LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 7, Issue 352, 16 July 1863, Page 3

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Wanganui.

Before T. Harper, T. Waters, J. Cameron, W. H. Watt', and T. B. Taylor, Esqs. J.P.’s.

Regina by D. Straehan v. G. Bam bridge, for felony. It appeared from tlie ■ evidence’ of D. and A. Straelian, that on the evening!of Sunday, June: 28th, two shots were, heard near Mr. Strachan’s house,’and on his boys goingtowards the spot prisoner and two other men were seen following up some of - Mr. Strachan’s cattle, which Avere running away. The hoys called to them to stop, Avhich they did, and then ran on again. On getting near the hush they let slip some dogs ’which accompanied them. On the boys coming up the men were gone, but the dogs had got a steer down and were worrying it. The beast was wounded in the forehead apparently by a ball. The prisoner was identified as the man who carried the gun, and one of tlie dogs as his property. Next morning Mr. Straehan and his boys tracked prisoner and his companions to a wliare of Mr. James Atkinson’s. They charged him with shooting the beast, and he made no reply. There are no wild cattle where tlie beast was shot, only Mr. Strachan’s tame ones.

. James Atkinson, junr. , swore, “ that he went with prisoner and a<Maori on the day in question to slioot pigeons ; that tlie cattle came out Of the bush, and the Maori said they were wild ones,! and desired prisoner to fire at them to frighten them and keep them from charging ; that the prisoner did so when the cattle were running towards them ; that the Maori’s dog then broke loose first and the others directly afterwards ; that he and liis companions did not go. to see Avhat the dogs were worrying,- hut could give no reason for not going, except that they thought the dogs would give up the chase and follow them if let alone. That prisoner had shot with-him to kill pigeons Avith, but he did not know, what he might have in his pockets. , The dogs were taken in case of falling in with any.pigs ; heard young Straehan call, hut could not fell Avhat he said ; hurried away because prisoner told him to go on. They were about four miles from home, and did;not know on whose land; caught two pigs with the dogs afterwards; had not been told what to.say. Case dismissed.

Before J. Handley and T. Waters, Esqs.. J.Ps. July 11th. Corporal Atkinson v. Constable Amphlet. Drunkenness on duty. It appeared that Amphlet brought a prisoner from Manawatu on the 10th-, and that on reaching the police station-both he a7id his charge were drunk; that corporal had to, turn ,him out of the station for interfering with him in his duty ; and that he then threatened to resign, and conducted himself so violently, that he had to be placed in confinement. The constable took his prisoner into Dunleavy’s, where, they got the drink. He was unfit for duty. Fined 10s, and to be reported to the Superintendent. July 13th. C. Vincent v. J. Durran. Debt 4Z 18s lOd. The amount, which was for a River-hank road rate, was paid into court before the sunmipns was served.

Besore D. S. Durie, Esq. R.M.

•Tilly 14th. J. Bason v. Christian Lockhart. Debt 21. Judgment' for plaintiff with 7s costs. .Regina by H. Hurley a. Tahana Tauwhanake (a native assessor residing at Wangaehu). Feloniously littering a forged cheque purporting to : be signed by W. Buffer, Esq., B.M. at Otaki. It appeared that on Saturday the prisoner went' to Mr. Hurley’s shop and. purchased a pair of: boots for 1/, and in>payment gave the.forged cheque, receiving 4L in change. In reply to Mr. Hurley’s questions he repeatedly said it was all right; that it was Mr. Buffer’s cheque drawn in favour of Tahana ; and on being required to endorse it he wrote the name of “ Perehama,” which he repeated after signing it, ■ saying it was his . own name. Mr. Hurley, having some suspicion about the matter, at once presented the cheque at the N.S.W. Bank and found it was worthless. The prisoner was apprehended shortly afterwards, and on searching him a genuine cheque of Mr. Buffer’s and five other forged ones were found upon him. He was very reluctant to give up these, saying they were papers belonging to the Wangaehu natives.' Prisoner made a statement in which he admitted the uttering of the cheque, the blank for which had been stolen from Mr. Shields ; he also admitted that the name en- 1 dofsed by him is fictitious. Committed for trial at the Supreme Court. The cheque passed at Mr. Hurley’s .is.so badly written, that Mr. H. supposed it to he that of some Maori who had money at the bank, but some of the others are not bad imitations of Mr. Buffer’s genuine cheque. On hearing, the Magistrate’s decision prisoner; exclaimed,. Now we’ll have payment for Herawini ” (the native killed by Lister) ; aiid some of his friends, and especially Apera- : haiha Tipai, were very angry, objecting to the Court’s authority, and offering -to pay any amount of fine, but insisting that .’a man of the prisoner's rank should not be put in.gaol. They were of course reproved by Major Durie, and still more strongly by Hori Kingi, who, with other native assessors, was present as a spectator. •

