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Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 789, 16 March 1871, Page 2

At the Magistrfi to's Court, V/estport, on Tuesday last, before R. C. E«d and S. Thorpe, Esquires, Justices, Agenore Dupuia was charged with assaulting Mnry Sullivan. It will be within tb|> rectEeetion of our readers that an information, laid by the above defendant against Mrs Jiuilivan,

charging hoi- with using abusive language;, was dismissed, owing to Mi- Dupuis failing to appear. The latter laid a second information lor the offence referred to and the two informations were tuken together. Mr Bickerton Fisher appeared for Mr Dupuis, According to the statement of Mary Sullivan it appeared that she had been assaulted by tho defendant on tho sth inst. hi Lyttelton-streot. The dofendant had torn her clothes and dragged a quantity of hair out of her head wliilo his wife hurled stones at her. When crossexamined the complainant denied that she had given any provocation. A witness, named Elizabeth Young, resident in the neighbourhood, was called to prove the assault. She stated that she saw Dupuis take the complainant by the shoulders. The latter fell and tho defendant lifted her up again, but she did not see him use any violence or strike her. The witness said, in reply to Mr Fisher, that she did not see Mrs Sullivan kick or spit at Mr Dupuis. Heard her say that she had never been locked up for stealing blankets at n. lire. Witness had seen Mrs Sullivan a little bit noisy when under the influence of liquor, but she did not annoy anyone further than by addressing rambling remarks to persons resident in the neighbourhood. The evidence of Mr and Mrs Dupuis was then taken in support of the second information. They proved clearly that the defendant, while in a state of intoxication, had used abusive and obscene language towards them and had kept up the abuse for several hours. Dupuis finally took her by the shoulders to get her home, and threatened to take her to the police station. She then consented to go inside. The complainant denied having torn out her hair, and expressed a belief that the hair produced had been cut from the head and not dragged out. Sergeant Kiely proved several "previous convictions against Mary Sullivan for drunkenness and disorderly conduct. Mr Fisher briefly addressed the Bench, trusting that they would dismiss the information against Mr Dupuis, and deal in such a manner with the one against Mary Sullivan as to show that the disorderly conduct proved against her, could not be committed with impunity. The information had been laid under section 4 of the "Vagrant Act, ISG9," which read as follows :—"Any person singing obscene songs or ballads, or writing or drawing obscene words, figures, or representations, or using profane, indecent, or obscene language ill any public place, er within the view or hearing of persons passing therein, and any person using threatening or abusive language or behaviour to the danger of the peace is liable, on conviction, to a penalty not exceeding ,£2O, and in default to imprisonment in the common gaol or house of correction for any period not exceeding three months." The act conferred the power of severely punishing the offence with which tho defendant was charged, and the information having been fully borne out by the evidence, he should ask the Bench to deal with the case in a manner that might serve for a warning to others. The Bench dismissed the first information, and on the second lined Mary Sullivan £3 and costs, or in default fourteen days' imprisonment. There was only one civil case disposed of, Draghicavich v. Daun, in which the plaintiff obtained judgment, by default, for Jito 2s and costs.

