HAWERA.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 426, 17 May 1879, Page 2

HAWERA.

(from our own correspondent.) Ferdinand Deirckeu was brought up on Tuesday, before J. Livingstone, Esq., and Captain Wilson, J.P.’s, charged with feloniously breaking into a store at Okehn, on or about the 4th April, and did then take away eighty-six one pound notes, one hundred and thirteen half-sovereigns, six five-pound notes, silver and gold coins to the amount of £l2 4s, and one Bank cheque the value of £ls. Buli-Tnspecior Dtiitcn conducted the prosecution. W. Prosser deposed—Prisoner came to me and asked if I had a horse for sale. I took him to the paddock, and showed him three, and sold him one for £9 10s, for which he paid me with six one-pound notes and seven half-sovereigns. He wanted me to sell him a saddle, but I bad not one for sale. I took him to Mr Henderson.

John Henderson sworn, said—-Defendant came tome with W. Prosser, and purchased a saddle, bridle, saddle-cloth, and a pair of leggings, for which he paid me five pounds (two pounds in notes, and six halfsovereigns). I tendered him three shillings change* John Murray, sworn—l have known the accused for the last six months by the name of “ Tinker.” He was indebted to me for some money, but I don’t know how much. I met him at Waverley last Tuesday. He gave me one pound there ; it Was two half-sovereigns. He also paid my passage in the coach from Waverley to Hawera. I don’t know whether the prisoner owed me twenty shillings. He gave it to me because I suppose he owed it to me.

George Meyer, sworn—l am a waiter at Prosser’s Hotel, Hawera. I recognise the prisoner. He came to the Hotel on Tuesday, 6th May, and left on the next day. He gave me one half-sovereign in payment for his accommodation. I have not seen him since until to-day, H. G. Pitcher sworn, deposed—-I am a watchrnarked in Hawera. I recognise the prisoner. He came to my shop on Tuesday evening, the 6th instant, in company with a man named Murray. He purchased a silver watch and chain,”and a seal. He paid me £9 15s—nine one-pound notes, one half-sovereign, and silver.

James Davidson, sworn—l am a storekeeper in Hawera. I recognise the prisoner. He came to my shop on Tuesdaj', the 6th instant, in company with Murray. He purchased goods to the amount of about ss. He tendered rne a half-sovereign in pa3'ment. I did not like the appearance of it, so I objected to take it. It was dinged, and appeared as if it had been tried before. I doubled it up. The prisoner then gave me another half-sovereign. I gave him his change, and told him that if he did not look out he would get in the hands of the police. He told me that if the money was bad, he knew where he got it from. It was from Collie & Scott, when they paid him some money at the Okehu, where he had been working. He then left my shop, and returned shortly after and said that he had paid the half-sovereign that I rejected, to the watchmaker, who said that the man must be mad who would reject it. W. Noble sworn, said—The prisoner came to my shop and purchased a pair of hoots for £l, and paid me a one-pound note for them. Prisoner was remanded till the 21st instant, at Wanganui.

The Hawera correspondent of the Taranaki Herald is pleased to be facetious at my expense, but he should have remembered (while writing bis report}, that old,proverb—“People who live in glass houses should never throw stones.” He makes an interesting sketch of an irate person meeting “ our own correspondent” with a newspaper in one band and a thick stick in the other. I am inclined to think that meeting a man like that is ten times better than meeting a party of furious natives,who come with the express purpose of chopping “ our own correspondent” into

diminutive pietefcj for utteriligond reporting scandelops libels, concocted (just to raise a little excitement) from his own imagination. His wonderful power of the pen, I am sure deserves a better fate than being merely “ our own correspondent.” His reports as a rule are flowered with lines of poetry. Happy man to have such a retentive memory to remember them. His ready wit, I should think, would guarantee him a fortune at once if he started a paper (but at the same time it would be execrable stuff). I wonder he consents to live in a small out of the way place like this, when he has such abilities (one of which I could not leave out, “invention”). Ah 1 “ Sic transit gloria mundi.