PER PRESS AGENCY.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1950, 5 April 1875, Page 2

PER PRESS AGENCY.

Auckland, This day. The Criminal Sessions began this morning. Mr Justice Gillies took his seat for the first time on the Auckland Bench. Mr Whitaker, on behalf of the Members of the "Bar, gave a short speech congratulating His Honor's accession to his new dignity. His charge to the Grand Jury was very short, and he congratulated them that, , though the cases were numerous, they were all light, and there was not a matter of law on which he need direct them. Remarkable fact was that not one of the newly-arrived immigrants was on the list which was satisfactory as giving good pro mise for the future of the Colony. /The large proportion (f) of the prisoners were educated men. Cases of larceny preponderated as usual.

As usual there were sereral cases of forging and ""uttering. He thought it extraordinary that men should commit grave criminal offences to release themselves from debts which were so easily cancelled. Several old offenders figured again, which suggested a grave question to the Legislature. He concluded, after calling attention to the nature of the duties of the Grand Jury. Kichard Line on two charges of forging and uttering received for tlie first offence 12 months, and for the second 6 months. He pleaded guilty. James McFarlane, alias James Scott, forging and uttering, pleaded guilty, and received sentence of 12 months' imprisonments. F. C. Leggett, for stealing a cheque for £80, the property of the Provincial Government,; pleaded guilty. Chits. Boscruge and G. M. O'Borke gave evidence as to the good character of accused. Sentenced to two years. Chbistchijbch, This day. The Superintendent opened the Council in a very long speech, making a minute review of the progress of the province. He said ninety thousand additional acres had been brought under cultivation during the year; 53 additional miles of railway had been opened. At present there were nearly 113 miles of railway open, and within a few months there would be a total of 209 miles. He expressed satisfaction at the class of immigrants introduced and the readiness with which the province absorbed them. Over ten thousand immigrants had arrived during the year. The Superintendent then referred to the proposed alteration of the Constitution, saying ifc was impossible to discuss the matter properly until it was known how the Colonial Executive proposed to give effect to the resolutions; but he was Convinced that any change in the Constitution would have to be such as it would be deemed advisable to apply to the whole colony. The Secretary of Public Works laid a statement on the table to the effect that the railways had yielded a profit' of £20,000 during the past nine months. Dunedin, This day. An old Otago miner writes from Cooktown of exaggerated accounts of the Palmer Goldfield, and cautioning miners against rashly facing the dangers of Northern Queensland. Judge Grey, better known as Wilson Grey, died yesterday at Lawrence, aged 63. Mr J. P. Armstrong, M.P.C., has been requisitioned to stand for Waikouaiti for

the seat in the Assembly, vacant by the resignation of Mr J. L. Gillies.