The thoroughbreds Peeress, Ino, and XXX were forwarded by the last trip of tue steamer Charles Edward, from Nelson to (jroyniouth. Mr J. Hughes, of Westport, has, we understand, become the owner of XXX. Intheß.M. Court, Charleston, a gardener, named Sumerville, brought an action for damages against W. H, Fordor. It was -alleged that the defendant's horses had destroyed a portion of plaintiff's crops and the damage was laid at £o. The Court gave judgment for the plaintiff for <£' l and costs. In Union v. Goldstncker, an action to recover £2, 10s, judguiont went for the plaintiff by default. The total quantity of gold returned from the Thames Uoldfield during the month of February was 30,74-9 ozs from 7,074 tons of stone, giving an increase over January of 15.854 ozs. On Monday evening last some of the friends of Mr It. G, Neale met in the Melbourne Hotel, Charleston, at a fare well sapper to that gentleman, Mr Shapter was moved to the chair, and, after the edibles h ad been done justice to, the chairman, in an appropriate spe ch, proposed the health of Mr Neale, which was drunk with all the honors. Mi* Neale, in responding, said that he was about leaving Charleston where he had resided for the last five years, during that time he had always made it his study to work for the public good through the medium of the '* Charleston Herald,'He had also endeavoured to make as many friends as possible, and he was happy to find that lie had succeeded. He thanked those present for the m inner in which they had received his name and resumed his seat amidst applause. Mr Donne proposed the health of Mrs Neale and family to which toast Mr Neale also responded. The evening was enlivened by several songs, sung by Mr Broad, Mr Jone3, and other gentlemen. The affair concluded by all present singing " Auld Lang Syne.' 1 Mr Greenfield, Provincial Secretary, left Xeison on Thursday last, accompanied by Air Dobsou. He will probably proceed from the lnangahua over the Saddle to Greyinouth and thence come overland to Brighton, Charleston, anil Westport, and possibly extend his journey northwards to the Kaiamea to verify by personal experience the road to that rising district. The inquest as to the death of James Cattle, at Greyinouth, was concluded on Friday, resulting in a verdict of " Found drowned." A large number of witnesses were examined, and some suspicious circumstances were elicited in connection with the conduct of a woman named «Tano Anderson, but there was nothing to prove foul play. We notice with pleasure that Mr C, Cuilen, an old Charleston resident, has commenced busine.33 as a draper in that town under the firm of Cuilen Bros, and Co. Twenty-two bales and cases of drapery arrived by the steamer Charles Edward, consigned to the firm. What is termed a Contractors' Debts Bill has been passed in the Victorian Assembly. It is stated that workmen frequently have lost considerable sums of money by bad contractors—men who take jobs, and then, after the first or second " draw " leave their men to look after their money as best they can. A similar measure would be useful in New Zealand. ' . '

It is with deep regret we have to record the appearance of scarlet fever iu lnvercargill. Already one victim has succumbed to it, and at present three or four others are suffering from it. The '* Southland News " says the manner in which it has been communicated exhibits a remarkable feature in the latent character of the disease. The beginning of the present year a girl—a passenger by the Robert Henderson—arrived at the Bluff per Eangitoto from Port Chalmers. lu.lnvercargillshe took up her residences for a few days in the house of Mr

Adamson, a earner, and afterwada proceeded to a situation at Switzer's. During her stay with Mr Adamson she turned out her boxes and had them repacked. For some weeks after she left Invereargill there was no sign whatever of the malady. Ten or twelve days ago one of the family—a child wa3 taken ill, and before the nature of the illness wi3 known, either two or three members of the same family were similarly attacked. One of the number—a lad ten years of age—died on Thursday last. The fever is said to be of a particularly virulent type, and the medical opinion is, that unless some very decided step is taken, its spread is inevitable. The discovery of what may prove to be an extensive seam of coal has been made in Northern Wairoa, Kaipara. A public clock has been erected in the tower of the New Zealand Insurance Company's new offices, in Queen-street, Auckland. The Manawatu land sale took place on February 17th. The sales amounted to upwards of ,£GOOu. It is expected that a good many of the unsold lots will be taken up at the Land Ollice, at the upset price. It is said that whether Mr Vpgel be back or not, the meutiug of Parliament will not be deferred beyond the middle of June. St. Patrick's Day, which falls to-morrow, will bo commemorated in Addison's by a ball and banquet in connection with the Hibernian Society, Under the heading " News of the Day" the "Nelson Colonist" of the 10thinst. gives the following extremely original paragraph: —" In a piece of swampy ground near the Oddfellows' Hall, frogs are very numerous, and their deep croakings were last night loud and incessant." If a source of annoyance to the good people of Nelson, it is to be regretted that the frogs cannot be transferred to the banks of the Seine where it is certain their croaking notes would gladden the ears of Parisians, like a call to dinner Seriously—we could almost envy the Nelsonites if they have nothing more discordant to disturb their nightly dreams. The Volunteer Eifle Contest was postponed from the sixth to the seventh inst. The ceremony of installing Brother Alexander Thompson as E.W.M. of the Charleston Kilwinning Lodge of Freemasons took place on Thursday last. An installation banquet came off the same evening at the European Hotel. A correspondent of the " Hawke's Bay Herald" states that the hot springs at Tokano, near Lake Taupo, have, "in scores and scares of instances, proved efficacious in removing rheumatism, gout, and, cutaneous diseases of every description. It would be desirable," he says, " lhat some qualified scientific man should report upon their therapeutic properties, pointing out what are the diseases to which each spring is calculated to prove remedial for there are all varieties in Taupo.'i Wc learn from the " Cromwell (Otago) Argus" that the Chinese throughout the gol.lfields celebrated t::e advent of their New Tear with the usual i'uastiugsand rejoicings. Largo numbers of fowls, ducks, geese, and pigs, besides unlimited quantities of rice, flour, ale and porter, brandy, &c,, &c, wore consumed on this festive occasion ; and there was a general cessation of woric among the Chics e miners.

