LOCAL AND MINING.

West Coast Times, Issue 35, 24 August 1865, Page 2

LOCAL AND MINING.

There have been no oases of much import heard at tho Police Court during the past few clays. The drunkard's list has been unusually light, and order and quietude prevail in our streets. On Monday, Samuel Garforth, a slaughterman, was charged by Sergeant M'lnnes, for obstructing a publio thoroughfare, he having erected a slaughter- yard above highwater mark, on what is termed tho Queen's Chain, a strip of ground one chain wide, extending from highwater mark inland, and which is by law a publio highway. His Worship decided that the charge was not proven, an from the evidence it seemed almost impossible to define the lino of high-water mark. He considered it the duty of the police to cause the removal of all nuisances, and such these slaughteryards were. Ho directed that all the offal should be removed to low-water mark, and if thrown back by the sea, it would have to be either buried or burnt. Case dismissed. On Tuesday, J. M'Millan was charged with stealing a pair of boots, the property of G. M'Mackin. Mr. O'Loughlin for defendant. It appears that the prosecutor in this case lives on board the schooner Glasgow, now lying a wreck to tho southward ; that on going on board one day he missed tho boots, and saw them no more until one M'Cann visited the vessel, and on his leaving her, he (the prosecutor) observed amark on the boots M'Cann wore by which lie recognised them as his property, and he claimed them. M'Cann swore that he bought tbo boots at Jones' Creek from tho prisoner, who complained they wore too large from him. For the defence it was sworn that the prisoner bought the boots from a man who was hard up on his journey down to the Totara rush, and the sale took place not far from the flagstaff. Major Bracken and several other witnesses were called upon to give evidence as to the prisoner's character, and thoy one and all spoke in the highest terms of him. His worship decided thero was a case for a jury and committed <-ho prisoner, accepting bail, however, the prisoner at LI OO, and two securities atLlOOeaoh. On Wednesday, Patrick Hare was charged with riding furiously through Revell-street. In defence it was state! that tho horso bolted. Case dismissed. J, Beck was brought up, on remand, for aiding and abetting in stealing from the person of one J. Telluer, at Woodstock. Evidence went to show that the prisoner had his hands on tho prosecitor't ohest at tho time of the robbery, and afterwards shut tho door in his face and, told him to go home. Committed for trial. Bail accepted, himself at LIOO, and two securities at LSO each. Charlos Lear was oharged with stealing from the person <-i one John Telluer, at Woortstook, two L 5 notes, four LI notes, a ring, and some nuggets, on Saturday night, tho 12th hint. Prosecutor swore that he felt and saw him take the purse, and that he refused to return it, and carried it away. Muoh the Bame evidence as that in tho case of Reed was gono into. Committed for trial at the next session of the Supreme Court, which is expected to bo hold at Hokitika in two or three months. Witnesses in this case had to give their addresses to the police. John P. Davis was also indicted with stealing either threo or four one pound notes, a match box, and four miner's rights, from tho person of Thomas King. Mr Prendorgast appeared for the defendant. Tho prosecutor doposod that ho was a miner working at the Waimoa, and came into Hokitika on Monday, the 21st inst. During the ovoning he visited the Scandinavian Hotol, whero ho got vory drunk, and at last lay down on a form and went to sleep; ho romorabored the prisonor and another man with him sitting on tho same form ; on awaking on Tuesday morning found his pookot out and tho monoy gono. Tho prisoner, being still there lie taxed him with tho theft, wliioh ho donied. Aftorwards ho gavo information to tho police, who arrested the, prisonor in a coffco-houso ; saw him searched at tho Camp ; found L 2, somo silver, and a match-box ; recognised tho box as his property ; the box now produced is tho samo 5 know it from tho japan having boon worn off it ; have had the box in possession during tho lost six months. Mr Prendorgast orosa-oxamined tho witn'cs, !,ut foiled to shako his ovidonco ; ho, howovor, wlmitted that ho was vory drunk tho night in question. It. Cussclb, tho nitito of the prosecutor, deposed to seoing tho prisoner searched at tho damp j noticed the matchbox as amongst tho tilings found upon him ; rocognised it as having used it off and on during tijo past three months. B. Gardner, a oarpeutor, deposid that on the night in question was at tho Scaudilavlau