A squall last night nearly blew down, the Common School, and injured other buildings and fences.

Mataongaoxga Mill.— We are requested to state that in eonsequeuce of the dam at this mill having been injured by the late rains, the public con not be supplied with flour for a few days ; the repairs will be completed in a day or two, weather permitting. By a proclamation, dated June 26th, the'Governor declares it expedient to call out the

Wanganui Militia for Training and exercise, and fixes the number of days and hours at two hours' a day for. .fourteen days ..within three months from date of proclamation ; and by a further proclamation, dated July, 4th, he calls out the first and'second classes of the militia, aiid orders Major Rookes to-carry the direction into effect. The officers are to l>e paid at the same rate as officers in the ‘ regular service, but without allowances, and the men according to a scale which is to be published, with rations. Wo understand that Major Hassard ■ is appointed agent for the General Government in all matters affecting the, defence of this Militia district, and that .all civil officers are directed to place themselves under' his orders. The Natives. —About, a,dozen natives from the up-river >pahs started ; for the Avar last week, and iEpiha followed them unarmed‘a?day or two afterwards. -The. natives assert that the latter has gone to endeavour to bring back the rest of the Wanganui natives ; lint as his journey was undertaken in consequence of the taunts contained in some of the letters; to' him respecting Hori Patene’s death, and he admitted that if he could hot get the rest hack he felt bound to take Hori’s place, he will probably remain at Taranaki. ‘ 1

Aropeta’s remains have been brought to Waipuna, and a further split lias occurred between his people and the Taranakis, in consequence of an insult offered to the corpse by a chief of the latter tribe. A native named' Watene, belonging to Turakina, has been> apprehended on a charge of stealing a horse .belonging, tr Mr. lmlay.; As, however, it appears that In nought the animal from two Wanganui natives, he is placed under the surveillance of the -native assessors at Putiki till the sellers are procured. One of them has been caught, and the other will doubtless be so in a day or two, as the officers have gone up the. river to fetch 'him.* ; / . ;■ It is reported that Topim : te Mamaku and hi's people are goiug to the war. . A .rumour, which is in circulation, that powder is being sent in small parcels from the Ngatiraiikawa, and that bur natives start in small parties as they get a sufficiency, may have arisen from some suggestion of such a reason for their having goue by threes and fours from the upriver pahs ; aud we should not have alluded to it hut for the greater probability given to it by the seizure of persons in Wellington for selling ammunition to natives.

On Thursday Week a summons for debt was served on a Ngatiraukawa native, named Hape, who has been here for some time. He refused 16 attend, and' tore up the summons. As he failed tc attend during the Friday, judgment was given by. default, and Mr. White next morning senthis’head constable and two native police to arrest him, which they succeeded in doing in the evening. A settler, for whom he was Avorkiug, offered to-become security for the debt aud costs, but as it was long past - court hours Mr. White refused to enter on the case, and.sent Hape to jail till Monday morning. The ease was then heard before Mr. White and two native assessors ; the debt was confessed and paid, hut a solicitor who appeared for Hape threatened an action for false imprisonment.