RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5520, 5 December 1878, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Wednesday, December 4. (Before T. A. Mansford, Esq,, R.M.) DRUNKENNESS. Two inebriates were fined ss. each for being drunk. ERRATIC CONDUCT. Samuel Lacey was brought up charged with being of unsound mind. Accused had been arrested the previous night on board the May, where he was performing strange antics, by Sergeant Smith. When taken into custody Lacey was almost naked. The man belonged to the Luna, and appeared pretty right when brought before tho Resident Magistrate. He was remanded for three days, INJURY BY A ROCKET. The father of a boy eight years of ago, named William Blake, brought an action against the captain of the Zealandia for injuries sustained by complainant’s son from a rocket. The accident happened during the New Year’s celebration on the wharf on the Ist January. The boy was so severely injured that he had to bo taken to the Hospital, whore ho remained for three months. Mr, Gordon Allan for tho plaintiff ; Mr. Izard for the defence. Medical evidence was called to show the extent of the injuries. Dr. Diver, after describing the effect of the rocket on the boy’s leg at the time the injury was inflicted, said he had examined the limb again that morning. The wounded leg would never be as sound as the other.—Dr. Johnston corroborated tho foregoing. Three witnesses deposed to having seen the rocket strike the boy, and Geo. Bell said ho was on tho Zealandia at the time of the accident. Ho saw the chief officer of the ship fire off a rocket which appeared to be damp. Tho rocket struck a crane which was close to the Zealandia, on which crane the boy was sitting. A crowd gathered, and the boy was carried off. George Small also saw the rocket strike the crane. The rocket came from the Zealandia, which was close to the crane, . It was shown by the counsel for the defence that pretty nearly all the ships at tho wharf were firing rockets on the occasion in question, and that several persons who did not belong to the Zealandia were firing off rockets on board that vessel. Captain Sellers stated that ho was not on board on New Year’s eve, and had given no orders for the display of fireworks. Mr, Mansford reserved his decision.