Hotol, in company with proseoutor ; they had several dances, and afterwards he and the prosecutor went to sleep on a bench ; saw the prisoner and another man upon tho bench ; next morning he taxed prisoner with tho theft, who denied it, and he (witness) struck him on the mouth ; prisoner then ran away. Constablo M'lnnes deposed to having arrested the prisoner, and finding the above-men-tioned property upon him, and that as soon as the match-box waa produced the proseoutor identified it. Mr Prendergast then made a lengthy appeal to the Court that the prisoner be dismissed, as no reliance could be placed upon the evidence of a man who at the time was so drunk as the proseoutor. Case remanded until to-day. Prisoner admitted to bail, himself at LIOO, and two sureties at LSO each. The Pioneer Race Compauy seem determined to completo their race out of hand as quickly as possible, they having put on 20 fresh hands to do the work. They have accepted tenders for the provision of lumber for their fluming, at 25s per hundred feet, and expeot that, in the course of a month or less, tho water will be in full use on Tucker Flat. According to their calculations L 72 per week is the anticipated returns from this locality alone to commence with. Shares in this company are quoted at LlsotoL2oo. . The arrival of the Lady Darling has added some threo hundred and odd souls to our already large population. The streets during the early part of the week presented quite a bustling appearance, being thronged by sturdy specimens of humanity, many of them swagging-up within an hour after landing, making ready for a start up country. Two days, however, have been sufficient to partially clear them away. The number of women aud children that arrived by her was above the average ; we are glad to see them for it shews that the neighbouring colonies are beginning to appreciate us more according to the real merits of our adopted land, and have less hesitation in sending forth weak women and young children to settle amongst us. We give them a hearty welcome and assurance that there is room and to spare for all* On Tuesday morning the Mary Ann Christina left the river in tow of the Lady of the Lake steamer. She orossed the bar safely, and immediately proceeded to sea with a fair wind. We have watched with somo interest the progress of the vessel during the past three months. She has gone through a trying ordeal, but she has escaped comparatively unscathed. We hope we have not seen the last of her. Dunedin is her port of destination ; may, she reaoh it safely. It is with much satisfaction that we are enabled to announce to the publio the probability of an early sitting of the Supreme Court at Hoeitika, Mr Sale stating in Court yesterday that, in all likelihood, the prisoners he then committed would stand the i trial in this town instead of Ohristohuroh. This at* tention on tho part of the Provincial Government to one of our moat urgent requirements will be duly appreciated and gratefully acknowledged by this community. A very great deorease in crime will, we have every reason to believe, be'the resultThe Gift Auction in aid of the 'Hospital fund was held for the first time on Tuesday evening last. The result of the sale was most satisfactory, the sum realised amounting to about L 47 sterling. The competition was extremely brisk, and article after article was again and again put up for sale, and but little of tho stock was removed, folks evidently going in for the fun of the thing. We were shewn a common ohisp knife that had been sold and resold until tho amount it finally accumulated reached tho handsome sum of L 6 10s. If this auction ends as it has begun we shall be able to dispense with that aid from tho Provincial exchequer we have so long and so vainly asked for. \/ t The Wesloyan body here are making vigorous exertions to overtake, as far as possible, the spiritual wants of the West Coast. The Church Building Fund for Hokitika is progressing favorably, and the clearing of the ground for the site of a church is already in progress. We hope the publio will coi. tinue to contribute liberally towards the speedy erection of the first ohurch in this rising township, especially as there is considerable doubt whether the Government will supplement the sum raised, as was at first expected. At the Kaniori, aspects are encouraging. On Sunday last open air services were conducted by Mr Virtue, at 11 a.m., and by the Rev. G. S. Harper, at 3 p.m., who in the evening organised a sooioty of members, who have since taken steps towards purchasing a building for temporary worship, and for a Sabbath sohool, till a suitublo church be erected. V A Tliatoher gavo his farowell benefit last night. We hear it was well attended, but in consequence of the Press being (most unusually) exoluded, are unable to give a report of tlio proceedings. In tho Government "Gazette" of July 31st, we find that Adolphus Berndt, who has been for some time post practising in this town, was duly registered as M.D. for this province. The publication of the list of prizes of Mr Christenson's Art Union has been unavoidably post* | poned until our next issue. The list can, in the meantime, be seen at Mr Christenson's. | A prospecting claim has been granted to William Jenkins, James Jenkins, John Reynolds and John O'Brien, for discovering a payable creek, 30 miles up a creek which runs into the Saltwater, one mile from the Teremakau. The claim is situated 14 miles from the Arnold, in a S.W. direction, twelve miles above tho junotion of tbe Arnold and the Grey ; then the surveyor's old track till blazed trees aro met with, the right band of wliioh trees I aro to be followed until tho creek is readied. Prospects obtained were 1 grain to tho dish, and 15 dwts was the result of half a day's sluicing.