R.M. COURT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3435, 14 February 1890, Page 2

R.M. COURT.

MASTERT6N-FRIDAY,

(Before Colonel Roberts, R.M.)

!NERI\OEMENT OF BeErDoTY Aoi.

Constablo-Swain v Edwin Merethj infringing the Beer Duty Acts

Sergeant Price, whoconduoted.tbe prosecution, stated that beerhad been irawn from a barrel without destroying the stamp. ' Defendant pleaded, guilty, but explained tint he was hot aware that

there was a;brand on; the cask, arid had riot wilfully'evaded his duty, Hia Worship, remarked that the maximum penalty was iSO in such cases, but.be* took this more as a mistake than otherwise; He would therefore inflict a penalty of 5s and COStB, .' , ■>■■.;'■■■ Boßouan 87-L4WS. Borough Inspector-v T. Whitt. Having in possession unlawful inflammable material, thereby causing broach of the borough by-laws. Mr Whitt pleaded guilty, but explained that he bad the flax in his possession for a number of years. The Inspector,' on cross examination, however, stated that this : particular flax wits, newly placed on the premises. A fine of 6a and costs was indicted. .'■-,•■ .:':-,■ ;;■= • ,

;-:ame v \V, Harding. Breach of Horough by laws iii allowing horses, to be at large, Fined 2s Gd nud costs.

OBTAINING MONEY BY FALSE PRETENCES. ' Frederick Fitzgerald.awell-dressed i young man' of about twenty years:of 'was charged on the information of Thomas, D. Thompson with obtaining the sum of LlO Ivy means of a valueless oheque. '. llr Pnwnall, who appeared for the prosecution, Etated briefly tho particulars of the case, and called - Thomas Dellwood Thompson, who, on being sworn,- stated he was a hotelkeeper, carryiug on business in Mastertnn. He knew the accused, and remembered seeing lnm on a Saturday' night, about a fortnight ago. Accused' came in about 9.80 p.m., • and called for several drinks. A number of peoplo wcro there. Acoused produced some silver trom his pocket, and paid for the di'inks, He then said, "Oh, by tho bye, can you oblige me with change for a cheque for LlO, as I wish tn pay Mr Ross for doing some work for me." He said the cheque was perfectly right; he was late for the bank,-but there was no fear, as it would bo cashed on the Monday morning. Gave him eight LI notes and a cheque of Ross and Muir's for L2. The money paid belonged to himself and mother. Recognised the cheque produced as the one cashed. On Monday morning sent tho oheque to the Bank of New Zealand, Masterton, He was sent for, and on the road met one of tho Bank officials, who informed him that the oheque was no good and was marked."no account,' 1 Consequently himself arid mother lost tbesumofLlO.

