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Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 292, 9 December 1893, Page 4

The rainfall, during the storm ab Napier, which caused floods, was no l«ss than 11.83 .inches. At the Thames the fall waa 3.93, and at Auckland 2.25. The importance of affording prisoners opportunities for proving their innocence was referred to at the Police Court this morning by the R.M., Mr H. W. Northcroft. A man named Benjamin Wilson was charged with having stolen goods value £4 se, belonging to Bernard McDermott, from the scow Mabel. Prisoner said that the case had been remanded to enable him to call evidence. He had asked the gaoler about the witnesses and had been told that be had received no instructfons about tho matter. The R. M., Mr H. W. Northcroft, said thab as the man had no solicitor and was under arrest, surely someone should have told him what to do. Sergeant Gamble said the prisoner oughb to have made an application to the gaoler. Prisoner said he made the application, and was told he would have to ask the Magistrate. Hit! Worship said thac when a man was arrested he should be asked if he wanted to call evidence, and if he said be did, it waa the duty of the police to see about it. If a prisoner was not allowed to communicate with the outside world, bow was he to prove his innocence, lender these circumstances he would order the prisoner onco more to stand down. At the Supreme Court at Wellington yesterday Alfred Jos. Kirk, formerly general etorekeeper at Havvera, was arrainged on the first of four charges under the new Bankruptcy Act—namely, that within twelve months before the presentation of a petition of bankruptcy against) him, he unlawfully made preparations for quitting the colony, and taking with him a part of his property, of the value of £200. The jury returned with a verdict of guilty, and accueed was remanded for sentence. In the case of Patrick Scott, alias John Williams, charged with larceny, tho jury, who had been out since noon, were unable to agree last night. After we went to press yesterday afternoon, further evidence was taken before Mr Northcroft, R M., in the Resident Magistrate's Court, in the arson case preferred against the two Maoris Mari Pakebai and Kiri Tenetabi, belonging to the Little Barrier Island, The prosecutor, Ngapera Wepiha, a native woman, was re-examined during the afternoon. The Magistrate reserved his decision until 10 o'clock on Monday morning. " I'll go away to the country and never come here again if I get the chance," was the answer given by Eliza Lestrange at the Police Court this morning when charged with drunkenness for the fourth time within the lasb six month?. Sergeant Gamble suggested that it would be as well to give the woman a chance to leave the town, whereupon the accused said, with tba utmosb fervour, " God bless yon sergeant. I am a nuisance to the Court and I am a nuisance to the public when I am in town. Let me go away." TheR.M., Mr Northcroft, deferred sentence in order to give the woman an opportunity to go to her friend a in the country. jTwo first offending inebriates were each fined 5s and costs or in default 24 hours imprisonment with hard labour. i Miss Holland, daughter of Mr J. J. Holland, the Mayor elect), returned to Auckland in the e.g. Monowai this morning after an absence of nine months. Mies Holland went to San Francisco on a visit to her uncle, Mr R. J. Creighton, but he died before her arrival in the American city. A lad aged 13 years named William Gibson was charged at the Police Court this morning with having etolen a silver watch and chain, value £3 10s, belonging to Jamos Lennox Hamilton, of the s.s. Waitoa, also with the larceny of £2 from the dwelling of John Hanilin. The lad pleaded guilty to the first charge, but said he only took £1 from Mr Hanilin. Sergeant Gamble said the lad had been hired out from the Kohimaramara School, but ran away from his place. He asked for a remand for a week in order to see whether the Government would send the lad to another Industrial School. Mr H. W. Northcroft, R.M., accordingly remanded tho accused until next Saturday. The Government steamer Hinemoa, with the shipwrecked crew of the barque Spirit of the Dawn, arrived at Wellington from the South yesterday. A preliminary inquiry into tho wreck is to be held on Tuesday, and in the meantime the men will remain on board the Hinemoa. Already Borne of them have secured employ meat as A.B.s on board the barque Weathersfield. The Premier and Captain Fairchild are conferring at Wellington as to the best means of letting seaferring men throughout the world know of the existence of the depots on the outlying islands off the coast of New Zealand. The proposal which finds most favour at the present is, that a few pages should be added to the Nautical Calendar, containing maps of the various islands, and particulars regarding the position of the depots, The Alexandra-street Sunday-school hold a floral service to-morrow afternoon. Rev. Drake delivers the address, and there will be recitations and singing by the scholars. Collection at close in aid of festival fund. The s.s. Vivid teaves on an excursion to River head at 10 a.m. to-morrow, an hour earlier than usual,

