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South Canterbury Times, Issue 2421, 20 December 1880, Page 3

A Court of Justice has been compared to many things, but it devolved upon His Honor Judge Johnston this morning, when threatening to inflict ' pains and penalties innumerable on those who were disturbing the tranquility of the Supreme Court with their shoelcather, to remark, “Courts of Justice ought to be as silent as a sick person’s chamber.” Every ear was turned towards his Honor to hear if he would define the sick patient but he stopped abruptly. Edwards, the daring convict who leaped from his hulk at Port Chalmers the other day has been pardoned, This is very prompt and very gracious on the part of the “ great powers ” but will it be conducive to good discipline ? How many long sentenced prisoners in the Dune Jin gaol are now panting for a similar chance of earning their liberty I How many convicts in the hulks will henceforth ardently pray that Providence will only throw a little girl in their way !

At the Supreme Court to-day a defaulting grand juror, Mr C S. Fraser, was mulcted in £5 for appearing about an hour behind time and failing to render a reasonable excuse for his absence. When Mr Fraser appeared Judge Johnstone reminded him in his usual good natured. but abrupt style that he had been fined. “ Yes!” replied the juryman “So I learn; what is to be done ?” “ What is to be done ?” retorted His Honor at the confident tone of the other, “ What is your explanation ? Ha\ e you anything to say?” “Simply that I was engaged on very important business, your Honor!” “ Important business !” was the sharp reply. “ More important than the Supreme Court, rfas it ?” “ I did not notice the time” pleaded Mr Fraser. “ That will do,” said the Judge in his severest style. “ Since your business was so very important that you could not attend the Supreme Court you must pay for it. The full fine will be inflicted ”

The Caledonian Society’s sports {privileges were submitted to the lamtner at Messrs Maclean & Stewart s rooms to-day. There was a large attendaD.cc tind spirited competition. The results were as follows: —General licensing booths—John Callanan No. I, £42; No. 2, £24. • Refreshment booth McGeown No. 1, £l3; No. 2, £l6. Cards—G. Atkinson, £5 10s. Gates— O’Bryan £142, total £242 10s. Last year the privileges only realised £IBO 16s.

A meeting of the Caledonian Society will be held in the Grosvenor on Wednesday evening. A large grass paddock, at the rear of the SchoOlhouse, Washdybe, . was oh fire this afternoon.

v After the audience had retired from the circus on Saturday, some towards the side show,others towards their homes, and just as the lights in the big tent were about to be turned low something like an apparition was noticed beneath the dress circle. Something white and ghostly lay stretched out on the green sward beneath the seats where the fashion and beauty of Timaru sat but a few moments before. The Yankee attendants approached cautiously and . their pulses quickened as they proceeded to probe the mystery. Then, with an exclamation of triumph, the man with the pole swung forward something that resembled a pair of Chinese pants, very wide in the legs, but white ns the driven snow. • How the unmentionables became detatched, and the agony that at least one of the fair admirers of the arena must have experienced in dexterously shuffling out of her property and at the same time concealing her loss, must necessarily be matters of conjecture. The criminal sessions of the Supreme Court opened this morning. Charles Williams, a j onng man who received a good character from Inspector Pender and Detective Benjamin, of Christchurch, and Frederick Nelson, a decent looking man, were each sentenced to seven months’ imprisonment for relieving their friends of their lime pieces. John Blair, for embezzlement, was sentenced to two years. True bills were returned against all the other prisoners except Pound, whose case.(breaking into the Post office) has yet .to be dealt with. Quinn and others, charged with riot, or rather unlawfully trespassing on a farm at Makikihi were not dealt with, as only Quinn appeared, and the other defendant’s had not received timely intimation they would he wanted. His Honor having ascertained that the proceedings out of Which the trespass and riot arose had been settled intimated that some punishment would have to be inflicted, as 'public justice must be vindicated, and the defendants must be taught that they cannot take the law into their own hands. He would dispose of Quinn’s case, and afterwards he would indicate what course should be pursued wiith the others.

Mr Whitcombe, Secretary to the Caledonian Society notifies that the time for receiving entries'for the handicap races has been extended to Friday next. • Mr J. Oakden, late of Loudon, pianoforte tuner for Messrs Kelsey A Co., Dunedin visits Timaru during the first week in January. Tire owner of a large sum of money can have the same by proving his ownership and applying to the landlord of the Club Hotel. The sacred ora'orio “ Creation ” will be produced by the Harmonic Society in the Trinity Presbyterian Church, on Thursday evening.