all the prisoners, 23 persons.* During the last two years the prisoners tried at Nelson were included in the above number. In England it was found that about 20,000 persons were tried annually out of a population of about 18,000,000, which gave a proportion of Ito every 900 ; the proportion here was greater, but on a careful analysis it would be found that only seven* of the number tried this year were permanent settlers. The proportion ought certainly to be less, as the temptation to crime was beyond all controversy less in a new colony than in an old country. In England it was found that the amount of crime was greater in those years when food was dear and employment scanty, and that when food was cheap and employment abundant there was a great difference in favour of these years, the difference was as great as one-fifth ; but in a new colony there was infinitely less difficulty in obtaining the means of subsistence, and consequently less temptation to commit crime. His Honor in alluding fp the soldiers who had been tried, observed, 1 ; that no injurious inference could be drawn from this fact. In every regiment there are some few always under punishment, and these by their example and evil influence often mislead their more youthful comrades. True bills were returned against Robert Walker and Matthias Denton ; the bill against Charles Thompson was thrown out. MatthiatDenton, a private of the 99 th Regt, wn i indicted for stealing 1 pilot jacket, 1 pair trowsers, and one leather belt, from Ko Hepu te Hure, an aboriginal native. Mr. Wakefield appeared for the prosecution. From the evidence it appeared that the jacket and trowsers belonged to Matiki, a native of Waiwetu, who left them, during his absence at Wellington the latter end of last October, in charge of his relative Ko Hepu. On his return • One bill was ignored, reducing the number to twenty-twcr. Wi subjoin an analysis of perfons tried at the Supreme Court in 1846 : — | Natives 2 I Settlew 6 Strangers 14 ,22

Before Mb. Justice Chapman.

be found they had been stolen. The clothes were subsequently identified by Matiki at the military hospital, Te Aro, where the prisoner had been admitted as a patient, and in whose possession the clothes then were. The prisoner, who made no defence, was found guilty and sentenced to four months imprisonment and hard labour. Robert Walker, a private of the 65th Regt., was indicted for an attempt to commit an unnatural crime on Rewata te Ware, an aboriginal native boy. The prisoner was found gutltv of an assault, and sentenced to twelve months imprisonment. Mr. Cator conducted the ease for the prostcution.

On Thursday last a match at Cricket was played upon Te Aro flat, between the two elevens mentioned below, when it will be seen that Mr. Catchpool's side was victorious by 82 runs. The fielding on Mr. Cator's side in the first innings was admirable not a single catch being missed, but in the second innings the bowlers were too fatigued in consequence of the tremendous wind blowing, and the batters had if all their own way. The ground is in a very rough state, though every pains was taken to make it level, and from its hardness the round handed bowlers were not so effective as they otherwise would have been, the balls almost invariably rising over the wicket. Tt is hard to particularize where so many exert themselves with success, but we may mention that the steady bowling of Mr Catchpool and Clout contributed mainly to their success. The batting of Yates in the second innings was, as will be seen by the score, very effective. On the other side we would mention the wicket keeping as being very good, and Waring's bowling as well as Mr. Masters' unt 1 they got fatigued, was very steady and good, as was Ashmore's batting, while the fielding of Dr. Galbraith and Lieut. Beresford who took the difficult post of long stop was generally admired. We give the particulars of the score. Through the kindness of Captain Stanley, of H.M.S. Calliope, a marquee was erected on the ground for the convenience of the spectators, and a cold collation was served up in his usual recherche style, by " mine host" of the Wellington. Everyone seemed pleased with their day's amusement, and we only regret that the day was not more congenial so that the fairer portion of creation might have enlivened the scene with their presence. We understand another match is to come off on Thursday next. By reference to our advertising columns, it will be seen that a meeting of the Club takes place this evening, at 8 o'clock, at the Wellington Tavern.

Ist Innings. Mr. Catchpool, not out, . . 7 Lieut. Page, c. Waring.. 0 Mr. Moore, (Mackey) bd. Master 5 Lieut. Yelverton, R. A., run out 0 Mr. G. Luxford, leg before w., bowled Waring 0 Mr. W. Luxford, caught Galbraith 2 Corpl. Porter, 58th Regt. stumped Cator 3 J. Clout, ct. Master .... 10 J. Benge, run out 0 Yates, 99th Regt., caught Master, 0 J. Herbert, ct. Cator. ... 0 2nd Innings. Run out .... 11 B. Waring . . 13 Run out .... 16 Bd. Waring 4 Bd. Waring 6 Ct. Lardner 4 Ct. Beresford 3 Ct. Beresford 15 Ct. Cator.... 5 Not out 40 Bd. Waring 3 _____ 27 Byes 11 Wide balls 1 120 Byes .... 20 Wide balls 1 39 141 Total 180 Ist. Innings. Mr. Cator b. Clout 9 Mr. Master, 58th Regt. run 0ut.... 2 Lieut. Kane, R.N. caught Catchpool 0 Lieut. Beresford, R.N., run out 3 Dr. Galbraith bd. Clout . . 1 Mr. Lardner, not out . . 0 Mr. Deighton, c. W. Luxford 3 Waring, stumped Clout.. 0 G. Ashmore, c. W. Luxford 5 H. Winteringham, bd. Catchpool 7 Barnes, 99th Regt. bd. Catchpool 7 2nd. Innings. Run out .... 18 Ct. Yates . . 0 Bd. Clout . . 0 Run out •- 2 Bd. Clout .. 1 Run out . . 4 Bd. Gloat .. 6 Stmt. Clout 4 Not out .. 14 Ct. Luxfurd 0 Bd. Clout .. 1 37 Byes 1 50 Byes .... 10 38 60 Total 98