Domestic Intelligence.

Auckland Chronicle and New Zealand Colonist, Volume 1, Issue 7, 21 December 1842, Page 3

Domestic Intelligence.

COUNIY COURT. The Judge of this Court. * Frederick Whitaker, Esq.,) held a sitting in the Court-house, yesterday, for the trialof persons charged with criminal offences. The Counsel present were, Messrs. Bartley, Brewer, Outhwaite, Berrev and Kennedy. Mr. Donelly appeared, for the first time, as Clerk of the Court. There was a more than usual attendance of spectators, trom the interest excited m the case of Mr. Moore, out on bail on a charge of larceny, for abstracting touts of type, and <>th*ei i\riMting materials, from the Government prilling office-; but since confined in the Debtors’ prison. The names of the gentlemen summoned as jurors having been called ove , the Cleik ot the ('unit real the bailbond.

The Crier was then directed to call John Moore, who eventually appeared inside the Court-house, in the charge of a constable.

Here a legal difficulty occurred. I’he defendant being in charge of the Sheriff for debt, could not be put on bis trial, except unaer the authority of a capeas, from ihe Judge of the Supreme Court. Mr. Bartley, (who appeared as Counsel for the defendant), contended that the recognizances ought not to be esteated ; that the law could not require the sureties to perform an impossibility; and that this difficulty arose from a manifest defect in the constitution of the Court. The Court, if it had not the power of releasing the sureties, oughi at least to have beeu endued with such power. The Judge observed, that the constitution of the Court was precisely the same as the Court of Quarter Sessions in England ; it had similar powers, but could go no furthers However much he might be disposed to release the sureties, he had not the power, and the regognizances must be estreated. He should not, however, under the circumstances, call for the immediate payment of the mont-y into Court, lint leave the question for the decision of the Child'Justice.

Mr. Baiiiey urged that the defendant was not only read) , but anxious to take his trial.

The Judge said, if the defendant was teally desirous that there should have been no delay, he might have avoided it, by having a day-room. It was entirely h s own fault.

Eventually it was understood that the trial should be postponed, and that no present proceedings should be taken with regard to the estreated recognizances, in the after part of the day, it was understood that arrangements were in progress with regard to the prisoner having a day-room, and the trial is expected to come on this (Wednesday) morning; when jurors, witnesses, and others are required to be in attendance at ten o’clock.

John Coyne was charged wiih having, on Friday last, ** stolen two Bank-notes, of the New Zealand Banking Company, for the payment of £lO, and of the value often pieces of the current coin of the tealm, called sovereigns, of the goods and chattels ot Alexander Kennedy.” The prisoner, it appeared, presented a check at the office of the New Zealand Bank, in Auckland, on Friday last, drawn by the Colonial Treasurer, for £7 LOs. By mistake (the figure 7 being like 17), £l7 10s. were handed to him, with which he walked off. On being reminded that he had received £lO more than was due to him, he replied, that was not his fault; he ueither admitted nor denied il.

Many points of law were mooted, and much legal subtility displayed, for which we have not space in our present number. The jury eventually acquitted the prisoner.

If we mistake not, the £lO is recover, able by civil action.

Constabulary.— The whole of the military force of the colony, excepting a few tried men, who are left in charge of the garrison, being at Tautanga, the Chief Police Magistrate has augmented the police force of this town. This is in consequence of the military guard being taken off the Treasury. An armed constable is placed over that building during the whole of the night. He is placed on duty at 8 o’clock by sergeant Steele, and |relieved at midnight by a tiesh man, who guards this important public office until daylight. Careless Smokers. —We have been informed that late on Sunday night, a heedless man, who had not inebriety to urge as an excuse for his carelessness, was observed to drop a large fi e-brand close to a wooden building after lighting his pipe with it, and the wind blowing fresh in the vicinity of some loose raupo, had it not been for a gentleman passing immediately afterwards, an extensive fire might have been the result; for it occur red in a densely built part of the townWe caution persons from such recklessness, or we assure them thev may be committed for aison, which is a transportable offence.

I he Land Salk on Saturday.— It may be important for the public to know, that tlie Surveyor General has appointed a surveyor (M r. Haile), to point out to intending purcliaiers of Suburban Allotments, the position ot each lot, and give such other information as may be required.

PotlCEi —On Monday, Catherine Hutchinson, wife of William Hutchinson, now a j. isoner in gaol for debt, appeared to an information by Edward Williams, also a prisoner on the debtor’s side, for having brought spirits to her husband, contrary to-the gaol regulations. The case was proved, and ihe defendant adjudged to pay a fine of £2O, or in default, to be committed to three months’ hard labour. I here have been several cases of drunkenness, where the delinquents were severally adjudged to pay the sum of £l and costs, or in deiault, imprisoned 48 hours.

Auckland Dispensary. —We have been favoured by the perusal of sugges tions submitted to the Snh committee of the Auckland Dispensary, through Messrs. Graham and (joodfellow (Members of the Sub-committee), by Walter Lee. Lsq., M. D. There is so much humane and philanthropic feeling displayed in them, that we earnestly recommend them for adoption by ihe Committee of Management. For the informal ion of the public, we give the substance of the do cument itself. The writer states, that he had it in contemplation to call a meeting of the Medical profession of tins town, to take into consideration, Ihe best means of co-operating with the Committee of the Auckland Dispensary, to assist in carrying thdir laudable views into effect, but having considered the present limited state of our population, he had abandoned that idea, and offers his gratuitous profes sioual services to take charge of the South Western District of Auckland He calls the attention of the Committee to the importance of affording aid, dining child-birth, to those women whose husbands' earnings are too scanty to enable them to obtain the assistance of piofessional men ; and suggests that, as there are many married gentlemen on the Com mittee, they he requested to invite their wives (with others;, to direct their attention to so benevolent and <>raiseworthv an object, and form themselves into a sub-visiting committee, invested with the power of distributing obstietric letters to those who, on inquiry may be deemed proper objects. 'This is worthy of serious consideration.

The Parkrurst Boys.—We learn that Captain Rough, our active and indefatigable Harbour Master, has been appointed guardian to these boys per the St. Georye. Parties desirous of securing their services will, we believe, have to apply to that gentleman.