ALEXANDRA.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 749, 5 April 1877, Page 2

ALEXANDRA.

•■■-••';■ * March 30 bh. At the Resident Magistrates Court, held on Tuesday last before W N Searaaoke Iflsq.," the fbllb'wing cases' we're heard : — Hope v. Boon, for assault and threatening language. Defendant pleaded guilty under provocation, fined 20s, costs r£i also to be bound over Jtokeep the peace 'for three monthß, defendant m £20, -j and two sureties of £10 each, bail was immediately forthcoming . "THAT POBTATANTBA.U AGAIN." C Innea v. T Baker— claim, .£l7 4s for value of a portmanteau and contents, last while m defendants charge as carter. Thomas Finch, hotelkeeper, Alexandra,sworn and examined by plaintiff, de-^ posed— l . remember about the loth August last, the day after the Masonic ball your leaving a portmanteau m my possession, telling me to give it to Baker when he called for it ; he did so about a week of terwards, I told him where to get it m the bar-parlourin a corner. Beingbusy at the time I did not deliver it into hw own hands, bub I looked through the .window and saw him go through the back yard with the portmanteau m his "hands towards the dray. Cross examined -by the defendant— l do not remember the date, but it was some, where about a week after the ball. lam positive it was the same portmanteau I tiadio charge. It was of a brown color, about L 2ft 76in long, about the length of the desk on the table.

John Burns, aworti and examined— l am cook at the Alexandra Hotel, I recollect seeing Baker's dray standing outside the hotel a few days after the Masonio ball. There was a small portmanteau or travelling bag on the top of the load. I remarked to the billiard-marker, who was standing by : "It would be likely to be lost before it got far onj the road." I made thab remark because I noticed it was placed on a very unsafe position, and nob secured m any manner upon the top of the load of bags and things. Cross examined by defendant— l did not see you put it on the dray. I knew it was your dray, I saw you put the horse m. James King Pierce, deposed — I was billiard-marker .at Finch's hotel m August last, I remember the plainteff leaving the portmanteau there. I was m the bar when Baker came and asked for ib, Mr Finch told him where it was, m the bar-parlour. Afterwards, I was outside talking to Burns, who ramarked, thab a portmanteau on the dray would likely be lost, before it went very far, I said yes, I think it will. I did not see Baker put ib on the dray, but had seen the portmanteau m the hotel previously. Cross examined by defendant— You blamed me that day for keeping you so late. I'ou were playing billiards that day. •

Defendant, I am sure I was not. I never played on your table more than one or two games the whole time you had the table.

Witness— Didn't you? Why, I have four or five games marked against you m my book now. (Laughter.) To the Courb— l did not mention the uusafa paaition of the portmanteau to Baker, because I knew if I did, he would very quickly have told me to mind my own business. So I did.

W W Higginson, also gave corroborative evidence as to having observed a portmanteau m a very unsafe position on tlie defendants dray on the same day. The plaintiff gave evidence as to the value of the portmanteau and contents, bub not being allowed to refer to the account taken of them at the time, they were lost on the account rendered. (The Court ruling he had no right to refer to auyching, but, Crust to memory.) Judgment was giveu for £15 3s, and costs, Jt4 17s.

Defendant asked- for time, .as he was unable ab present; to pay the amount, streuuouiiy insisting ttiac he had never received or knew anything of the portmanteau.

- Mr Innis being quite willing to give him any time, the order was made. Cost's to be paid iv a fortnight j balance at £2 per month. ■*" : V GENE B AL NEWS. This has been a'very busy week here for the - storekeepers, a great n amber of natives being "down from Kopua with their produce. As usual, they are far from satisfied with the prices obtained, viz., 3s to 3a 6d for oats, and 5s 6d for wheat per bushel. Best flour here, now, being 24s per lOOlbs, one would think our local millers could afford to give more for the wheat.

Tawhiao, with the whole of his family, were down; and stayed for some days, at Pikia's, within a half-mile of the township, and all of them, with the exception of Tawhiao himself, were m Alexandra, purchasing at the stores. About JOO natives, With Takerei Tekau, left on Thursday,for a meeting at the Thames, including some of Tawhiao's .family. Tawhiao, himself, has gone to Kawhia, where there are a large number of people assembled to meet him. Two of the native vessels fromßaglan, belonging £to Hone" te One and Wetmi, are to be there and a general jollification is to take t place, to commemorate the event. w Mr Bush, the Resident Magistrate's Clerk of the [Court, ti* 3 _-k e i en *kere sometime, waiting Tavvhiao's arrival, as the. representative of Government. Afi shing excursion, on board of the vessels for W napuia, forms part ; of tho programm e.— Own Correspondent,