David Hoggie, sworn, deposed be was a'carrier, residing in Masterton. Know accused by sight, and remembered seeing him in Thompson's Hotel about 9.80 on a Saturday night; did not remember the date, but it was last month, Remembered accused cashing a cheque there, and saw the face of the cheque. Previously to that he saw him trying to cash ltatthe.ClubHotol. Recognised the cheque produced as that cashed by accused. Heard acoused,- who asked Thompson himself to change the cheque, say it would be right, Saw him get the money, for the cheque from' Mrs Thompson, but did not hear him say anything else. Saw the money given was notes and a cheque of Ross and Muir's.. .. W. C. Smith stated he was a clerk in' the bank of New Zealand at Masterton. Know the oh'e'que produced ; recognised it by the signature and writing, Saw it before on Monday, January 27th, when it was presented by a boy at the Bank, It was not paid. As'iod the boy iu tho first place by whom the cheque was given, and who was presenting it, The boy said it was for Mr Thompson. The oheq.ua was not paid as there was no account, and it was accordingly endorsed by him to that effort. Acoused had. not, to his knowledge,' ever had an account in the Hank of New Zealand at Master ton. The oheqne was entirely valueless. This was the whole of the evidence for the prosecution. Mr Powrtall, closing the oase, asked that tho oharge be amended to rend "receiving eight pounds sterling and a cheque for £2 by means of a valueless olieque." The application was granted, The aooused here remarked that it might bo immaterial, as the prosecution was asking for ;i committal, but he would endeavour to prove that neilhor did Mrs Thompson givo him the money, nor were eight pounds given in notes at all. l He asked also that the Benoli would deal with the case summarily, but this was declined by His Worship, and acoused did not therefore, make a statement. Accused was committed to take biatrial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court to he held in Wellington on March 3rd. Rabbit Oaiii.wd. Inspector Drummond v John Pyke, Breach of Babbit Act, by fai'ing to destroy rabbits on his property at To Whiti.. Defendant pleaded guilty, and was fined £5 and 7s costs. Same v Meta Tuhaka Iranga, similar offence, James-; Harvey,-, 'sub-iuspeotor, deposed that by instructions from Mr Drummond he had served notice on the defendant on soveral occasions, His neighbors complained that he had done nothing to, destroy the rabbits on his property.' Witness had not himself seen him doing anything in this direction, Cross-examined by defendant: He knew the land infested was that ot defendant. Had never heard that it bad been apportioned: among tho natives in seven 1 aore blook'' -Was never told that.be was about to kill the rabbits, and was not.aware that two days had been/.,spent killing. John Drummond, sworn, deposed that he was Babbit "Inspector. On 4th of February last he visited tho property of defendant, and found the rabbits. ver'y!«6tmerou , s. v Sufficient steps had not beon taken to. destroy' the rabbits to hi 6 satisfao'tion/Kotioo had been posted to defendant. By defendant;, Know/that defendant is interested in /the block, and

have been told that he is one of the leadingmien. ' Was -informed that defendant was the principal man by several Maoris at Gladstone,'but wasnot aware that the.land was. subdivided. ■,Had not-been-to Judge Mackay to. jfthe land was ;Bub;divided.:.:':'V : f:'';. ".;';:

Defendant, in disputingthe charge, stated that he owned only a email

portion of the.land —seven, acreji. .':/!:-: His elder brother bad the nde :•' quantity of land, and his two sistei-8 /- bad'a similar amount, their, husbands ; having control over it. ; .' He had rip atock on the land, but the had. He objected to the Bummoris: being served on him, as .be did not eare to be made a martyr.;,fpr,tl|e^- ; whole. Ho had' nothing to do with -,' the land of his brother.. It was no) ; : at. all 'clear to ; him that he should suffer for the whole bflhemi---—;i| •' <■ His Worship said if no evideiu:e■_ v could be adduced iii mitigation-of.'lf tbefino.ho would inflict-the uauiil T. penatlyof £5. !| > On the application of the defenji-" :'■■-" ant the hearing of evidence in mitigation was adjourned till the 25th. (Left sitting.)

Wairarapa North Counts

EhOINEER's REfOB"-^ The following report at the last meeting of the Council :- Mabibrton Riding—Waingawa to :\ Cnnip road, In Accordance with the 1 Council's instructions, alterations have v been'mnde to the fencing of tho W«ipotiu Bridge onibankttients so hs to

facilitate stfck driving noross tlie briig>\; i lie eastern'linmch right ;of whv ban been cl 'm I with a gnte, aiid the fencing in the vicinity of the bridge closely boarded with white |>ine plunking. ''

Masteiton to Wuimata fioail." rln - my report of Noveuiber;l2tbj I diiiw, •''■' 'Uteiitioii to the unprotected 'nibtaj ofv ihe Ruiiniiiliiinga river bank iiUhejllti Ore Ore bridge, niiJ[i>oitilt-d-"bnt ibiit it would he nr'ui'S.iiiry to jieiform wr- ' tain ri'jiHira before winier. I iv'ouM niiw '. request authority .of the Council ! ia :.'.

