RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT, LAWRENCE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 312, 13 December 1873, Page 3

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT, LAWRENCE.

(Bofore E. H. Carew, Esq., R.M.) Friday, 12th December. John Cairns was brought upon on remand, charged with stealing a quantity of property, consisting of a telescope, boots, blankets* &c., from C. W. Adams, district surveyor. Adam Brandingan, baker, residing at Tapanui, deposed — I know the accused. I recollects having seen him at Tapanni. Don't knoW whether it was in October or November. I believe it was about the 16th of either month. I saw prisoner first at my place, and after at Nob'ea' Hotel. He then told me had some glasses, which I declined to buy. >He showed me three glasses. One was a night glass, and two were telescopes. I bought the night glass and one telescope. Paid prisoner 30s. for the two. (The purchased glasses were produced and identified by the witness.) Prisoner told me that he lately brought the glass from home. Next day he expressed a wish to buy the glasses back. He bought the night glass back for 30s. That was the price I paid him for both. [This witness, who is a foreigner, was more than once cautioned by the Bench, on account of his carelessness in giving evidence.] Arthur Alexander Adams, commercial traveller, deposed to the accused offering him certain glasses for sale, at Tapanui, on the ICth September. Accused stated that he had left the glasses with Mr. Brandingan for approval prior to purchase. Prisoner Bubsequently told witness that Brandingan had bought two of the glasses. He (accused) asked witness to purchase for 10s. the remaining glass .and witness bought it at the price asked. (The glass was produced and identified, to the best of witness' belief, as the glass bought by witness.) Witness stated that accused informed him of the sale of the glasses to Brandingan. (The remainder of this witness' evidence corrobrated that given by Brandings) C. W. Adams, district surveyor, Lawrence, identified the various glasses as being his property, and he stated he never gave accused authority to 'take them. John Francis Herbert, runholder, deposed that a person in the employ of the last witness left at his place certain parcels. Witness also deposed that accused was in his employment when the said parcels were lying at his residence, and that articles could be removed from the parcels without witnesses' knowledge. No other witnesses were called. The prisoner made a statement in which he narrated, in diary form, the various employments he worked at some weeks prior to his arrest. The prisoner was committed to take his trial at the first sitting of the Supreme Court at Lawrence in March next. Downlt v. Nichols — Mr. Gooday for plaintiff ; Mr. Mouat for defendant. This was a complaint that defendant did use abusive, threatening, and insulting language in a public place, with intent to provoke & breach of the peace. The evidence, in his Worship's opinion, justified a dismissal, and this case was dismissed accordingly. There were no other cases, and the Court then adjourned.