RESIDENT MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

Press, Volume XI, Issue 1346, 1 March 1867, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

Cheistchtjech—February 28. [Before C. C. Bowen, Esq., R.M.]

A case against James Wallace, for drunkenness, was dismissed with a caution.

Sophia Hughton, J Hicks, and GK O'Acqua were all charged with a breach of the Dog Nuisance Ordinance, and in each case a fine of 20s was inflicted.

Patrick Howard, Agnes Hossack, John Wright, Henry O. Forster, Robert Hallum, and Henry Stewart were all charged with cattle trespass, and fines varying from from 5s to 10s were inflicted.

Augustus Balcke was fined 20s for discharging firearms in the public street.

Jamee Cleary was charged with unlawfully rescuing a horse, hie property, from Thomas Trevitt, whilst being driven to the pound. A witness was called who corroborated prosecutor's statement, and defendant was fined 40s, and costs.

Margaret Kelso was fined 10s for using abusive language towards Michael Martin. A similar charge against Michael and Ellen Martin was dismissed.

F. T. Haskine wae cliarged with unlawfully and violently assaulting 'his eon, Edward Haskins. J. P. Restall deposed that on Satan- ,- day evening last, about a-quarter to seven o'clock, he was in his paddock about two chains from the back of defendant's house, when ho heard the sound of lashes as of a whip, and the cries of a little boy. The beating ceased for a short time. ■ He then felt it his duty to interfere. When he got to the back of defendant's house the flogging had stopped. Defendant came to the door with a riding whip in his hand. He remonstrated with defendant on what seemed to him the extreme eeverity of the flogging, and told him that he would place the matter in the hands of the police. He did not hear any more. He did not see the beating. It did sound an excessive punishment. A witness was called who deposed to seeing the boy stripped out, and that there was only one mark on him, and that he (the boy) did not appear to have received any cruel beating. In defence, defendant stated that the boy had behaved very badly, and that he had thrashed him, but no more than was necessary. The Resident Magistrate remarked that he had had enquiries made about the matter, and that the report was before him from which he saw that the boy had two little marks upon him ; that the constable had also enquired of the neighbors, who told him tlTat the boy was a bad boy, and that the father had been very kind to him. He (the Resident Magistrate, could see that no more violence had been used than was necessary, and therefore dismissed the case.

Lyttelton—February 28. [Before Wm. Donald, Esq., K.SL] John Macdonald was charged with neglecting to keep a chimney ou hie premises clean, whereby it caught fire. He was fined 2s 6d, with costs. Xhe Resident Magistrate remarked that if there had been any negligence he should hare inflicted the full penalty, viz., £o.