have the necessary work exccuicd.aM

debit the coat ugainst the ensuing yßiirJS rates. The vlhps of work which it is proposed to undertake would .bo upon the principle so-successfully iti-opted in the Blenheim district, of directing the current by means of a strong description of fencing secured to piles wrll driveit at intervals,' '_ in the op,n river bed, By tbis mentis sbiugle depusits are precipislated in shoals along the lines which it is sought to protect and the main, body ol llio water forced out into the open bed clear of these artificial , obstructions.' ■■: ; ].._'■

Te Ore Ore to'Bideford Roadie- '" The bridjjo adjustment and painting on th's lino was completed on 25th of lutit month. Cashpoint EIWNQ.-ilasterton to Waimata road, contract 88 (road formation and metallitig): This work! ■ was finally completed and taken ove* on 24th tilt. Tho contract metalling repairs on tlio TinuirWhakataki section were also finished towards the close of last month. The; repairs proceeding .< on r the Mangapakeka seotion of the line are making fair headway, and with | favorable weather will bo got through in the couise of a few weeks. Eketahunato Tinui road. Tinui to Tiraumea stction. Instructions have been.'given to/ the;' permanent man on this' line' to undertuke the proposed works at Mr Jepira's' road as soon as he can be spared from .his present employment, The breach in,. the Whiiemia river dim has been rendered watertight and the stream is diverted into Langdon's drain. Alfredton Eidino -Eketahuna to Tinui road, (Eketahuna to Tirsiinie* '? section.) Contract No 22. (Bridge building.) Pending a reply from the Crown Lands office relative to the of wasto land in proximity to the"' bridge Bite, the contractor for this,., work has been unable until recently to make any grogress with it, The" preparation oflhi matenalsis : how i ■. proceeding at the saw mills, the Government having declined to grant permission tojake timber, from 'the Urown Lands, r 'and tlid contract will , bo pushed iorward with all possible dispatch. • Contract No 23, (rosd formation); Progress with this work during the past month has not been bo rapid aii anticipated; this k partially owing to unfavourable .'weathar and also, to ; ■■■[ delays'in the delivery of the timber" ' supply for culvort purposes. A conBidurablo additional length of such cutting has been oponed out, to that perioimed during the prevtyiu month, and as the necessary timber h> liow on the situ of the work, I hope to be able to report more favorably by next meeting. ; : . ■ , Tho metal repairs contract! which •

was let at the close of last month is now in process of execution and will bo huishnd.weathor permitting, in tha ' course of six weeks. r <llf ■ Opaki to Manawatu road, Contract No 28. (Eketahuna street formation) A considerable addition has been made to the staff working on this contract jr. since i last reported on it. The formation work and adjustment of surface levels and widths have been-1 i. finished, and a nniall portion of metalling performed on the northern end of tho township. Under favorable circumstances the contract should' not occupy more than four weeks in its completion, . ■ >' The paintingof tho Mahkahi bridge was satisfactorily executed by tho 20th of last month. ' ' ' ' ' Acting on the Council's directions I arranged by contract for. metalling tho Eketa'inna pound, wbioh work was finished a week ago.

Robbery, in a Bank.

Melbourne,'Febrnary'4; A cleverly conceived and skilfulk)*, executed robbery, similar in many reßpects to the one whioh was at the English, Scottish ! and' Aus-;' " tralian Chartered Bank some two or three ♦years ago, was committed at' the City Bank of Melbourne on Saturday morning, during a period ; wliou the business of tho morning. r was at its height, _ .Mr..John Gibson, who is einployed'/aii payingiolori at the St, Paul's Cathedral works, w visited the Oity Bank on Saturday, ** ra\ accordance with a ouetoin which he has for years,' and drew Lll7. to pay tho men their wages, He received the Bum in sovereigns, half-sovereigns, and silvor, which he carefully counted, and as hoffi'iid eacl)pprtioncorrect, ; placeditinalis!|9 • bag he had brought with him. Just as he had completed this work his attention was distracted for a moment. When be lookod again ho found that another bag, which was empty, had boen substituted for the one that contained the money. The exchange had been affeoted bo Bileutly and go*'quickly that he could soarcely believed' his senses, and he was too much astonished at first to raise au alarm. When be did inform the Bank officials and bystanders of his losn, the thief was gone, and no one had seen him depart. The monoy is not identifiable, and if, as is most pre. ' bable, the robbery was carried out '' single-handed, the chances of detection must be considered very remote. The detectives have obtained not the slightest clue to guide them iu thi'ir iuqmties,

