LAW AND POLICE.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 229, 16 March 1866, Page 1

LAW AND POLICE.

i Very little of importance has trans- ■ pired during tlie month to call for special notice. The cases of a civil nature brought before the Eesident Magistrate's Court have been of the ordinary. everyday class, ■ having little or no public interest. The criminal cases have likewise been few, and with the exception of a rather determined attempt on the part of the police authorities in bringing up offenders under the Cattle Trespass Ordinance, to compel owners of horses to keep them within their own enclosures, little or no business can be reported. One case of cattle stealing, however, was heard, which was of some importance, and but for considerable forbearance on the part of the accused, might have led to very serious consequences to the prosecutor. A person named Eodney Pasley, a farmer residing at Oteramika, accused a settler named G-eorge Brown of stealing a cow and steer, the property of Pasley. It appeared from the evidence taken before the Magistrate, that the accused, having lost some cattle, went in search of them in the vicinity of the prosecutor's farm, where he found five head, including the cow and steer in dispute. The cow was branded T H, and from the circumstance of the brand being old and somewhat indistinct, the accused mistook it for T E, the brand on his own cattle, and drove it, and the steer, which appeared to be its offspring, away with the rest. The prosecutor having missed the cow and steer, made enquiries, and, finding accused had driven them away, sent his manager to the accused's house to demand the cattle ; but on his persisting they were his property. Mr. Thomas Hamilton, a farmer, was sent for, who assured the accused he had bred and branded the cow, and sold it with its calf to the prosecutor twelve months previously. Upon this the accused gave up the cow, and.it was driven away, but strange to say, the prosecutor proceeded at once to the police, and the result was, that the accused was arrested on the charge of stealing the cattle. After hearing the evidence, the Magistrate at once dismissed the charge. The whole case arose out of a mistake, and ought not to have • been brought before the court as a criminal matter at all. The following convictions for various offences have taken place during the month : — Drunkenness, 11 ; breach of the peace, 1 ; larceny, 2 ; horse straying, 13 ; breach of Police Ordinance, 2 ; breach of Merchant Shipping Act, 7.