SUPREME COURT.

Tuapeka Times, Volume 1, Issue 43, 5 December 1868, Page 3

SUPREME COURT.

cbiminal srrcrrNm (Before His Honor Mr. Justice "Ward.) Monday, December Ist. An elderly man named William Kennedy was informed against for having on the 26th. August last, feloniously entered the premises of Mr. Samuel "Whiteside, a miner residing at Evans Mat, Taapeka with intent to commit a felony. Mr. Barton appeared for the prisoner, and at his request all the witnesses were ordered to leave the Court. According to the combined testimony of Samuel Whiteside, Hy. Maitland, and the apprehending constable, it appeared that for some time prior to the day on which the alleged offence waß committed , the prisoner had been residing in the locality of the residence of the prosecutor. The latter left his home early on the morning of the 27th August, having first secured the door of the hut, to which a padlock was attached, j Several hours afterwards, Maitland, on approaching the prosecutor's house, noticed that the door was open. He also saw a bundle, which it was afterwards discovered contained some old articles of wearing apparel, lying on a path leading to the house, and contiguous to Hopkin's fence. Subsequently he saw the prisoner at the house of the prosecutor. He was then in a stooping position, an# after being questioned as to what he was doing there, excused himself by stating that he wanted a match: Ultimately, Maitland left the house followed by the prisoner. On coming to the bunble before alluded to, the latter made a statement to the effect that some of the clothes had been given to him by an old woman. When the prosecutor returned home in the afternoon, he put the key into the lock to open the door and the staple to which the lock was attached fell to the ground. He also noticed, when he entered the house, that some of the things were disturbed, but missed nothing at the time. He subsequently had some conversation with Maitland, who resides in a hut about 100 yards distant from his own. In consequence of what Maitland then stated, the prosecutor visited the prisoner at a gully where he had been working for some time past. The prosecutor questioned the prisoner as to the visit which it was alleged he had made to his hut. He (Whiteside) denied that he ever authorised the prisoner to enter his house. Mr. Barton, having addressed the jury on behalf of the prisoner, j they (the jury,) retired, and after a brief deliberation returned a verdict i of G-uilty. The prisoner was sentenced j totwo years' imprisonment, with hard | labor. j

Emigeakts' Homes in America. — During the fiscal year 4,629,912 acres of publiclandweredisposedof, 1,892,515 acres of which were entered under the Homestead Act. The policy originally adopted relative to the public lands has undergone essential modifications. Immediate revenue, and not their rapid settlement, was the cardinal feature of our land system. Long experience and earnest discussion have resulted in the conviction that the early development of our agricultural resources, and the diffusion of our energetic population over our vast territory are objects of far greater importance to the national growth and prosperity than the proceeds of the sale of the land to the highest bidder in open market. The pre-emption laws confer upon the pioneer who complies with the terms they impose the privilege of purchasing a limited portion of "unoffered lands" at the minimum price. The homestead enactments relieve the settler from the payment of purcnase-nioney, and secure him a permanent home, upon the condition of residence for a term of years. This liberal policy invites emigration from' the old and from the more crowded portions of ihe. new. world. Its propitious resxilts are undoubted, and will be more signally manifested when time shall have given to it a wider development. — President Johnson's Message. Anotheb Royal Authob. — It is stated that a portion, perhaps a considerable portion, of the work to be published by Messrs. Allen and Co., on the cruise of the Galatea, is from the pen of Prince Alfred. It is to contain an account of the various events connected with the visit of H.R H. the Duke of Edinburgh to the Cape and the different Australian colonies, by way of Lisbon, Gibralter,. Malta, Madeira ; A brief description of the voyage and theparticulai-8 of a very interesting call at Tristan d'Acunhas, a lonely island visited on the passage to the Cape. Illustrations in chromo-litho> graphy and graphotype, from sketches taken during the cruise by Q.W. Brierly, Esq. are announced.