HOSPITAL COMMITTEE.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 544, 19 August 1869, Page 2

HOSPITAL COMMITTEE.

A meeting of the Hospital Committee was held at the Court House on Tuesday evening. Preseut, Messrs Reid (in the chair,) Harris, Powell, Alcorn, Humphrey, Whyte, Sheahan, Simpson, and Munro (Hon. Sec.) The result of Mr Haskins's canvas on the Northern Terraces was reported as having amounted to £S ILs 6, £G 3s of which was obtained on German Terrace, and £2 8s Gd at Hatter's Terrace. It was explained that the Caledonian Terrace had been fully canvassed before, and that Giles Terrace had been partially canvassed. The Committee was of opinion that the allowance of £2 10s should be made Mr Haskins for his services as Canvasser. The Sub-Committee appointed at last meeting for the purpose of revising the rules of the institution, reported that their duties had not been completed. The Treasurer stated that the balance at the Bank Account was £268 14s lid. The Visiting Committee reported that there were nine patients in the Hospital at present, several of whom were contributing weekly to the funds, by paying a proportion of the maintenance money required from those who were in positions to do so. A new store and piping and some carpenter's work, which were necessary, had been provided. Mr Simpson stated that he had fully canvassed the Inangahua, Lyell, and Upper Buller districts during the past week, but was grieved to report that his solicitations had not met with anything like liberal support from the miners in those districts. He had received 8-1 tickets from the Secretary previous to his leaving, but had not been able to obtain more than £1 ls in the shape of subscriptions, though he had begged in several instances for contributions as low as 2s Gd. Either ■the cash or the will was wanting. Some discussion took place as to the recent removal of the Hospital Bank Account from the Bank of New Zealand to the Bank of New South Wales, and a resolution for the re-transfer of the same to the Bank of New Zealand was carried. The tenders for the supplies for the ensuing twelve months were then opened, when the following were accepted. No. 1. Drapery, J. Southern. No. 2. Meat, Suisted Bros. No. 3. Bread, J. Neil. No. 4-. "Wines and Spirits, Powell and Co. No. 5. Groceries and Provisions, Bailie and Humphrey. No. 6. Burials, J. A. Carr. No. 7. "Washing, Mrs Daniels. No. 8. Milk, Henry Wilson. The Committee then adjourned.

A shrewd little fellow, who had just began to read Latin, astonished the master by the following translations :— Yir, a man; gin, a trapvirgin, a man trap.

DISTEICT COUET. Tuesday, August 17. (Before His Honor Judge Clarke.) GOLD EOBBEUY AT COBDEN. George Lowe and John Ogden were charged with stealing a quantity of gold and notes from George Davis, near Cobden, on the 20th of June last. Mr Pitt, Crown Prosecutor, stated the case, and called the following witnesses :—■ George Davis : I remember the 20fch of Juno last. I was riding in to Cobden that day. I had about 35ozs of gold in my pocket. I do not remember being at Oswald's store. In addition to the 35ozs of gold, I had another small parcel of gold and two notes and somo silver in my pocket. I had been drinking during the day. Ido not recollect what happened me after I left Brunner Town. I have never seen my gold and money since. Duncan Oswald : I am a storekeeper at Brunner Town. On Sunday, 20th June, Davis was at my store at four o'clock in the afternoon. He was a little the worse of liquor. He only had one glass of beer at my place. Both prisoners were there at the same time, and some others. Davis sold me a small parcel of gold weighing lodwts 12grs, which amounted to £2 18s Gd, and for which I paid him in notes and silver. I paid him in presence of the two prisoners. Saw another small parcel of gold with him. Ogden, the prisoner, folded up the two notes with the silver inside and gave them to Davis, who put them in his pocket. Dent was passing on horseback, and I asked him to look after Davis as he was going in the same direction. Dent and Davis left, and the two prisoners followed in about ten minutes after. Two men, Armstrong and Helmsley, left about fifteen minutes after the prisoners, but returned and informed me that Davis was hurt. I despatched Armstrong and Brown, my storeman, to see to it, when they returned with Davis. Ogden, the prisoner, accompanied them, but Lowe, the other prisoner, did not come back for some little time. Next morning I accompanied Detective Lambert to the prisoners' hut. On Lambert enquiring about the circumstance, the prisoners said they found Davis lying in a helpless state on the road.

By the prisoner Ogden: Each of the prisoners had about 201bs of provisions with them, besides tools. Ogden assisted to carry Davis back and had told Davis before he started that he would be better to remain in the store all night, as ho had so much drink and money on him.