.Commercial. Freeman R. Jackson and C'o.'j Johnsonville stook report :-Fat cattlb came forward in usual supply, boing both in quality and oonditiou an improvement ou late entrioi; prices wero firm at quotations. Slieop mustered numerously; a line of good wethers had thoir average value reduced by a numbor of small ones that were sent forward in the lot. Tho remainder of sheep entered were from medium to indifferent, many of the ewes being unlit for the butcher. Bhorn lambs, in good order, wero well competed for; tho wooled lambs not being so good met with less readv sale. Bullocks, £5 2s 6d to £5 Us) averages, £5 4q to £5 7s 4d. Sbecp— Wotliers, 10s; others', 9s 6(1; light weights, 8s to 8$ 4d; ewes,,Bs to 8a 2d; others, 6s lOd to 7s 4d; tombs in their wool, 6s to 7s; shorn, 5s 6d to 6s9d. Ox beef made 18s tho lOOlbs; wether mutton, lfd to 2d: owe do, IJW,.

k *f The annual sale under the auspices of tliu Agricultural Society coin mewed yesterday, the entries for which were far superior and in »r.ntoi-niiiubi-rs than previous fairs, tbo prices ( Uained being a proof of mch. j ■ Messrs Lowes and lows too thoj auctioiu ers, mid sold all singly, being b: ought iuto a ring oppositea! fixed seated stand, erected for the convenience of the prblic. The sales on the lirstday were confined to tfLiucolns. The first to be submitted! '" j were a draft bred by Messrs Perry j I'ros., which averaged 5 guineas, The! . uoxs were bred .by ilr ■ Stuckey, and aieraged ';\ guiiitas. Tlio next to lie submitted "were ti draft froj> Mr Collin?, of Hawltes Uay. T|iese excited keen competition, ranging from £5 to £lO, averaging 6 guineas, A ram, bred by the Hon. Ai. Holmes, brought £l2. A draft bred by II rJ, Beid, brought 8 guineas, A'draft ol Rgecl rams, brod by Mossrs Beetham, brought from 2 (o 8 guineas,

lasterton Ram'Jto.

Masterton Hospital-

The usual monthly meeting of the

Masienon Hospital Trustees was

held yesterday. .Present—Messrs J. fe| C. Boddington, B. P, Perry, mid Kev W. E. Paige, Mr Paige proposed in a eulogistic speech that Mr Boddingtonbe Chairman for the ensuing twelvo months, The ' motion wan

duly carried, and Mr Boddingtim

returned thanks and took his seat. * The Treasuror reported receipts: Paliiatua County Council, £ls ; Mrs Wa™'n Jubilee donation, £8 Os U ; and other subscribtions £94s6d; expenditure, £79l9slid; credit balance at date, £GO 9s sd. Correspondence wan read from the Court Pahhtua A.0.F., offering to contribute £2 2s a year for four tickets. It was resolved to reply tliat the Trusteea regrot they cannot Bee their way to accopt the ofta' made. It was decided to record on tbo minutes, the Trustees appreciation of the Pahiatua County's donation of fifteen guineas, The Hospital Board wrote asking that returns may bo sent in before 20th inst. It was decided to reply that na the whole of the current yeai s expenses to 31st March had to he considered, would the Board be satisfied with the estimates on the 29th March, A circular was received from

the Colonial Secretary asking if, there any cases of leprosy in the Hosand tho Secretary was instructed i to reply in the negative, Accounts to £29 12s were passed /for payment, On the suggestion of the visiting member number one ward was ordered to be painted, The number of patients in the Hospital at last meeting was seven, three were admitted during the month, seven discharged, one dit.-d, and two now remain under treatment, Mr W, H, Beetham •* as apnointo.l visiting member, and the meeting closed,