POLICE COURT.

Colonist, Volume II, Issue 104, 19 October 1858, Page 3

POLICE COURT.

Saturday, October 16. Before the Resident Magistrate. Charles Longcroft, a very respectable looking man, was charged with entering the house of Mr. Maxwell Bury^ during the absence of that gentleman, and conducting himself in such a maimer as to greatly alarm Mrs. Bury and those who were in the house. Fortunately the actions of the man had been observed by several.persons, and immediate assistance being rendered, the prisoner was given in custody^ * Chief Constable Fagan stated that the prisoner had come into the colony in the Active, on her last arrival from Melbourne, and-from what he had seen of the prisoner's conduct since he had been here, was decidedly of opinion that Longcroft was insane, and unfit to be at large. Mrs." Bury was sworn, and deposed as to his onduct in her house, which appeared most extraordinary, and very unlike a sane person. Mr. George Clarke, publican, also-stated his impression that from what he had seen of the prisoner ho did not appear to be aware of What he was doing. At the suggestion of Dr. Wilson, the Provincial Surgeon, the prisoner was sent to the Hospital, under the charge of his wife, who stated that she readily undertook the charge, ivith the promise to the Bench that no further care need be taken, as she would loot well after him. Monday, October 18. CJontrary to the expectations of his Worship and others, after the promises made by Mrs. Longcroft on Saturday, "Mr. Charles Longcroft was again charged this morning with creating .great alarm in Hardy and Collingwood streets, by repeatedly crying " Fire," and making most "horrible noises, at the hour of four o'clock, on the morning of Sunday. Constable Harper, who was on duty at the time, took the prisoner in custody in Hardy■street, and who was exceedingly violent. Drs. Wilson and Bush having examined the prisoner, stated he was unfit to be at large; and in consequence of their being no room in •the Gaol ;at Nelson, a man has been provided, who will have the charge of him at the Hospital, on the,Waimea-road, to which place he has been taken.

The Barque Chieftain.—We visited this vessel yesterday, and regret to say that the passengers are complaining of their treatment ■during the passage out. As legal proceedings will, we are informed, be commenced, it would be premature in us to prejudge the matter. There has been a mutiny on board, which at one time threatened serious consequences, and the chief mate is at present in confinement for derelictions of duty during the, passage. The vessel itself seems commodious, and with the exception of the portion allotted to the se-cond-class passengers, very clean. We had certainly but a glance at that part of her acv commodations, and defer a closer inspection until after a little soap and water and disinfecting fluid haa been used. The principal part of her cargo is, we hear, for this port, and we publish in our shipping column the list of her passengers. She is 147 days from Gravesend, and 150 from London, ' Clearance of Ships.—Under this heading a paragraph appeared in our last impression which Has, we hear, given rise to the very feeling which was furthest from our intention in penning it—viz., that we wished to cast an imputation of carelessness on the gentlemen connected with our Custom House. We spoke of the loose way in which vessels were cleared. In so doing we wished to attack the system which allows 6uch a proceeding, and not the gentlemen who are of necessity bound to attend to the authorised forms. That there should be an official inspection by either the constabulary or some recognised officer, we consider necessary ; but while advocating this, do not wish to add other and disagreeable duties to those which the present laws entail upon-our Revenue officers. We should have thought that it would not have been necessary for us to shew that we do not connect the arrangements of a Custom House with the gentlemen who, while they occupy responsible positions, cannot be .liable to be called to account for the ineffective working of that over which they have no control. THEATRE.~We have been requested by Mr. Lee to inform the public that in' consequence of the ball being held at the Masonic Hall on Thursday next, Miss Clara Seymour's benefit will take place on the following evening, Friday, the 22nd instant, instead of Thursday, the 21st, as advertised in our last number. The bill of fare is, as will be seen, an unusually attractive one, and we sincerely hope that the public of Nelson will come forward with their usual generosity, and give this lady a bumper house, as she most richly deserves it for her unceasing efforts to amuse the public. () The Coal-Mine at Stoke.—The share list, which was advertised to be closed last Saturday, will remain open for a few days longer to enable gentlemen in the country districts who have not yet been able to send in their names, to avail themselves ot this opportunity. . Inter : Pjrovincial.—The Provincial Council at Canterbury wa9 opened on the first of this month. Owing to a press of matter we are unable in this impression to give the Superintendent's speech. The disadvantages of the Sumner Road, named nine years ago as " Thomas' Folly," are still felt; and the scheme which was' proposed on the landing of the first iettlers—-viz., a tunnel and railway through the hills behind Lyttelton—is again under consideration. , . Sydney.—From papers received we learn that the excitement about the Port Curtis goldfields was having the effect of making prices of provisions firmer, and a temporary suspension of the colliery worltji at Newcastle was anticipated.