RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Waikato Times, Volume XI, Issue 884, 21 February 1878, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Hamilton, Feb. 16, 1878. (Before W. N. Searancke, Esq., E. M.) James Thorn [won, aged 10 years, aid E uily Ann Tnoinpson, aged 8 ye.iis, early on the m<>rni.ig uf the l6vli, c.nnn to Constable Murray, •ud claimed his protection. They .staged that their fatlier ivsi led at he Puiko, a distance of 37 miles irom Ra'iiilton, turned i.horn out of 'lours; and that ih-.'V were; frightened o retui uto the ho.ise, a. id m de for fclauulton. The poor little ci'iuiures .vere m a uiis«r;il)ly dirty state, without boots, and with x i-ry little -:!Othing on tiiem. Cons able Alurray took the otiiidreu to the Po.ice S.ation, and onen stripped the liulr boy with a ■ ie»v of ascer aining if he was niliug the truth abjut ilie la. her ■eating liini; and surly enough there was , roof positive. The little fellow's back was all over biuies. The children, when arrainged oefor? -H S Wois ij', lold a pitiful : id.-, and lagged h.rd noi to bt- sent :)ack to their {ailu-r. In iep.y to the. Court, Sergeant McGoveru stated that the childret.-i'b' mother deserted them some years ago, and the little boy now before the Court, and an elder brother, had oeeu residing with Mr Ellison (near Hamilton) for a length of time, but, it seems, at Christmas last the father took them away. The elder boy is now employed by Mr Graham. So far as the Sergeant ,<nows, the little girl has always res ded with her father, who, of late years, lived m the bush and other isolated places, and had no set' led home. But. the Sergeant now understood that houipson was m Mr Gould's employment at the Piako, and comfortably situate J. Thompson had always • been a sober, hardworking man. His Worship after some consideration, ordered that the children be detained m the Industrial School at Auckland for a period of 5 years. The poor little things seemed delighted that they wo aid not have to go back to their father. 18th February, 1878. (Before S. T. Sedd.»n, Esqr., J.P.,) DRUNKENNESS. Michael O'iShea pleaded guilty to the above offence, and w«s tim'c! ss, and costs, m default 2i hours imprisonment.