RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT YESTERDAY.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3657, 15 September 1880, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT

YESTERDAY.

(Before H. Kenrick,Esq.,!BMO BBKACH OF ASMS ACT. John Sainsbury was charged on the information of Jolm B. Thomson with having, in.or about the month of January, 1879, without a license, sold to a native named Hapuka a pound of powder, a bag of shot, and a box of percussion caps. On resuming at 2 o'clock, Mattiu Fahau gave evidence which was chiefly corroborative. Sergtv Eusßell, sworn, deposed—He received the bag of shotfproduced) from Hakdpa Namuriki, at Waiherekiki, on the 25th nit., and delivered it to Detective Farrell on the 4th September. Mattiu Fahau was present when Hapuka gave him the shot. The depositions having been read over, the accused said he reserved his defence, aud was committed to take his trial at the next session of the Supreme Court. His Worship allowed bail, accused iv his own recognisances of £100, and two sureties of £50 each. In the subsequent cases he would not ask for further bail. - THE THIBD CHAKGE. Accused was further charged with selling one pound of powder, a box of caps, and a bag of shot to one, John Davis, without being the possessor of a license on or about April 1879. Counsel for accused admitted the formal testimony of Mr Superintendent Thompson and Sergeant Louis, as given iv the previous case. John Davis, sworn, deposed—That he resided at Wangamata. In the month of April he purchased some ammunition from the accused. He purchased a pound of powder, a bag of shot, and a box of caps. Ho was working for accused at the time, and the amount of the. purchase (17s 6d) put down in his account. When be got the ammunition a native was present. There might,have been another,* but he could not recollect who he was. He did not hand accused a license,, He was at that time putting up a stockyard for Sainsbury. He received £20 for the work. He finished it a week after buying the powder, caps and shot. When he started work he was possessed of no money, aud everything he got from the store was booked to him. Several times he had drinks at Sainsbury's, and they were also booked, but were not shown in the account rendered by accused. He did not think he received more than £1 worth of spirits. He could not account for the item "goods" unless it was for the ammunition and spirits. He did not know why the drinks were cloaked thus. He did not know whether accused held a liquor license at that time. He was positive he had received more than 2s worth of drinks. He had not paid the acoount yet. Sainsbury bad paid him in full for the stockyard. Timiba accompanied him when he proceeded to the store to purchase the ammunition. He could Dot remember whether he told accused that he wanted it to shoot pigeons with. He asked accused whether he had anjjr ammunition for sale.. He said "Yes,'

and handed out a pound of powder, a bag of shot and a box of cups. At that'time witness was not contemplating the laying of the present charge against him. Sains- , bury got the ammunition from behind the counter. Witness remarked, before ' he left, that he thought it was a danger- ' ous thing to sell powder without a license. Sainsbury said he possessed a dealer's license, and took from a box a document, the contents of which he read to witness. L; D. Nathau's name was attached to it.. _. Witness then told him that he was not supposed to sell powder without a permit from a Justice of the Peace, even though he possessed a dealer's license. Timiha was present. The conversation was carried on in English. He did not know at that time that it was illegal for him to purchase the ammunition. He did not own a gun. He borrowed Salisbury's a few days after. He had only used a portion of the goods up to the present. Himi Ishmail, a young native, deposed to having been present at the time Davis Purchased the ammunition. He did not ear the price fixed for it. At this stage His Worship adjourned the Court till 10 o'clock this morning. THIS DAY. (Before H. Kenrick, Esq., EM.) BREACH OF ABMS ACT; John Sainsbury was charged with having sold in April, 1879, to one John Djavis, without a license, one pound of pdwder, one bag of shot, and a box of caps. This case, which was adjourned yesterday, came on again this morning at 10.30. Superintendent Thomson and Sergeant liouis gave the same evidence as was published in a similar case yesterday. . This was all the evidence advanced this morning, and His Worship committed the prisoner for trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court. Bail was allowed, in one surety of £200.