RESIDENT MAGISTRATES' COURT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 50, 13 January 1862, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATES' COURT.

Satuuday, 11th Jan., 1861

(Before A. G Strode, Esq., 8.M.). AA rm. Guthrie, Henry Townshcnel, and Robert Free, were each fined 20s. for drunkenness.

Thomas Jennings was fined 10s. for the same eiffence, and Win. Guthrie was again charged with being drunk, and the fine of 20s. imposed. It appealed that when he.was in the watch-house on the first occasion, he was liberated on bail as soon as he became sober, anel that he immediately went ancl got drank again, and had to be taken into custody. ■

Donald Ross was sentenced to four days' imprisonment, with hard labour, for indecent exposure of his person in a public place. George Davis and John Brown were each charged with permitting a nuisance, but as the Inspector reported that it was abated, in each case the charges were dismissed.

To the Editor of the Otago Daily Times,

Dunedin, Jan. 11, 1862.

Sue, —In your last three days' issues a notice appears to the effect that goods must be taken delivery of, and removed from alongside the lighters at the public wharf, which is but perfectly reasonable, as the same rule exists all over the world, and I am glad to see that it is to come into use here, for a more confused, disorderly, dilatory, and slavish system of delivering goods does not exist in any other British colony, for it is true Scotch navigation system—main strength and stupidness. Why not have the same method adopted here as elsewhere —as in Geelong ior instance ? There the contracting cartel's are furnished with bills of lading, and they look after the delivery of all goods from vessels, conveying them to their drays by hand trucks, or taking empty drays down the wharf by hand, load alongside the vessel, or take a dray alongside different vessels, pick up goods as required where a. vessel is discharging, and, a certain space to be allowed for the delivery of her cargo, goods belonging to different merchants can be so arranged as to facilitate the loading of drays. Aud even with the limited accommodation of Dunedin Jetty a dozen drays together might he conveyed up and down the present wharf, under the supervision of a police officer to see that the centre roadway was not blocked up. I am glad to see the lightermen have come to the resolution, and 1 hope they will, steam-boat men and all, make a determined stand against being made any longer horses and asses of, in dragging these abominable elephantine trucks up and down the wharf. If it will still stupidly be persisted in by the merchants, let them employ laborers. There is not one employed on the jetty, the sailor and lighterman do all the laborer's work, &c. Sir, in giving this a place in your Monday's issue, and kindly aid by your powerful means in reforming systems and redressing grievances, you will confer a great favor and a public benefit. Your obedient servant, A Dunedin Meiiciiant, One who is interested in the sliipping and wSlfnre of the community and the country. [Our correspondent, in his indignation, forgets to say how he would have the drays turn on the narrow Toadway of the jetty, and in tact how he would preserve regularity, and obviate over-crowding amongst them. Unless there were very stringent regulations the jetty would soon become impassable.—Ed.O.D.T.]

FLAGGING.

To the Editor ofthe Daily Times,

Sin, —In your issue of this morning, I observe an article on the improvement of footpatlis, kc, in Dunedin. As a means of forwarding such a desirable object, I will, iv a few days, forward you two or three flags of a freestone discovered a few weeks ago ot Waihola, whicli I believe to be a first-rate article for the purpose. It is of such hardness that it requires to be wrought by the same tools granite is worked with at home, and can be got easily and shipped round at small expense. Your showing the samples on arrival, will oblige, Sir, yours truly, IMPROVEMENT.

Duuedin, 11th January, 1862.