LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 6, Issue 316, 6 November 1862, Page 3

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

Resident Magistrate’s Court.—October 2d. Hugh Ross v. T. Higgle, debt £8 4s Gd. Judgment by consent. W. Hair appeared to answer a charge of having obstructed the flow of water from the lake called "Virginia Water, thereby raising the level of the lake, and injuring the highway. Constable Coakly said that in September last he went to get the culvert cleaned which leads the water from the lake, and found it choked up with clay and sods. Spoke to defendant, who said he .had stopped the watercourse, and would stop it, until tlie Government repaired the damage done by it. Did not think the road was damaged then ; the whiter was about 2 feet below tlie level of the road. John Cosgrove said jthat he had been sent up in September to got the culvert cleaned ; but found nothing in it. Had been employed in repairing the road, and there were several places where tlie water had injured it. If the water did not rise in consequence of the culvert not being open, it would not damage the road. The case was dismissed.

Oct. 30. Robt Gray v. G. Masterson debt £l3 Is Gd Judgment by default. Rio and Rapira were brought up on a cl large of crim. con. with the wife of Tamati Takiri, damages laid at £ 10. The defendants proved an alibi, aid the case was dismissed.

Nov. 1. J. F. Kells v. R. Dorsett, debt £1 5s Gd. Judgment for 11s and costs 7s.

Nov. 3. Paori Poaka v. Wirihana Kingi and Hori Te Hone. • The complainant accused the defendants of being drunk at Putiki on two several occasions, an d they were fined 5s each, and costs 12s 6d; in default, 48 hours imprisonment. The Wangaehu Bridge was opened for traffic three weeks ago but it will not be finished for three weeks yet. We shall then take occasion to give an account of the new part of the structure. The Marine Board. —W e understand that Capt. Sharp has been appointed President of this Board established with functions somewhat similar to those of the Trinity House in England. Its head office will be in Wellington. It is not yet known who is to be Capt. Sharp’s successor in the offices he holds here of Postmaster and Collector of Customs.

John White Esq is gazetted Resident Magistrate and Justice of the Peace ;n this district.

Maori Leases. —The Pntiki natives are having their land round Putiki, as far back as Mary bank, down to the mill, and up to near the Lion Inn, surveyed by the Provincial Government. It is to be laid off in sections so as to form a township, ancl the Maori owners intend leasing or selling the ground so soon as -the survey is made.

Prize Firing. —lt will be. seen from the returns in another column copied from the New Zealand Gazette of October 22, that Wanganui holds an honourable place in the list, especially in the average of the shooting in each district. EANGIIIKEL In the western district, above a mile of road has been formed during the winter, at the head of the Bonny Glen, at the moderate figure (including a small bridge and several culverts) of 16s. a chain. The road is 20 feet in clear width, with a ditch on each side. The side cutting at Turakina has been widened to 16 feet in clear width, and is now really a very respectable work.

Contracts have been taken for metalling over three miles of road in the Bonnie Glen at an average price of 395. 4d. v, chain—the places ranging from <£ 1 12s. to £2 10s. according to accessibility of material: —and from the foot of the side cutting at T urakina to the main trunk line (about half a mile) at 355. a chain. This work is just about to be commenced, and from the fact of the road not having been us,ed -traffic by drays and carts during the winter mouths, it is now in fir.-t-rate order. The metal is to be laid on .10 feet wide and to a depth of not less than 8 inches in the centre and 5 inches at the sides.

IVIr. Hogg, the Provincial Engineer, has now nearly completed laying out the line of road along nhe Rangitikei, as far up as Mr Swainson’s, and tenders will be advertised for in about a fortnight, for the formation of part of this line, and that between Dnuicll’s bush and Turakina, '

/I UR A KINA. The Bridge may now be looked upon as safe, the north abutment .having-been - strengthened to such a degree, as that it may be expected to stand secure for at least a considerable period ; the repairs, however, are not yet completed. W ould not a good coat of paint be well bestowed on these wooden bridges 1 The Volunteer Company has gradually melted away, until, at a meeting called on 20th ult. only seven attended. A goodly number had assembled on two previous occasions, when the gallant Major commanding did not make his appearance—hence the listlessness. The Common School Committee have appointed Mr. H. A. Moore to the office of teacher of the village school.