TAURANGA R.M. COURT.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume IV, Issue 339, 8 December 1875, Page 3

TAURANGA R.M. COURT.

Monday, December 6, 1875. (Before Major Roberts, E.M.) John Madden, charged with being drunk and disorderly on the 4th instant, and also for using abusive language. Pleaded guilty to both charges. Sub-Inspector Forster deposed; About 6 p.m. Saturday, the 4th instant, he saw the prisoner drunk on the Strand, and heard him making use of abusive language to Mr 0. N. Roberts. He gave the prisoner in charge. Mr 0. N. Roberts confirmed Sub-Inspector Forster’s evidence. The prisoner regretted that he had said anything insulting to Mr Roberts; he believed in his own conscience that he had not intended the language for Mr Roberts. On the first charge, the Court fined the prisoner 10s and costs, or 24 hours’ imprisonment, and on the second charge, the prisoner was sentenced to seven days’ imprisonment, with hard labor. Daniel Carter was charged with being drunk and disorderly on the morning of the sth instant, for which he was fined 5s and costs. A second charge was also brought against the prisoner for resisting the Constable in the execution of his duty, to which he also pleaded guilty. Constable Whelan deposed as to the resistance made by the accused, his evidence being supported by Mr Salt, who was a witness on the occasion.

The Court informrd the prisoner that the charge brought against him was a very serious one, but as it was his-firat offence, his punish* ment would bo confined to a fine of 40s and costs, in default of payment, 14 days’ imprisonment. Mary Carter was charged with using abusive language towards Constable Blake in the Government Paddock on the sth instant. She pleaded guilty. Constables Blake and Neighbour gave evidence as to the language complained of having been used, and stated the prisoner was only confined after every effort had unavailingly been made to get her to go quietly away. The prisoner was fined 10s and costs, or 48 hours’ imprisonment.

An actor in a certain Western theatre wa, recently playing Romeo, and, growing somewhat confused in the balcony scene, be shouted, “ But soft! What light from yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet has a son !” instead of u is the sun,” The effect upon the audience may be readily imagined.

OUE AUCKLAND LETTER. (from our own coebsspondsnt.) Auckland, December 3, 3875. The Opposition party here do not make any attempt to conceal their disappointment at Sir George Grey’s address on Monday night. He simply told them nothing but what they knew before, Insular separation, with a Federal Council at Wellington, has been understood for months to be the object aimed at by him* seif and his party as the means of counter* acting the Abolition scheme of the Government, and Sir George has done no more than confirm this idea, So fully were even his friends under the impression that the Opposition policy in detail was to be laid before the meeting that the chairman, Mr Robert Graham, in his introductory speech stated that Sir George was there with that intention j and ho must have felt rather awkward when the speaker rebuked him for making the statement, and disclaimed any such idea, alleging that it would be impolitic for him to do so. The speech was a masterpiece of eloquence, us all Sir George’s public utterances are, and contained some exquisite touches of humour. The way he handled the Indemnification Act was irresistible. The financial question he did not even refer to, though in the event of Separa* tion that is the great difficulty. His three months at Wellington have evidently taught the old gentleman that it will not do to be as frank as he used to be. It would appear from what he says that he is only halfhearted about Separation after all, for we find him saying that it would be only in pursuance of the expressed wish of the people that he would advocate such a violent remedy. There is no doubt about one thing, which is that the people here almost worship him. The welcome they gave him on Monday night was positively startling in the buret of cheering which greeted him as he came on to the platform. Everyone rose to a man ; even Mr Luckie, the editor of the Cross, who sat with the reporters taking notes of the salient points of his speech. As you will have heard by telegram, Sir George went to the Thames yesterday, I believe there is yet a difficulty with City West before he consents to accept the requisition from the people at the goldfields, but it will bo got over I have no doubt. To-day wo bear for the first time that Mr Eobert Graham is likely to be fir George’s companion in the running for this district. There is a requisition being got up for him to stand, and if he does the Government will have a very poor show for either of the seats. It is said to be Sir George Grey’s intention to stump the province during the nest month. It is his ambition I hear to walk into the Assembly at the head of fifteen out of the eighteen Auckland members,, and his persuasive powers are of such a high order that it would not surprise me to see him succeed. Mr O’Eorke has come out with his address to the electors of Onehunga, and Mr Shepherd has announced his intention of fighting another battle on the Government side with Mr Farnall for Kodney. Mr Sheehan’s intentions are as yet a mystery. At the time I write he has not arrived from Wellington, where he has been disturbing the stomachs of the Hawke’s Bay native landholders. Mr W. J. Hurst is laughed at most unmercifully by the Coromandel Mail about bis expected candidature of the Thames. The editor says be remembers him in the City Council, and that ho was then incapable of handling the question of lamp posts. The attitude of the Herald at the present moment is what is popularly spoken of as “on the fence.” Its sudden depreciation of Separa* tion after its late advocacy is rather curious. Mr Whitaker is said to be the hidden power guiding the pen of the editor. The Star has walked into it pretty hot for its lukewarmness at such a critical time.

