RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT, LAWRENCE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 271, 10 April 1873, Page 5

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT, LAWRENCE.

"-'■*' " r - '■ Thursday April 3. (Bofore-'-VinceYit Pyke, Esq ; ft.M.-, "and -•"' Edward Herbert, Esq., J.P. Cable <& Drummond v. Gormhy.'— Claim' of" JE23" 1&. lOd. - Judgment by defauft.. - . . : jr. - -• M Kiuimie v. .Hills. — Claim of £5, damage "■ done .by defendant's fowls.' Plaintiff appeared for himself ; Mr. Gooday who appeared for defendant, objected to the summons, as no dates were given. The R.M.*s act required that full and explicit particulars be given, which he submitted, had not in this case been done.

He asked for an adjournment at the expense of the piaintiifF. r ihe Brnch was not quite sure if, in a case of this kind, dates were needed. However, they would have the evidence of plaintiff, and if an adjournment was then required it could be had ; the more these nnneighbourly cases were prolonged, the more of that unneighbourly feeling would be engendered. The defendant pled not indebted. M'Kimmie deposed that shortly after Mr. Hills came to Lawrence, a lot of fowls were sent to him. . Soon afterwards they found their way to his (M'Kimmie's) shop, and picked the mutton. He had heard of them and seen them on several occasions standing in the window picking tho meat. He did not take any action against the owner of them ; but once feeling aggravated by them, he sent his clerk to Mr. Hills to iriform him of 22 1 mm m1;,m 1 ;,, Mr Hilla replied as foUows : I ell M'Kimmie to employ a boy to keep them away." He had lost certain customers through defendants fowls being seen in his shop picking the meat, and he thoroughly believed he had lost the amount claimed. In cross-examination he said that he knew, the fowls well. He drew the neck of one of them, which Hills claimed, so he was certain they were defendant's property. On four or five occasions he had to throw away minced meat which was lying in the window, and destroyed by these fowls. He could not specify any particular date. He would call witnesses to prove what he had stated. The Bench asked if they could testify to the dates. Mr. M'Kimmie said they could not. ;< Then," remarked the Bench, "we cannot listen to such twaddle. You have proved nothing. We will dismiss the case." Tuesday, April 8. (Before Vincent Pyke, Esq., R.MJ R. Glover was brought up on remand charged with stealing a coat at Switzers. Robert Fulton, hawker, deposed that on the 16th January he placed a box containing a variety of articles and clothing in the concert room of the Crown Hotel, Switzers. On the 25th February he again saw the box. It 3 lid was then off, and after search he missed a bine pagefc coat, two white shirts, a silk handkerchief, and two linen handkerchiefs. The coat had one button, and was lined with striped cotton inside the sleeves. Identified the coat produced. Sergeant M'Nally said he saw prisoner at Switzers in February. On the 23rd February last Fulton reported at the Switzers Police Station that his box had been broken open, and a blue paget coat stolen therefrom. Witness proceeded to the Crown Hotel, and found that accused had the key of the room during the previous fortnight. Cross-examined — After accused left, step-dancers were allowed the use of the concert room. Was not aware the bar key opened the concert room, and that the landlord had possession of it every night. At this stage accused was remanded till the following day. W:Ei»rjisi>j.Y, Arcin 9. (Before Vincent Pyke, Esq., R.M., and Dr. Stewart, J.P.) Robert Glover was brought up on remand from the previous day on a charge of stealing a coat at Switzers. Mr. Taylor, who appeared for accused, addressed the Bench, pointing out that the landlord of the hotel had means of access to the room where the box from which the coat was alleged to be stolen ; th*t only one of the articles alleged to be stolen had been found in possession of the accused. He dwelt strougly on the course adopted by detective Farrell ia searching prisoner's house without a warrant ; and asked the Bench in the absence of conclusive evidence against Glover to discharge him. He also asked the Bench, if they considered the charge proved, to take into consideration the length of time Glover had been detained in custody. Mr. Pyke quite concurred with Mr. Taylor's remarks, and complimented him upon his able defence, which would have been successful but for one unhappy fact : the coat had been found in prisoner's possession. He strongly animadverted upon Detective Farrell's conduct in searching prisoner's house without a warrant, stating thut it was a violation of the sanctity of the man's house, illegal and unjustifiable ; and he (Mr. Pyke) was not quite sure that a charge of larceny could not be sustained against the detective. It was time the police knew their duty, and if Detective Farrell were brought to account on a charge such as he had mentioned, it would be no mure than he deserved, and would teach a useful lesson. The Bench were of opinion that the prisoner was | guilty, but taking into consideration the | time he had been detained in giol while the charge was pending, and the circumstances of the case, a light sentence would be inflicted. The sentence would be fourteen days imprisonment, with lia/d labor, in the Lawrence Gaol.

The Pacific States have shown some wonderful developments of mining industry — soapy mines and paint mines being among the most curious instances ia point. But a recent California journal gives an account of a still m<-re extraordinary n^volty in a honey mine. This is situated in Los Angelos country, on the eastern slope of San Fernando ranges of mountains. In a rift which penetrates the rock to a depth of 160 feet iunutuerable bees have established thomselvbs, and for ye.irs have been adding to their accumulation of honey, until an enormous amount has been stored there. Certain, enterprising miners have built a scaffold 125 feet hii>h, with the intention of running a dt if t into the rock whioii would strike the vein of honey ; but as yet all attempts to reach the covot^d fruits of industry h.ive been unsuLvus&ful.. Persons who have attempted to eater the hive by the- natural opening have been driven back by the bees, wh> iasue when disturbed^ in a solid column 1 foot iv diameter ; and some men have loan tat^r lives ia a battle with the itifuruvtbi iast;cts. Meanwhile the bees eontmue to improve each shining hour, and withiu the last four'years are estimated co hava added not less than 15 f«.et in depth t-> their deposit of sweets. — " Mining Journal."