LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 8, Issue 379, 18 February 1864, Page 3

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURTS. Before Walter Buller, Esq., R.M. Otaki, January 30th. Ranpana v. William Lucas; breach of sale of spirits ordinance. The defendant, a licensed victualler, was charged with having sold spirits to one Naihi an aboriginal native contrary to law, and confessed to the fact. Fined 10/ and costs. T pi te Kalmsvhara confessed to a clyirge of drunkt. muss. Fined 10s. Pene Hapupu v. Ngahuka ; damages 12/ a claim for the value of a foal killed by defendant’s Stallion, illegally at large. Judgment for 5/ arid costs. Te Rikihana v Mamalui; debt 12/postponed to next sittings. Rangitikf.i, February 3rd. Samuel Sorrel Bloomfield v. Gibbes Walter Jordan ; debt 1 2/. Judgment by consent for amount and costs. Thomas Scott v. James Southcombe ; debt 4/ 14s. Defendant not in attendance. Judgment tx pt te for amount and costs 1/ 14s. (the mileage being 27.) John Scott v. te llemara ; claim 10/ Adj aimed, after hearing, to next sittings. U iku Mafialia, a native Constable, appeared to a charge of drunkenness, bin d 20s. with threatened dismissal for next offence. Manawatu, February sth. Matata v Poulete ; damages 11 ss. Judgment for 1/ and costs. Warena v. Kairaua ; debt 17s. 6d. Judgment for amount and costs.

Before J- White, Esq.. R.M. and Native Assessors. At Putiki, on 2nd February, the case of Petera v. Henere Talian was tried. It was a case of crim con. The woman had been fined 2/ 10s by a native magistrate, and her husband had applied without effect to defendant for the amount of the fine. Mr H. B. Roberts, solicitor appeared for defendant, and conducted the case with great ability. It appears that plaintiff had pre viously received ulu from another individual for a similar faux pas, in the shape of two bullocks, one of which had been stolen front Mr. Roberts, and the other from Mr. Wybourne. The case was dismissed with costs to the defendant. It is remarkable, as being the first occasion, to our knowledge, in which an English solicitor has been employed in a pure Maori court. On the conclusion of the case, Mr. Roberts l'ose, and addressing the bench, said that he had been very much pleased with the order and deorum with which the proceedings had been conducted. ITe had never been in any court where greater deference was paid by the audience to the authorities, or a more profound respect shewn to the majesty of the law. Assessors were present from the various pahs up the river as far as Piperilci, to whom Mr. White read the instructions lately received from the Government as to the treatment of rebellious and suspected natives. They acquiesced in their propriety, and signified their readiness to conform to them.

Wanganui, February 4th, 1864. Before D. S. Dime, Esqr., R.M. and Thomas Harper, John Cameron, and John Handley, Esquires, H.M. Justices of the Peace for the Colony. John Dunleavy v. Michael Brannigan ; debt, 221 10s 3d. Judgment confessed for 15Z, and costs 9s. Taylor, Watt and Co. v. Wm. Steward ; debt, 21/2s lOd; judgment confessed, costs 9s. Before D. S. Durie, Esq. R. M. February 8, 1864. Michael Brannigan and Jas. Matthews were fined 10s each for drunkenness. February 10, 1864. ~ Patrick Gorman of the Defence Force was fined ss, and Louisa aboriginal native woman was reprimanded, for drunkenness. The police were requested to caution the publican who was said to have supplied this woman with spirits. February' 11 1864. John Colville was 6ned 5s for drunk enness and costs 6s 6d. Michael Bi’annigan and James Keen r. John Dunleavy, debt 47Z 19s ll|d j judgment confessed for 17/10s and costs, as awarded by arbitration.

. February 13, 1864. H C. Field v Thomas Claridge, for damages 21 ; judgment for 18s and costs 11s. Plaintiff sued defendant for the value of a rirnu log of his taken away by defednant from the bank of the river near the residence of Mrs. Campbell, where plaintiff had fastened it last winter during a freshet. It appeared that defendant had sold 36 feet of timber cut out of the log, and judgment was given for half its value, defendant being allowed the other half as cost of labour. m Regina by James Atkinson v. Harpi, aboriginal native, for larceny. Prisoner confessed to having stolen from the prosecutor on the 9th inst. a coat, a shirt and a pocket handkerchief, of the value of 305., and was fined L'6, or two months’ imprisonment with hard labour. Prisoner paid the fine, and was liberated, after being cautioned as to his future conduct. Reuben Bason was fined ss. and costs 6s. 6d. for drunkenness. February 15, 1864. Reuben Bason v. Dr. Davies, W. Owen, and W. Swainson, for damages for trespass of horses 21 5s ; the defendants who had paid the amouut claimed under protest failed to appear, and judgment was given for the amount and Is. costa.