Nichol Brown: lam storeman to Oswald, the last witness. I saw Davis get the money upon leaving the store. Davis and the prisoner Ogden was convesiug in "Wcloli I saw XWis place the money in the loft hand pocket of his jacket with the other parcel of gold. I was sent to see what had happened him after it was reported that he bad been hurt. "When I came up to Davis, he was standing, supported by the prisoners. I asked him if lie was hurt and where his money was, to which he replied he did not know. I searched all his pockets but found no money or gold. Davis was again searched when ho reached the store, but the money was all missing. Helmsley led the horse up to the store. The prisoner's hut was on Sulky Gully. I went there some days after and found a cap similar to the one produced in Court. The cap was stained with blood.

By a Juror: I did not make a careful search on the track for the gold. The cap might have been blown off by the wind. George Davis recalled : I wore a checked cap. The cap produced is the one I had at the time. I know it by its having lost its color through holding it too near the fire.

John Dent: I accompanied Davis from the store. He (Davis) was a little intoxicated. I was a little ahead of hiin and when I turned hack to see what had become of hirn he was lying on the ground and he complained that his back was broken. I lifted him and took him to the side of the bank. The two prisoners shortly came up. We walked our horses nearly all the way. The prisoner Ogden came up first and commenced speaking Welsh to Davis. I know nothing of Davis having any money on him. By the prisoner Ogden: I saw a stranger pass when I first returned, but I did not know his name.

James Armstrong: I saw Brown search Davis, and there was no money or_ gold fouud on him. When the prisoner Lowe was asked why he did not come up, he (Lowe) got sulky. I went to the prisoner's hut after they were committed, and can identify the cap as the one found there. By Ogden: There was some mention made of a sixpence heing seen on the ground, which was not picked up. Charles Helmsley corroborated some of the evidence of the other witnesses, and Detective Lambert gave evidence as to the finding of the cap in the prisoner's hut. The Prisoner Ogden made a statement denying all knowledge of the robbery so far as he was concerned. His Honor having summed up, the Jury retired, and in a few minutes brought in a verdict of Not Guilty. The prisoners were therefore liberated.

Wednesday, August 18. THEFT OF MONET. Alice M'Farlane, who was committed at the E.M. Court in Westport on the 9th of July, was charged with

stealing £7O or £BO from Murtagh Collins, Packer, "Westporfc. This case having been fully reported in our columns during the examination in the R.M. Court, we deem it unnecessary to repeat the evidence- given. The Prisoner pleaded not guilty. The several witnesses, as on the former occasion, were examined, and after His Honor summed up, the Jury brought in a verdict of Guilty, and the prisoner was sentenced to eighteen months imprisonment with hard labor.

BANKRUPTCY JURISDICTION. His Honor the Judge opened the Court in this jurisdicton at 2 p.m. In re Tbacey. Mr Pitt appeared for the bankrupt. Mr Tyler appeared for creditors, and stated that this was an adjourned sitting, the bankrupt not having appeared at the last sitting of the Court. He applied that the case should be struck out. Mr Pitt said he was unable to offer any opposition to the motion. Case struck out. In re Gaeddjeb. Mr Tyler appeared for bankrupt, and applied for a further adjournment of the sitting on the ground of illness of bankrupt. Cace adjourned to November sittings of Court. In re Moeet. Mr Pitt appeared for the bankrupt. He applied for an adjournment of the sitting for final examination to 16th November next. Mr Tyler, instructed by the trustee, Mr Humphrey, would not oppose the application for adjournment. He would, however, apply that in the meantime protection should be withdrawn. Mr Pitt opposed the withdrawal of protection, and, after some argument, His Honor the Judge determined to take the trustee's evidence. His Honor then ordered the adjournment, and withdrew protection, intimating that he would not allow bankrupts to treat the Court in so contemptuous a manner. In re Nielson. Mr Tyler appeared for the bankrupt. This was a sitting for final examination and discharge. The bankrupt was present, but no creditors had proved, and there was no opposition. Discharge granted. In re Tem:peeley. Mr Pitt appeared for the Bankrupt. This was a sitting for final examination, and for final discharge. No creditors had proved, and counsel said he knew of no opposition. Bankrupt however, Wl been obliged to leave for the terraces yesterday, and had not returned, although he intended to appear to-day. Mr Pitt, therefore applied for an adjoutnment. Case adjourned to 16th November. In re Cunningham. Mr Pitt, for Mr Home, Charleston, appeared for bankrupt. This was an application under the 17 th section of the Bankruptcy Act, IS6S, for the discharge from custody of Bankrupt, confined under final process. The learned counsel read an affidavit of Bankrupt. His Honor enquired if notice had been served. Mr Pitt: Notice has been served upon my learned friend, Mr Tyler, who informs me he does not oppose the application. Mr Tyler stated he was instructed not to offer any opposition. Order for discharge of Bankrupt from custody was then made. This exhausted the business of the Court, which stands adjourned until next sitting, which takes place on lGth November next.