Fourteen acres of oats grown by Mr M'Nulty, of the Soaring Meg, Otago, are expected to yield 600 bushels of grain, or an average of nearly 43 bushels per aero. The General Government will, if possible, arrange with Captain Cooto lor the construction of the Picton and Blenheim railway, on the guarantee principle. Wo were shown this week a beautiful specimen of the homed Grebe (Podiceps Cornatus) a singular diving bird, and very rare in this country. It was noticed on the Spring Creek for somo weeks past, and on '1 ucsday last Mr K. Itoskrugc succeeded in taking it. We believe it is the first specimen ever found in the Wairau. —*' Express." The death of a child from injuries committed upon it by a ferret is reported from Kgerton, Kent. It seems that a labouring man, mimed Chambers, quitted home with his wife, leaving an infant, fourteen months old, in the house. In their absence, a stray ferret g t into the room where the child was lying and attacked it. When the parents returned they found the infant dead ; its eyes were torn out, and part of the nose had been gnawed away. vVhcu discovered, the ferret flew at Chambers, and appeared very wild and ferocious. It was killed as speedily as possible. The presumption is that the ferret had been '" laid up " in a rabbit hole near, and pressed by hunger, had strayed into the house in quest of food. Last week Mr, G. B. Barton, of the Middle Temple, and late Editor of the " Otago Daily limes," was admitted by Mr. Justice Chapman to practise as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court. Wc regret to hear, from private sources, that Mr Abbot, Registrar of the Supreme Court, llokitika, is seriously ill, occasioned by exposure during an excursion in the bush. He heartily hope for his speedy recovery. At Sydney on the Ist of March, a public meeting was. held to urge on the Government the expediency of asuming the protectorate of the Fijis. The Native Minister had an interview with Rewi on the 6th inst. Malaga, and several influential ehiefs of tho Ngatimaniapoto tribe were at the meeting held at Kopar, which passed off satisfactorily. Numerous speeches were made of a pacific character. The following further particulars respecting the mail service between tho Thames and Tailranga are supplied by a contemporary uuder date Taurauga, March 11th:—The mail to 1 aurangd has been stopped by To Hira in person, who was accompanied by an armed force. The mailman from Tuurangi. to the Thames has been attacked, stripped, and made prisoner. Ho was dragged for four miles, and then released. Tho mail is safe, having been concealed in the lining of the saddle. On the 10th instant there was a meeting of Friendly chiefs. They are disheartened, and are awaiting advices from tho lion. Mr M'Lean. To Una is obstinate, and determined against the clearing of bush paths from Taurauga. The Hau-hau chieftesscs visited the contractor, and asked him to desist from carrying the mails. They spoke eloquently in favour of the King's laws which piohibit the conveyance of her Majesty's mails, telegraphs, and roads. The meeting was commenced and ended by prayer. Her Majesty's mails are now sent by the contractor through dense forests. Krupp, of Essen, has invented a revolving cannon, mounted on a stand like a telescope, for tho purpose of firing at balloons from Paris. Its range is said to be a formidable antagonist to the venturesomo rercouauts.