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Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 417, 1 December 1868, Page 2

Our report of police proceedings in the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday includes the narration of one extraordinary case. The accused was James Rowley, well-known as a useful detective officer both in Otago and in this part of New Zealand. The offence with which he was charged was theft of money. There was not evidence to establish a charge of housebreaking. His punishment was six months' imprisonment and hard labor. The capture which led to his appearance before the Court was smart, and somewhat melodramatic. Rowley had lately been discharged from the policeforce, in consequence of reductions. He left with £42 in his packet, and, with some portion of he came to "VVestport. He lived at the Criterion Hotel—a small but wellpatronised hostelry by another ex-police-officer, Mr Hughston. He got " upon the spree," and he insinuated that, probably through ex-official sympathy, the proprietor joined him in the same amusement. Another visitor to the house at the time was Mr John Acheson Carr, a name which is also familiar on the "West Coast. The " spree" came to an end, and there seemed to come to an end also the sympathy which it signified. However it happened, the police got a suspicion of an intention on the part of Rowley to possess himself of some of Hughston's property ; and two officers—Sergeant Williams and Constable Irwin—placed themselves, on Sunday evening, in concealment behind Hughston's house. , While there, Rowley passed in at the back-door; there was a light struck inside; there was a noise of the cutting of calico; and in a few minutes Rowley cameout. The officers emerged from their concealment, and seized him. He was literally "trapped," for in his pocket were found Hughston's pocket-book, which had, half an hourbefore, been left under Hughston's pillow, all the money in it being a £1 note and a cheque for £2 from Detective Lambert! At the lock-up Rowley seemed to have exercised less caution than his experience in apprehensions must have taught him was necessary, for he uttered a maxim which was duly " used against him." He said—" It is as well for a man to be in jail as to bo at large without money." For quite a different reason the Magistrate sent him to jail for the period stated. It was a strange omission that no question was put as to whether the calico of the house was found to be cut, or as to whether the police visited " the scene of the robbery " after the capture.

Some very excellent views of the public buildings in Westport, such as these are, have recently been taken by Mr De Loree, who has opened a photographic studio in Molesworth Street. Mr De Loree has also taken, for private individuals, a series of street views, including stores and hotels of prominent position and character ; and both these, and portraits which we have seen produced, are sufficiently good to show that the exei'cise of the photographer's art is not altogether dependent upon the importation of foreign talent.

An adjourned sitting of the Eesident Magistrate's Court was held yesterday afternoon. There were four civil plain tiffs against one defendant. Their names were Braithwaite, Dewdney, Punt, and M'G-ill and Bull ; the defendant was Martin Packer. Judgment went by default. According to the new Act, the Resident Magistrate can issue, to any person having judgment for less than £lO, a summons commanding the debtor to attend, and, failing attendance, he can issue a warrant for his appearance, when he is bound to state the position of his affairs, and the manner in which his estate is disposed. In the cases in question, these steps are being taken. The amount of revenue received at the Westport Custom House for the week ending Saturday the 28th ult. was £943 lis 2d, of which £4OO was duty on 32000z5. of gold exported by the Bank of New Zealand.

Mr Harris, hon. treasurer to the Westport Hospital, acknowledges the receipt of £1 Is from Alfred Adams, through Mr M'Farlane, Caledonian Terrace.

The Provincial Secretary, Mr Greenfield, after a stay in Westport and its neighbourhood which should have given him sufficient time to become acquainted with the wants of the district, started for Charleston yesterday, and will probably proceed thence as far as Cobden and Greymouth. Satisfactory reports continue to be received from the new gold-field in the Collingwood district, which, it appears, is situated at the head of the Aorere,

and at a distance of about 60 miles from the town. The Nelson Mail states that much excitement prevails at Collingwood, and numbers were leaving for the scene of operations. Two miners had brought down 12ozs.of fine gold, and a party of Maoriß, who have been prospecting for the last three weeks, also brought down 23ozs. Dr Hector has gone to make an examination of D'Urville Island, where gold was reported to have been found lately. We learn by a telegram that the cases in which a number of compositors sued Mr Klein, of the West Coast Times, for breach of agreement, have been decided against the defendant, who has appealed. The Governor's visit to the Middle Island is postponed in consequence of Northern troubles.