RESIDENT MAGISTRATE COURT.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 700, 20 August 1870, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE COURT.

Peidat, August 19. (Before J. Giles, Esq., R. M.) INSULTING AND THREATENING LANGUAGE. The information of Eugene Joseph O'Conor set forth that on the 12th instant, James Arthur Maguire used threatening and provoking language towards the complainant, to the effect • "That he would, kick his and chuck him up to the neck in the river, and that he was a contaminated cur, a mean cur, a d d wretch, and a d——d whelp. Therefore the complainant is afraid that the said defendant will do him some grievous bodily harm, and that he may be required to find sureties to keep the peace." Eugene Joseph O'Conor, sworn: On the 12th instant, about eleven in the morning, I went dowu the Esplanade, Westport, with Mr Dobson and Mr Maguire. I wished Mr Dobson to allow some prison labor to be directed to the purpose of spreading gravel and making a road in front of my premises. Mr Dobson consented if I found the gravel and then went away. I then addressed Maguire and asked when he would be prepared to bring down the prisoners to do the work. He replied that he would take good care they did not come. I asked him for an explanation of his setting his authority against that of Mr Dobson. He again said that he would take care the work was not done by the prisoners, and launched into a tirade of abuse directed against me. He called me a contaminated cur, a whelp, and said that since I had been in the Council I had interfered with everybody. He threatened to kick my person and throw me into the river, and used other violent expressions. I replied that I was not accustomed to such language, and my reply only seemed to have the effect of his redoubling the abuse. I told him it mo aid be better, that he Bhould attend

to the duties which he had to perform, than to abuse me or any one else in the public streets. I cautioned him, stating if he continued his language I should take out a summons for the purpose of preventing its repetition, and as he did not then desist I brought the present action. By the Bench: I cannot say that I am in fear of bodily harm. I have taken the present step rather to guard against the recurrence of such abuse. By Mr Pitt: The occurrence took place about 11 a.m. I met the defendant, with Mr Dobson, close to my section, near the Government Wharf. Mr Pell came up and Mr Dobson went away with him. The defendant and myself were at that time on apparently amicable terms. 1 did not ask Maguire if he would bring up his light artillery for the purpose of clearing the roadway, &c. That expression was used before Mr Dobson. Maguire did say the prison labor was required elsewhere. I did not say "by G !it shall be done in spite of you (Maguire) or Dobson." I was remarkably quiet considering the abuse used. I do not recollect saying that he and others should look out about their billets, as the billets were very rickety. I never said I would have the jacket off Maguire. I did refer to his velveteen jacket, and I might have expressed a hope that it would, be taken off him. I did not say I had more influence with the Nelson Executive than any two members of the Council. I did not say it in the way you put it. I, did state that I would briug to bear the influence I might possess in the Council in respect to Maguire's conduct. It was not after this threat that he called me a cur. He launched out at the outset and threatened to throw me into the river. I do not recollect his saying that, although a member of the Council, he held me in the same estimation that he did eighteen months ago, when at the Post Office Hotel, in the presence of twenty people, he threatened to kick me down stairs. He said it was a lucky thing he happened to be a Government Officer or he would throw me into the river. He might have told me to mind my business and that he was attending to his. I was giving directions to men 59 yards away at the time. I had no conversation in the presence of James Graham with Maguire on Sunday, the 31st July, with reference to directing the prison labor to Cobden-street. I did not say I had given £3O for a section and £SO for the Golden Hope Hotel. It is a fact that I have given £3O for a section, and £SO for the house, but that took place ia August. , If it is alleged sucTrarcoiiversation took place it is an entire fabrication. I did not ask Maguire to bring down the labor at that time. I had a conversation with him shortly after my return from Nelson, and I then referred to the fact of the prisoners being employed in the " titivation" of favored localities to the detriment of streets in which drains and other primary works were greatly required. lam not afraid of the defendant doing me any grievous bodily harm. lam not in the habit of putting up with such language as used by Maguire. I did not put up with it on the occasion of a little bit of a fellow named Frank Atkinson.

Benjamin Oxner stated that on the occasion of the dispute referred to, be heard O'Conor say he would summons Maguire for the use of threatening language, and that he had better attend to the duties for which he was paid than to be taking up sections. Maguire replied that he had had many a man arrested for less than that.

By Mr Pitt. I concluded the affair was serious from the remark by Maguire with respect to taking in charge. Joseph Parer, said he was present on the 12th inst. Heard Maguire say, if not in his present position, would duck O'Conor in the river. Heard O'Conor say something about influence and Maguire minding his own business ; he also said, he would see what he could do. Maguire replied that he did not care.

Mr Pitt suggested that the Bench postpone the proceedings until Mr O'Conor had completed his toilet. Examination continued: Heard O'Conor say the Government should not be so independent. By Mr O'Conor. I must amend the last statement. I did not hear the expression.

By Mr Pitt. O'Conor said something about velveteen jackets, but I did not catch the moaning; I was a distance away. John Burns M'Conor, said that on the 12th inst. he heard O'Conor say that a Government officer should not be parading about, jumping sections. Maguire replied that if he were not an officer he would do something. Witness did not hear the remainder of the sentence.

John Grady, the last witness called by the complainant, did not appear. The complainant said that Grady was really the only material witness. being present during the whole affair. Mr Pitt said he would not oppose an adjournment, as his client was equally anxious that Grady's evidence should be taken. His Worship consented to adjourn the case until Saturday at 10 a.m. for the evidence of John Grady.

