Untitled

West Coast Times, Issue 228, 12 June 1866, Page 2

The extont to which a Rosident Magistrate' Court has hitherto been needed in Okarita (observos the " Obsorver"), and the manner id which it is appreciated now that it does oxist, are sufficiently indicated by the fact that during the past week upward s of forty summonses havo been issued, and that, inoluding the cases heard on Thursday, Mr Frico has boon ongagod in tho hearing of thirty-five actions for debt, oiolusive of the criminal business coming before him as Resident Magistrate, and of his ordinary duties as Wardon of tho district. Of this number of oases, flvo which wero deoided wore under the oxtendod jurisdiction, but, like the ordinary casos, thoy wore chiefly claims for goods delivered, cash lent, or work done, and did not present any special features ; judgment being in tho majority 'of instances given in favor of tho plaintiff, and the actions in other oases ■ being either withdrawn or Bottled out of court. Lato iv the day as the appointment has boon mado, it has come prematurely enough so far as concerns the convenience either of the magistrate, or tho publio, all the' business, in consoquonco of the want of a. oourt-hbuse, having to bo transacted in the Warden's tent, at no tune of extravagant pro- - portions, compared with tho amount of busi* ness transacted, an"d tho various useß to whioh it has been appliod. With such promise of , businoss as tho first weok has given, we shall hope soon to bo able to give a full description » of tho new court buildings, and all the fea« turos of tasto or display whioh the Government architect and upholsterer may be ploaaed to introduce in the plans of its construction*

Wo take the following from tho " Westland Observor" of Saturday : — " On Tuesday and x Wodnosday, in consequence of the heavy surf along the shoro, communication botweon Oka* rita and the Five Mile Beach was considerably interrupted, and Bovoral of tho more venturous travellers, in the course of their journey, met with acoidonts which, though ludiorous enough to observora, wore attended by no small amount of riak to lifo and limb. Tho common catas* • trophos.of a high tide and heavy surf— tho oapsizing of drays and paokhorses— were sup« ploindntod by sonio awkward accidents to foot passengoi'B and riders, and it was only owing to the good fortune of some, and tho gallantry of others, that the results were not more, disastrous than thoy proved to b». The most narrow esoape was made by an im« porfnnl functionary at the present time— - tho bailiff of tho local court — who on re« turning from the Five-Mile bestride a pack* horse, was, with his steed, caught in a heavy breaker and oarriod up among the rooks. The saddle-girths being slaok, the saddle aud'the rider wero displaoed from their proper po»i« tion, and, ono foot of the rider remaining ia tho straps, he was dragged along the beaoh for a considerable distance, at the imminent risk of his life, and not without sustaining gome serious bruises. About the same time, one of ■ tho fair box, who had paid a holiday visit to the Fivc'Milo, was treated by old Neptune with similar disrospoot — was washed . from hor horßO, stripped of hat, oloak, and other, portions of her outer attiro, and drawn into tho raging surf, from tho unkind embrace of which sho was only rescuod by the gallantry of Mr J. O'Oonnoll, who fortunately happened to bo in tho viciuify at tho time, and who promptly brought > the iuoipiont mermaid safely to shoro., During the same tide, drays , and horses were dashed furiously up against the bluff by occasional heavy- seas, and eaoh podestrian, as he reached town, indicated by his appearance that he liad onco too often attomptod outting corners and oheating the ad« vancingwave. Oneofthoße whodidnoteao&pe so easily was Mr M'Lelland, of the firm of , M'Lolland & Thomson, Wharf-street. When attempting to round tho Five Mile Bluff, after tho tide had somewhat advanced, and when getting beyond tho roooh ol a heavy breakor, Mr M ( Lelland missed his footing, and painfully injured his right log. Tho accident necessitated his removal to Blanohard's Hotol for the night, but he has since been able to reaoh town, anil, although not fully reooverod is nojr gradually recovering from the effeots of tho injury sustained.'

Thh Motk and tub Beam.—' John, 1 said a clergyman to one of bis flock, ( you shauld become a teetotaller, you have been drinking again to-day.' *Do you never take a wee drop yourself, sir?' inquired John. ' Ah, but John, you must took at your oircumstances and mine.' ' Verra true,' quoth John ; ' but, sir, can you tell me how the streets of Jerusalem were keepit sac clean?' 'No, John, I cannot, tell you that.' • Weel, sir, it was just because every bne keepit bis own door clean I replied John, with an air of triumph. John was never, catechised after - that , about drinking, by his worthy pastor. '

1