Untitled

Westport Times, Volume 1, Issue 137, 8 January 1868, Page 2

The Floods and the Bonded Stores.—Tuesday witnessed the removal of the last of the bonded store of Messrs Hennelly and Millen, and also the partial removal of that of Mr D. Leslie, and there only now remains that of Messrs Spence Brothers, which is in too close a proximity to the river to be considered safe. The river had apparently sunk to within somerhing like its ordinary channel, but if something is not done to prevent these encroachments every succeeding fresh will make fresh inroads on the river bonk.

The Resident Ma.gistba.teV and Warden's Court at Mokihinui.— Great complaints reach, us from the Mokihinui as to the non-holding of either Resident Magistrate's or Warden's Courts for Mokihinui, thereby causing great inconvenience to the business people of that neighborhood. The Mate to Mokihinui. —The first mail for Mokihinui under the new regulations starts on Thursday from Brown's Camp Hotel, Gladstone-street, Westport, returning from thence the following day. Serious Fkacas.—ln consequence of some transactions that occurred in the Police Court on Tuesday, in which Mrs Haines, of the Royal Oak Hotel, felt herself an aggrieved party, that lady proceeded to the office of Mr Tyler, solicitor, armed with a whip or some other weapon, and struck him several times. "We suppose we shall hear further about the matter in the course of a few days.

Loss of Sheep throtxoh Snowstorms. — The Wellington Independent states that the total loss of sheep and lambs in the Middle Island by the heavy stowstorms during the year is estimated at oue million.

A Tremendous Snag.—Daring the late fresh, the Lucy and Adelaide, schooner, was the only vessel that maintained her position this side the water, and this she was only able to do by the fact that she happened to be unusually well supplied with ground tackle and holding gear. In fact, her chain cables were sufficient for a vessel of three or four times her size, and to this circumstance only can her safety be attributed, as during the height of the flood the whole crew were employed in fending off the trees, logs, and snags that were constantly fouling her. One of these is now lying at the end of the North Spit, and is about as ugly a customer to strike a ship, broadside on, as can well be imagined. It is an enormous log of totara, at least fifty feet long, by five or six feet through ; and but that it was partially rotten, it must have crushed in any vessel's bows against which it struck with the force of the current that was carrying it seaward. Of the schooner it may be safely said that if she had not been so completely "found," she must have been completely lost.

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S POTTTtT (Before J. Giles, Esq.,' M.D., R.M.) DTJNKENNESS. Frank Stuart —For being drunk and disorderly, was fined 20s, and for using obscene and insulting language in presence of a constable was fine 40s. VAGRANCYJbhn Sullivan was sentenced to one month's imprisonment with hard labor, as an idle and disorderly person. John Hayden and Patrick O'Sara — Charged with a similar offence, were discharged with a caution. CIVIL causes. Hayne v. Price —A claim for £7 Bs, for board and lodging at the Royal Hotel. In this case there was a set-off of £5, for carpenters' work. The bill originally handed to defendant was for two weeks' and one day's board. Another bill was afterwards given to him for three weeks' at £2 10s a-week. The plaintiff endeavored to reconcile this discrepancy by a most rambling statement, from which it appeared that in the original account, there was a charge for " refreshments" which meant drinks, and fearing that this might not be allowed by the Court, it was charged in the second account as another week's board. The set-off was admitted by the Court to the extent of the debt, and there was consequently a judgment for the defendant. Milroch v. Daniel Curtain. —This was a claim for £l6 7s Bd, for goods supplied to a party working on Deadman's Mat. The plaintiff Bwore that the amount was due to him from defendant and his mates. The defendant had hiimself had paid all the cash he had ever received from the party. The defence was attempted to be set up to the effect that the defendant individually had paid what he called his "dividend" of the account and did not think that he ought to pay any more. The Court gave judgment for the plaintiff, but reminded storekeepers at the same time that they were not sufficiently careful in ascertaining that the men working together in a claim were really mates before they gave them credit.

SITTINGS IN BANKRUPTCY. Francis Harris, Esq., sat for a short time to hear cases under the Debtors' and Creditors' Act. In the matter of George Harrison, Mr Pitt appeared, and applied for an adjournment till the 10th inst. The meeting had been advertised in the Westport Times but notices had not been served on the creditors. The insolvent promised to prepare an account of his assets by the next day of meeting.