My words were prophetic when I told you in my last that I could not believe the vexed dry dock question was to be settled with the opening of the tenders on the 30th November. Instead of being settled the project is further off realization than at any time since it was started. On Tuesday the tenders wore opened, and they were as followJ. Henderson, £96,787; Owen Jones and 00., £99,591; J. A. Ovorend (Melbourne), £116,844 18a 6d—there is a conscientiousness about the shillings and pence in this tender which is quite refreshing ; R. Dickson, £121,000; Smith, Finlayson and Co. (London), £123,800; John Taylor, £139,900 12a; and David Proudfoot (Dunedin), £130,000. Out of these, Smith Finlayson’a tender was not formal, nor, it is said, was J. Henderson's, which came by telegram without a deposit after the time specified, and yet, strange to say, was enter* tained, though the former was not. An evil augury might have been drawn from the fact that on the day these tenders were submitted to the Board there was a poor attendance of members, Captain Daldy, the chairman, being out at a spread at Mr Hurst’s place at the Lake. The consideration of the tenders was therefore relegated to the Works Committee to report upon at a special meeting yesterday. At this every man Jack of the members showed. The Chairman made a short state' ment of the Board’s Loan Account, and showed that out of £150,000 they had re* maining available for the dock only a trifle over £50,000. He then, without explaining how it came about that the Board bad allowed the advertisements for the tenders to appear for nine months in spite of this state of affairs, left it to them to determine whether it was wise to accept any of the tenders. Mr J. S. Macfarlane thereupon rose and proposed that " as the estimate of the engineer when advising the Board was so much less than the lowest tender, it was not advisable to accept any.” The engineer referred to was Mr Moriarty, who calculated the probable cost as not quite £70,000, but on the other hand Mr Macdonald, the Board’s resident engineer, had estimated the figure as £87,000, only £9,000 leas than Mr Henderson’s tender, not a very great margin of profit for such an undertaking. Messrs Buchanan and Tolo tried to get the matter left for consideration till next meeting, but there was not even this grace granted, but then and there Mr Macfarlane’s motion was carried, and the tenderers are to receive back their estimates and deposits with thanks. I never recollect our Harbour Board making itself so ridiculous as it has over this business. So far as I can see the fault lies with Captain Daldy. No one understands the position of the Board as he does, and the other members have hitherto reposed in him a blind con* fidence which will now be ruthlessly disturbed, It is not so much that the people are annoyed; at the tenders being declined under the circumstances—if there is no money it is wise not to involve a body which has up to the present kept its finances in a very creditable position; and again there are scores of practical men here who say if the, dock had been

built where it was intended by these specifies* lions, namely, on the west side of the wharf,, it would hare been no good at all Hut tho extraordinary feature is that Baldy must hare known fur the last six mouths at least bow things were going, and yet he allows the Board to rote money for reclamations in Freeman’s Bay, for Kailway Bier, and other works, very useful no doubt, without; saying a word about there not being, enough money for the dock. Mr Orerend came over from Melbourne on purpose to see the fate of his tender, and I am informed ho has gone away in a fine state, declaring that the whole lot of the tenderers hare been humbugged, I hare dwelt some* what fully on this stupid business because I feel very strongly that Auckland citizens gene* rally should show a strong disapproval of actions so likely to bring them into general* contempt. Captain Babiy’s reputation as a> business man will suffer materially* On Wednesday there was an important said of the leases of the allotments belonging to the Harbour Board, situate in Custom-house street and Breakwater Boad. The result affords a most gratifying proof of the way property in Auckland is increasing in value. The rents of these allotments up to the* present time hare not exceeded £9OO In the aggregate. They hare now been let for aseven year’s term for over £1,250 per annum. Another sale of leasehold property was hold by Messrs Grant and Morton, on behalf of * the Improvement Commissioners, yesterday. The allotments are situate in the continuation * of Princes street on the Barrack Hill, and > occupy about as commanding a situation ao any in Auckland. The terms were easy, with * the exception that the bouses put up must bo • worth £7OO, so the bidding was spirited, and the prices realised very satisfactory. The lots sold for 99 years brought from £6 10s to • £l2 Iss per foot. Those that were leased on yearly rentals produced from £lB to £BO per annum.

his advance ho was not sober. When the - vessel was hauling off into the stream ho managed to got away up town and go on the spree, getting locked up as a finish. The cap* tain bailed him out, and got a constable to see him down the wharf to the ship’s boat which was to put him on board. He gave the constable the slip, and' got away up to town again. Ho was found, and this time guarded safely till' 1 he was deposited on the deck of the vessel. He told the water police as they were leaving that they would see him again if he had to swim for it. And he fulfilled his promise too, for he jumped overboard as soon as it was dark, and struck out for tbo shore. A boat was lowered and went after him, and caught him, but such a determined Beggar was the fellow that he jumped out of the boat before it got back to the ship, and succeeded in swimming ashore. The next time he waa brought back the skipper had to put him in* irons till the vessel was away. There was a regular flutter in the-neigh-bourhood of St. Foul’s Church on Tuesday morning, owing to the marriage of the incumbent, the Kev Cl M. Nelson, and Miss Georgiana Sophia Coates, which was celebrated by Bishop Oowie at the unusually early; hour of half-past eight o’clock. The bride and bridegroom have gone to spend the honeymoon at Mr Whitaker's beautiful villa at Lake Takapuna.

A sailor named Dana afforded the papers some good material for a yarn on Thursday. The man has been in a good position, and holds a second mate’s certificate, but drink has ruined him, and it is now as much as he can do to keep a billet before the mast. He came out here in the ship British Empire, and was discharged on arrival. Shortly afterwards he shipped in the barque Director, but he was too rough acustomer for the captain, who sent him about his business double quick after a few days. Davis now came to town (the Director was lying at Kaipara), and shipped in the barque Thames, which was on- the point of sailing for New York. From the moment ho received