Local Intelligence. RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

* Wednesday, January 30. [Before J. Poynter, Esq., Resident Magistrate.] John Nelson, who is of unsound mind, was charged with indecent behaviour.

The offence having been proved by the evidence of Mr. Scaife and Constable Stewart, prisoner was sentenced to two months' imprisonment with hard labour.

Jabez Robinson, who is of unsound niind, was charged with having assaulted Mary Ann, daughter of Benjamin Humphrey. He was sentenced to two months' imprisonment with hard labour.

Mullins v. Hunter, for £3, for the value of a watch, chain, and seal unlawfully detained. Mr. Tbaveks appeared for the plaintiff.

Judgment for plaintiff with costs,

Peterkin v. Squire, for £15, the value of a young bull, shot by the defendant on the 28th November last. Mr. Thaveks appeared for the plaintiff. Judgment for plaintiff for £5 and costs. Green v. Langford, for £7, for damage done to a fence, and for the value of a house sold to the plaintiff, and afterwards removed by the defendant.

Defendant put in a set-off, by which he claimed a sum of £8 10s. 3d., as due to him.

Judgment for plaintiff for £5 and costs.

Godbaz v. Jervis, for £4, being the amount alleged to have been detained by him in giving change for a note.

In this case the plaintiff had changed a note at Sir. Jervis's, and having but two notes in her possession, one for £o and one for JUI, she believed that she had passed the £5 note to Mr. Jervis for a £1 note, as she now had only a £1 note left. The case was dismissed.

The Dun Mountain Railway.— The works on this line are to be immediately commenced, tenders having been requested for the earthwork and bridges on the line of tramway, from the Wairoa saddle to the mine, a distance of about four miles.

The Barque Eiude. — This vessel is fast proceeding with her loading at Port Underwood. She had, on the 25th ultimo, 917 bales of wool on board, above 120 bales ready pressed for stowage, and plenty of wool at hand to complete her cargo by the advertized time. She is expected at Nelson by the 15th instant, so as to take in passengers, &c, direct for England.

The late Gold Robbery. — At the request of the magistrates, the report of the evidence in support of the charge against Captain Johns will not be published until it is concluded. Several witnesses having been examined, Captain Johns, at the suggestion of the magistrates, requested to be remanded until the 7th instant, by which time it is expected the Airedale will have arrived, which, no doubt, will bring the second mate, M'Taggart, for the apprehension of whom a warrant has been issued. So soon as the case shall be completed a full report will be published by us.

The Trafalgae-stkekt Culvert.— This culvert has been commenced by Mr. Steel, who is the contractor, at the junction of Halifax and Trafalgar-streets. It is expected that, should the weather continue line, this much required drain will be completed in about three months.

Fatal Accident. — A young man named John Wells, son of Mr. S. Wells, of Eighty-eight valley, was engaged on Monday last in mustering cattle with aomo other men in a narrow valley, known as Ward's Pass, which runs into the Wairau, opposite the lower Traverse-hill. Down this valley flows a stream in a rough rocky bed, which, iv places, is worn into deep holes, and in one of these holes, only a few yards wide, Wells lost his life. The exact particulars of the accident we have not heard, but we believe his horse stumbled in getting out of the hole in question, and Wells fell back into the water, where, being unable to swim, lie was drowned.— [Since the foregoing was in type the following has been handed to us for publication : — "This is to certify that I ha^e hold an inquest upon the body of John Wells, and that he has been accidentally drowned in Ward's Pass, W. D. 11. Baillie, J. P."— Ed. N.E.

Lectuke on the PnYtficAL Geography and GEOLOGY OF THE PUCTV INCE OF NELSON. — A lecture 0)1 tlic üboTc-named subjects, was delivered, at tlie ITreemasous* Hull on Wednesday evening la9t, for the benefit of the building fund or the Nelson Institute, by Julhiß Hnast, Esq. There was a tolerably good attendance, and to those who were at all acquainted with the different subjects treated of tho lecture wats

full of interest. Mr. Haust's Report of his Exploration of the Western Districts of this province is being printed, and will be published shortly. Waimea Election.— -The election for this district took place yesterday, but the number of voters who polled Avas very few compared with the number upon the roll ; this is to be attributed to the fact that many of tlie electors were employed isi the harvest field, and could not afford to lose a day at so critical a season. The numbers polled were for Saunders 125 Kelling 60 Road to,thi; Grey District. — Mr. C. Maling of the Survey Department, with three assistants, left town yesterday, for the purpose of ascertaining the practicability of getting v road to the Grey from the Upper Waiau-ua, by Lake Tennyson and the Wairau Gorge.