SUPREME COURTS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1523, 9 December 1886, Page 3

SUPREME COURTS.

Napier, Dec. 7. The sessions of the Supreme Court opened to-day. The Chief Justice in bis charge to the Grand Jury referred to the three charges against boys fifteen years of age, as indicating that an influence was at work calling tor legislative interference. Such cases occurring in extremely well-to-do districts, in fact the most prosperous in New Zealand, and allowing for the extremely liberal provision made for education, their crime was probably due to the comparatively high wages earned by boys. He thought that provision should be made for licensing out boys of tender years convicted for offences without showing criminal tendencies. He thought neither the Industrial Schools or Reformatories had fulfilled their mission. The licensing out of boys should be under Government control. Norman Guatavus Hall, late schoolmaster at Kumroa, was sentenced to eighteen months’ bard labor for the forgery of a small cheque. Application was made to have him dealt with under the First Offenders’ Probation Act, but it was stated that he had tampered with school children, embezzled the funds of the Kumroa Road Board, and was continually drunk. George Broad, indicted for rape on a child at Hastings, was convicted of the lesser offence—indecent assault—and sentenced to three years’ hard labor. Two boys pleaded guilty to housebreaking. One who received a good character was released on recognisances to come up for sentence when called upon, the other, who has been an inmate of St. Mary’s Reformatory, Nelson, waa remanded pending an application to the Government. A third boy pleaded guilty to forgery of a cheque for £l2, aid was remanded pending inquiries into character. December 8. In the Supreme Court to-day, Fred Hill, the Post Office clerk, who pleaded guilty to seven charges of stealing letters, was brought up for sentence. The Chief Justice treated him as a first offender under under the Probation Act, and ordered prisoner to be kept under surveillance for two years. On the other six charges the prisoner was ordered to find security of £IOO, to come up for sentence when called upon, Robert Mitchell, for forging two orders for the payment of ten shillings was sentenced to eighteen' months’ imprisonment. Invercargill, Dec. 7. The session of the Supreme Court opened this morning, His Honor Mr Justice Williams presiding. Thomas Shelton, for forging cheques for small amounts, was sentencen to nine months’ imprisonment. Edward Jackson, farmer, of Tuatarau, was sentenced to two years’ hard labor for perjury. Geo. R. Howell’ charged with stealing a cow, was acquitted. Frederick H. Daley mail carrier, pleaded guilty to four charges of stealing post letters. Sentence waa deferred. Dec. 8. At the Supreme Court this morning, F. H. Dale, who yesterday pleaded guilty to four charges of stealing post letters, was brought up for sentence. Counsel asked if an application under the Probation Act could be entertained, but Judge Williams said it waa quite out of the question and it would never do if the public got it into their heads that the Act gave men a license to sin once, and that, because of previous good character, with comparative impunity. Evidence as to previous good character was given by the Chief Postmaster and others. Dab was sentenced to two years’ hard labor on each charge, the sentences to take effect concurrently