CHRISTCHURCH.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2144, 6 April 1886, Page 2

CHRISTCHURCH.

[BY TELEaa\PH.— PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Chkistchubch, Monday. Thr annual sittings opened to-day. Justice Johnston in his charge to the Grand Jury said " I cannot see that tlfere is any indication of growth or development of any particular crime or claps of crime or any condition of things that should lead to anxiety as to the state of the colony nor does it seem that the depression, of which we have heard so much, has at all affected the working classes in the way of producing any addition of criminals throughout th« country. In reference to the Howard case he pointed out that in law the marriage celebrated by a captain of a ship at sea was no marriage, so that the charge of conspiracy might be sustained even if the only conspirators were Howard and Mrs Howard. The following sentences have been passed : — J. Beage, robbery with violence, five years' penal servitude ; W. Allington, stealing from a dwelling, 12 months' hard labour ; Won Ling, a Chinaman, breaking into and stealing, 12 months' hard labour ; Hepry Limoa, a boy, assault, 6 inonthi* imprisonment and two whippings; John Brook, larceny as a bailee, 12 months' hard labour. The charge of conspiracy to defraud the Life Insurance Company, preferred against Mr and Mrs Howard and tha two Godfreys, will be taken on Thursday.