ARE I VAL OP THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL. (From the " Grey River Argus.") Nelson, August 17. The s.s. Airedale arrived late last night and left again soon after midnight. Auckland, August 14. .Arrived the City of Melhourne. She left Honolulu at daylight on the 26th July, and brings San Francisco news to the 10th. On the upward voyage she left Auckland on the 7th July: arrived at Honolulu on the 23rd. The Ajax took on the passengers and cargo the following morning. Fine weather was experienced throughout. On the return trip to Auckland the the winds and weather were favorable, but on the 4th broke the crosshead off the after engine; sighted Port Knight at 5 a.m., and arrived at 2 p.m., after a passage of eighteen days nine hours. GENERAL NEWS. Pabis, July 9. The " Moniteur " says, respecting the Hohenzollern affair, that the abandonment of the present project by Prussia is not enough. Prance must prevent its recurring, and demand liberty for South Germany, the evacuation of Mayence, the renunciation of military influences beyond the Maine, and the settlement of the SchleswigHolstein question with Denmark. London. Great riots have occurred at Cork, and strikes have taken place in various parts of the United Kingdom, and also on the Continent, chiefly among iron founders in Mulhouse,near Strasbourg. There are said to be sixty thousand men out, and large bodies of troops have been sent to keep the peace. Mr Bright's health is quite restored. In June, eighteen thousand emigrants left Liverpool for America, nine-tenths for New York.

SPECIAL TELEGRAMS. June 19. The strike on the Continent is spreading rapidly. All the iron foundries are stopping. This is believed to be ordered by the Central Committee of the International League. The English and Grerman unions each sent a thousand pounds to support this movement, and will send more if required. June 23. The masters in Cork have hired a large number of German tailors. The Soon after riots began. A number of citizens, while aiding the police, were stabbed by the rioters. Barricades were thrown up ; several houses assailed ; and shops attacked. Many arrests were made.

A crowded meeting has been held in Exeter Hall, in favor of the prohibitory liquor law. The Keble College, at Oxford, has been opened in the presence of a concourse of people. A deputation, representing 60,000 Lancashire operatives, to a committee of cotton manufacturers at Blackbourn, to-day, asked an increase of wages. The answer given was that wages would be raised five per cent, if the prices of goods after harvest should warrant it.

The Cork riots are renewed. Hand to hand fighting has taken place, and several constables have been wounded. There is great excitement, and the damage done to persons and property is serious.

June 24. Brigbt's great lace factory at Nottingham has been burned. A quantity of loaded bombs have been found in empty houses in Limerick. The Cork riots have subsided. A hospital in Edinburgh has been founded in memory of Dr Simpson. The carpet weavers threaten to strike for higher wages.

June 27. Some cotton manufacturers have raised wages ; others hold out. A strike in Cork of general laborers in all departments of industry has had the effect of leaving the work of steamers and foundries abandoned. The dock men stopped work; the women stay at home ; the newsboys refuse to sell papers. There is no violence used, but anxiety is intense. June 29. In Cork, quiet is nominally restored, but business of all kinds is at a standstill. July 4. A grand reception has been given at the Crystal Palace to M. Lesseps. Admiral Drummond is to command the Channel Squadron. The clothiers of Cork are still importing German workmen. July 5. Earl Derby has been married. There was no display. The Prince and Princess of Wales are to visit Denmark. A Bill for the Revision of the English Church Prayer Book has passed the House of Lords. EBANCE. June 18. The strike among the iron founders throughout the country is chiefly sustained by the money of the English trade unions. June 26. A carpet factory has been burned in Beavales, throwing eight hundred operatives out of work. _ . oul yi There is no apparent diminution in the spread of the small-pox.

The Minister of War declares the army ready to move at the first signal. One corps was to operate against Spam. AMERICA. New Yobk. The Evangelican Alliance is to meet from the 25th September to the 23rd October. Two thousand delegates will be present by invitation. Three hundred from Great Britain. July 15. Fares to San Francisco have been reduced to 130 dollars. The first English mail from Australia via San Francisco was forwarded to-day. Fenianism has fallen very low through the last Canadian fiasco. The British Government thanked the President of the United States for his prompt measures. Three hundred thousand dollars is fixed as a subsidy for the new Australian line. The revenue for the year was four hundred millions. The debt is reduced for the month fifteen millions. A great decay has taken place in American shipping. No steamers between America and Europe sail under the American flag, though 168,000 tons are employed. The treatment of the Jews in Roumania, though exaggerated, has been cruelly inhuman. The Greek Christians there are very ignorant. The Jews number half a million. M. Lesseps has been decorated with the Star of India. LATEST SPECIAL TELEGRAMS. New Zealand fives 99 i ; sixes, 112. The Honolulu Government voted twenty-five thousand dollars to a steam line suitable for freight as well as passengers. Webb's steamer, the Nebraska, is to come shortly to Wellington and Melbourne on a trial trip. Hall's line is considered too slow, and bwenty-one days is thought enough between San Francisco and Auckland. Franciscan papers consider a branch line to Fiji is inevitable, and the only way to suit all parties. Large sales of flax have been made to Continental buyers, and is the cause of an improvement in prices. Before death Lord Arthur Clinton solemnly denied the charges against him.

A canal across the Isthmus of Corinth is announced.

The collection of tolls at 500 gates in England ceased on one day. across the American continent, as they render the trip a pleasure. The failure of the harvest in France is also announced. Wheat active ;on the 10th, in Liverpool, the price wag 10s 4d per cental. The Canterbury convocation has appointed a committee to watch the proceedings of the Vatican. An amendment on the Education Bill by Mr Parkington, that the Bible be read in schools, was lost by a majority of two to one.