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Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 903, 21 December 1871, Page 2

We are desired by the Jockey Club to inform the public that all horses are strictly prohibited from running on the Orawaiti racecourse. The business at the Resident Magistrate's Court, Westport, on Tuesday, comprised the hearing of an assault case, of a few unimportant actions for the recovery of debts, and two publican's applications. The assault case, Morris v. Daniels, arose out of alleged damage caused by the defendant's goats to complainant's cabbage garden. The defendant denied having caused the damage, stating that she habitually fastened up the goats at night. Morris it was shown, charged her with wilfully opening the gate of his garden, and driving in the goats for the express purpose of causing malicious damage, to which the defendant, it would appear, responded by emptying a bucket or a billyful of water over the complainant's head and clothes. At this point of his narrative Morris became visibly affected, and, in a voice tremulous with emotion, informed the Court that he thereupon ran to his wife, and informed her, saying " See, Mary, what that woman has done to me." The joint testimony of Morris and his wife showed that they at all times exhibited the utmost meekness and saint-like forbearance. For the defence, some slanderous allusion was made to the female saint having indulged in noisy recrimination, shaking a thick stick in a highly demonstrative and threatening manner at the defendant, andjotherwise manifesting a bellicose spirit, utterly at variance with apostolic humility. After a very patient hearing and an address from Mr Pitt for the defendant, hi 3 Worship considered the assault proved; but in view of the mitigating circumstances arising out of the complainant's conduct, he should inflict a fine of 5s only and costs. The application of R. Macfarlane for renewal of publican's license was granted, and that of Thomas Wilkinson for an extension of license for one night to the Casino de Venise was refused, as the place was unlicensed. The civil cases were Morris v. Daniels, in which the plaintiff obtained judgment for 12s by default. Martin v. Davie, claim for £l3 10s 6d, judgment by default; and Mees v. Chappell; claim for £23 23, judgment con. fessed. On an application by Mr Pitt for costs, the Bum of £3 3s was allowed. Rodgers v. Maherika was enlarged for service.

Zala and party have completed a track from the Lyell township to their machine site, at a cost of about £l5O. The track is 160 chains in length. The party have had but two washings sinco crushing commenced, and the export duty on the gold extracted represents a sum of ,£BO. Added to this lor registrations, miner's rights, and rent of leasehold, not loss than £l2O has been expended since the claim was first taken up. Yet, notwithstanding this enormous contribution to the Provincial Land and Goldfiolds revenue, this party of miners are loft by a paternal Government

to form their own road communication necessary for the purpose of obtaining stores. Instances such as these surely should satisfy the most prejudiced that the Provincial expenditure has not been directed to the purposes bast calculated to advance our general interests. Mr William Wastney has been elected a member of the Nelson Provincial Council for Suburban North.

An accident, attended with serious results, occurred yesterday, • by which a woman wa3 badly injured. It appears that a number of cattle which were sold at the South S it, ex Wallabi, the day previous, were being swum across the river, when the mob became very unruly, and scattered, some making for Garden Island, and one or two swimming across the Buller towards the township. One of these on reaching the north bank cleared all before it, and rushing in the direction of St. John's Church charged an unfortunate washerwoman, named Mary Carraher, who fell a victim to her magnanimity in endeavouring to save a neighbour's children, who, unconscious of danger, were playing on the green. The woman was gored, and considerably hurt> though not to the extent that was at first feared. We trust that some early means will be taken to restrict the dangerous practise of crossing cattle to town, and driving them through the streets during the busy hours of the day. On Tuesday evening a small dwelling house in Wallabi street took fire in the absence of the owner, caused by a candle having ignited the bed curtains. The alarm was quickly given, and the flames were extinguished, though not until the inside of the cottage was completely gutted. It was seven years ago yesterday that the first steamer crossed the bar of the Hokitika river. In the cause list recently published of the business to take place at the ensuing sitting of the District Court, the appeal case, Ross v. Johnston, was omitted. In the Warden's Court, on Tuesday, the application of John Malloy, of the Totara, for a head water race was granted, to be constru ted for the purpose of supplying water to the auriferous beaches in that locality. We have received a copy of the New Zealand Almanac, au excellently got up annual, printed at the "Press" office, Christchurch, and published by Mr H. Lake, of that city. It contains a vast amouut of useful informal >n carefully compiled and methodically arranged, while the advertisements, to avoid confusion, are all indexed. The almanac is altogether well worthy of public patronage. We learn from a private, and we believe an authentic source, that a new trial will take place in respect to the recent collision case of owners of s.s. Murray v. N. Edwards and Co. Application for a new trial has been made on the ground that one of the jury, subsequent to the trial, had stated his fixed determination to bring in a verdtat against John Symon. The latter is the sole representative of N. Edwards and Co.