Captain Edwin wired ab noon; —" Northwest to west and south heavy gale with rain after six hours from note. Glass fall, bub rise after that time." At the Police Courb to-day John Bryant was ordered to pay £1 per week toward the support of of his wife and family. Bris' Empire Minßbrels and Specialty Company commence their first season in New Zealand at the Opera House to-night. The Company is an entirely new one to Auckland, with the exception of the popular comedian, Mr Chas. Hugo, who has been specially engaged for a New Zealand tour. The management promise many novelties. Mr Edward Sbowe's screaming comedy, "Sam Koo'a Laundry," is d«t scribed as one of the most laughable piecetf ever witnessed on a stage. The Company, which is a large one, has had a good run in Australia during the last twelve months. Popular prims will be charged, and tha combination should draw large houses during their short stay here. Full particulars appear in our advertising columns. The final meeting for this year of St. Sepulchre's Band of Hope was held last evening. In the absence of the Yen. Arch* deacon Dudley, Mr F. G. Ewington presided, and daring the evening gave a very interesting and instructive address. The programme was contributed by the Misses Offer, Withy, Olive Stokes, F. Dewes.j Emily Fuller, Claude Smith, Amy Hinton, Beedell, and boys from the Summerstreet Sunday-school. The action songa of the children of the Graf ton Road School,, under the conductorship of Miss Hopper,, were quite the feature of the evening. An inspection parade of the Auckland Naval Artillery was held last night in tho' Drill-shed. There was a large muster, and" the men were put through a course of infantry drill. Capt. Little was in command. After drill Chief Petty-Officer McCoy waa. presented with a gold medal by the members of the 8-mch gun detachment, in appreciation of the manner in which he had instructed them in gun drill.

A more than usually distressing case wa*' heard by Mr Northcroft at the Police Cour* to-day, A well-dressed man named Isaac Henry Levy was charged with failing to contribute towards the support of. bis wife. Mr F. Baume appeared! for the complainant. He stated that tha husband had for some time paid bit wife' £1 per week, but thab had ceased. Tha defendant denied desertion, and was quit, willing to support his wife as Boon as he could get employment. Mrs Levy deposed thab at one time she was in receipt of from £10 to £12 per week, but she handed tho property over to the bank to help her husband. She bad been married 50 years, and her husband was good to her until some months ago when he met a girl. The girl was Bent away from New Zealand, but she had come back again. If her husband would come back to her now, Bhe would forgive him. The defendant said he objected to live again with his wife, but ha was willing to support her when he got work. Mr Northcroft Baid that a man owed a woman a good deal when she handed over £600 a year to him. Surely there waa something in the world called gratitude. Surely a man would like his children to bo able to say, " My father had no spot on bia name, rather than " My father deserted ua, and went to live with somebody else;" An order was made for the payment of £1 pec week.

The local railway authorities bay« received advices from Wellington that tho Wellington-Napier railway line will be reopened on Monday for through communication, excepb between Waipawa and Waipukurau. Arrangements hare been made for conveying passengers by coach between these two places. The closing entertainmenb in connection with Sb. James' Band of Hope took place last evening in the hall, Wellington-street, The Rev. R. F. Macnicol presided. Mr L. S. J. Kekwick and Mr L. Dix gave excellent recitations, and were encored. Mr W. S. Russell gave a capital exhibition of club swinging, and Messrs Edmonds and La con were encored for a duet between whistle and banjo. Other items were a violin solo by Mr Robert Walton, songs by Mr E. L. Lees and Miss Ramsay, and a duet by Miss M. and Mr R. Reid. Three parti songs were given, under the baton of Me Johnson, and made very pleasant items. The tableaux were under the charge of Messrs McGill and Morton, one of tha scenes being deservedly encored. The neb proceeds of the entertainment go towarda the hall debt fund. Yesterday afternoon and evening a Christmas tree and sale of work in aid of St. Barnabas 1 Church, Mount Eden, waa held in Waite's Hall, Mount Eden, there being a large attendance. The arrangements were in the hands of the Ladies' Guild connected with the church. Tho tree was laden with attractive gifts, and waa in charge of Miss Cooper and Miss Dixon. The stalls included a fruib and cake stall, a refreshment stall, a work stall and a shooting gallery. Misses Gibbs and Miss Stewarb were in charge of the refreshment stall, Misses Bull and Thompson of the coffee stall, and Misa Robinson and several other ladies looked after the work stall. An art gallery of curios and other objects of interest was in charge of Miss Trevithick.

There was a crowded attendance last evening at the Christmas Tree entertainment held in Sb. Andrew's Presbyterian Sunday-school room, Symonds-streeb in aid of the annual school picnic fund. Tho Christmas Tree was covered with attractive gifts, some 500 presents of all sorts being distributed to the adults and children present. Some'fine limelight views were shown by Mr C. Cooper, Miss N. Hastia sang ** Jessie's Dream," the song being illustrated by several limelight views. Those who worked to promote the success of the entertainment were Misses Elliott, R. Hastie, Moore, Haelett, Campbell, Mr J. Patterson, and several other ladies and gentlemen connected with the church. The tail programme of Mr Fuller's Sun« day afternoon concert and trip round tha harbour is published in this issue, and with favourable woather, should prove very enjoyable. To-morrow afternoon the Ferry Company will run a steamer to St. Helier's Bay at 2.30 returning at 5 o'clock. Steamers will also visit the Bussard at short intervals during the afternoon.