The Natives.— -We mentioned last week that a meetiug was to be held at Kaiwhike on the 10th and 11th. After a long palaver, it was adjourned to the 15th, at Piperiki. The general feeling was that a detachment of the Wanganui natives should go to the Waikato. The Native Resident Mngistrate here, Mr. White, sent a letter to Ropana, who, it may be remembered, stole a mare and foal from from Mr. Jas. Atkinson about sixteen months ago, demanding restoration of the mare with all her progeny, and threatening confiscation of his land and other property, if he refused When this letter was read at the meeting, Ropana snatched it out of the hands of the reader’, tore it in pieces, and said it was folly to send such a letter to him, whose hands were red with the blood of the Palceha. He was rebuked for speaking in this way ; but the horses have not been returned. Nor has the gun which was stolen from Mr. F. Watts some time ago, and which was also demanded. A

native at the meeting had a 57th rifle. The Waitotara king natives have given notice that they will kill any one attempting to make a road beyond the Kai iwi, or any white man who goes beyond the Pakaraka. This is done, we believe, more in the way of bravado, to be talked of among the other tribes, than frith any serious purpose. Registration of Dogs.— The notice from the Gazette, elsewhere, announces the appointment of Mr. R. W. Woon as Registrar of Dogs for the Wanganvii and Rangitikei Districts. The Registration is annual, and is fixed by the act to take place in the month of January, but the first registration, or that for this year is not limited to any particular month. The Registrar provides a badge which the owner has to affix to the animal's collar. All dogs over sixpnonths require to be registered under a penalty not ex ceeding £o. Unregistered dogs and dogs worrying cattle, sheep, pigs <fcc., whether registered or not, may be destroyed. The registration fee, including badge, is live shillings. Mournful Occurrence.— By yesterday’s mail arrived intelligence of the death of Mr. Durran, late of Kaikokopu. As he was crossing a creek about 20 miles from Tokomairiro on the 2nd inst., in company with Mr. Treweek, his horse fell, and coming partly on him, caused fatal internal injuries, of which he died about twelve hours afterwards, I\lv. Durran left this for Otago about three months since, and his sudden death just on his entering a new sphere of activity, will doubtless be deeply felt by all who knew him here. Nor will the sympathy felt for Iris much esteemed and respected widow be less general or less genuine. We cannot better describe the character of the deceased than by the words used in the letter announcing his death. “ Pie was a genuine, manly, open, straightforward fellow.” We will add, however, that those who knew him best were alone acquainted with the strong kindliness of his nature, which prompted him to give ready and efficient assistance to his friends and neighbours whenever they required it.

New Zealand Steam Navigation Company. —We lately complained of the manner in which the English mail was brought to Wanganui by this Company. The forwarding of the last maildoes not show an improvement. It arrived in Wellington on the Wednesday night and was kept there two days, when it was put on board the 71 'out,a >) onya, about to proceed on her regular trip to Manukau. The quick despatch which this Company's. vessels get here is worthy of notice. The last two . air ved on different days of the same week, and were discharged, loaded with full cargoes of wool, etc., and despatched within twenty-four hours. The Company has added to its fleet by the purchase of the s.s. Queen The Queen is a vessel of 178 tons register, and has accommodation for 27 passengers in her cabins, and above 40 in the steerage. Their fleet now nunl* bers five vessels, —namely, the Wellington (expected, soon from Scotland). Ladybird , Rangatira, Queen, Wonga Wovga-. and Storm Bird We believe the Company, intend shortly to give greater facilities to trade and travelling along the West coast, of which an advertisement in another column is the first symptom.

The Races. —The entrances for the Produce stakes took place last evening at the Rutland hotel, when there was a very numerous attendauee of subscribers. The following horses wei*e entered : Dr. Mussen’s b.g. Young Glaucus, by Glaucus out of Estelle, 4 vrs.

"Mr. J. "Walker’s-b.f. Lochleven, 4 yrs, by Glaucus out- of Lass of Govvriy. Mr. J. Standisb’s br. h. Cloud, 4 yrs, by Nut with out of Phillis. . Dr. Gibson’s ch g. Rifl6mah,*4 yrs, by Magnet out of Dinah. Mr. Baldwin’s b.g. Camden, aged, by Camden out of an imported mare. We understand that the subscription list progresses very favourably, and we hope to have to congratulate the Wanganui public upon a very successful meeting. TURAKINA. The Anniversary of the Presbyterian Church Sabbath School was held last week. A sermon was pi-eached on Sunday, Feb. 7t-li,. by the Rev. David Hogg, and a collection made at the close of the service in aid of the School Funds. The Festival came off on the Tuesday following. The amouut realised was verysatisfactory. In the evening the annual Congregation was held in connection with the above Anniversary. The Chair was occupied by- the Rev. R. J. Allsvrorth, who distributed the prizes awarded by the Sabbath School Committee to the scholars for good conduct and regular attendance. The report of the Deacons’ Court was read by Mr. Jas. Wilson, jun., and the meeting addressed by the Rev. D. Hogg, and by Messrs. Beamish, Freetk, and J. Willcox.