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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 990, 25 October 1881, Page 2

Messrs. Bourke & Smith next cattle sale fqv the 21st of NovembeW In our commercial column in last an error in punctuation, the prices of Southern ■f? 8 ® Petroleum Company’s shares read really was intended 100 shares,. 3s Id paid up, sold at pay xip, and SO, 3s 5d paid up

As will be seen by a report elsewhere, Sir. Joseph Pickersgill, on Saturday last, was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment with hard labor for wife-beating. From facts, which have since reached our ears, we are firmly of opinion that the sentence is too severe, and that a fine would have satisfied the requirements of justice. Many very extenuating circumstances could, we are informed, have been adduced, had the defendant cared to save himself at the expense of the reputations of others, but no, he positively submitted himself to be incarcerated as is a thief or vagabond. In that way, however, he has only himself to either blame, or, possibly, feel proud of his thoroughly unselfish conduct. But this is not the ■ question. Would it not have been better for Mr. Price, before passing sentence, to I have insisted on Mrs. Pickersgill’s attendance, and have heard her version ? She, herself, laid no informa, tien against her husband, nor was she in attendance to give evidence against him. Under these, circumstances would it not have been more just had Mr. Price inflicted a substantial fine, instead of sending the man to gaol?