RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 69, 7 November 1864, Page 3

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Fbidax, 4th: JforBiTBEB, 1564. : (Before H. M'Culloch, Esq., R.M.) D3tryEßNNES3.— Alfred J. Grey, and W. W. Baillie, were each fined ss. for this offence. Obscese Langk?a<h3. — Daniel M'Callum for this offence was fined 40s. Civil Cases, geisow v. sherlock. This wa3 an action to recover the sum of £1,. boino- the amount of assessment payable under the provisions of the Education Ordinance. Mr. Macdonald appeared on behalf of the Education Committee. There was no appearance on behalf of defendant. Legal proof having been led in support of the validity of the rate, the Magistrate gave judgment in favor of plaintiff, with costs 7s. A number of cases of a similar nature were disposed of, the verdict in each case being for plaintiff. : SMITH T. ftEET. This was an action to recover £20 for damage done to a waggon and a pair of horses, in the driving of which the defendant was alleged to have been guilty of wilful and culpable neglect. Plaintiff deposed that defendant had been engaged to drive the horses and waggon at 10s. per day. While in his charge the waggon has been broken', and the hocks of the horses have been so hurt, that it will take some time before they are fit for work again, and even when the wounds are healed, blemishes will be left, so that the value of the animals will be deteriorated. It would take £3 to repair the waggon, and for three days in •which the horses already have not been fit for work, plaintiff would charge £2 per day. It was very probable too, that there would be three days' •work of one horse lost next week. Richard Morton deposed to defendants' leaving the stable on Wednesday morning last with the hor.-ea. A man came at one o'clock, and from what he told liim, witness rode down the Bluff Boad and found the two hind wheels lying on the road. A. mile and a half further on, -witness found Grey with tho horses. Grey had been drinking, . and told him (witness) that in turning a corner the pole had (mapped, and he had jumped off the waggon to save himself, when he found it was no longer safe for him to hold on. The horaos will not°be in a fit state for work for somodayß. Cross-examined. — Grey fetched the horses home »nd unharnessed them. Defendant admitted that he had been drinking, and was not sober at the time, else he should not have neglected his duty. He was very sorry for what had happened, and would pay for the damage if it lay ia his power. The Mac'ißtrate awarded damages to the extent of £9. The Court then rose.

horde with provisions, wh&n I was [ met by W. Cavanaghand Ford. I wished them "Good afternoon, gentlemen;" Oavanagh dismounted, and knocked me -down with his riding whip. Ford did nob dismount. Ford told Cavanagh (to the best of my knowledge) not to strike me for I was too quiet a, man. The prisoner did not strike inc.: The Magistrate.— Wiiy did you lay an information against tliis man? Because both were in company. The prisoner was .-at once discharged. Thbft of Bacon.— Squire Nuttall was brought up on a charge of stealing bacon from the premises of Pickford and Co., in Dee-street. The previous depositions being read over, H. B. Monkman deposed— l am an auctioneer. On 15th October, placed Robert Mitchell in charge of goods in PiekforJ's store, as a bailiff. He had a quantity; of bacon hams, and other stores. I heard on Sunday morning that two pieces of bacon were missing. T don't know what weight they would be. I -was obliged to replaea thsmat the rate of is. 41 per lb. I slave no ono parunssion to take that bacon. Prisoner met me on the Tuesday (or Monday afternoon) and said it was a foolish affair, and that if anything were missing he would make it good. I said it would be rather a dangerous thing for me to take payment from him. A person ought to be very careful as it might be accounted a felony. This was the case for the prosecution. The prisoner said he had got nothing at all to say. All the evidence regarding the afi'air had been given. He was in company on the night in question with Messrs. Brockley and Okell. The deposition of Mr. Brockley was read over on behalf of the prisoner. The Magistrate said that with the evidence before him to the effect that the prisoner was caught at some distance from the premises on the night in question with nearly sixty pounds of bacon, he kit it to be his duty to" commit him for trial before the Supreme Court. Whether it was done &9 a " lark " or not would be a proper question for a jury to decide. The prisoner was admitted to bail, himself in £50, aud two sureties in £15 each. The Court then rose.