RANGIORA.

Press, Volume XLV, Issue 7187, 24 October 1888, Page 6

RANGIORA.

Tuesday, October 23. [Before C. Whitefoord, Esq., R.M.] Prohibition Order. —On an information against T. Richards, who did not appear, his nephew deposed that defendant was by excessive drinking injuring his health and destroying the happiness of his family, an order was made prohibiting publicans and other persons from supplying Richards in the Rangiora, Mandeville, and Kowai districts. Insulting Conduct. —Thomas Hill, a Southbrook boy, was charged with using threatening and abusive language towards Mr James Seed, who said that accused was annoying the Wesleyan choir practice, with others who were making a noise, and blowing tobacco smoke into the chapel. When spoken to the lad used an offensive term, and threatened to fight the complainant. J. Thomson gave corroborative evidence. Accused in his defence admitted being on the premises, and tha* as he thought Mr Seed was Insulting him he cautioned him he. should take.it out of him. (Laughter.) The Resident Magistrate expressed his surprise that the complainant had kept his temper, and withheld from giving a cheeky boy a good thrashing. He advised defendant if he wished to act the character of a man to do so. but not to behave in the way of a child. Fined 10s and costs.

Another Case. — Tom. White was charged by James Mutch with using abusive and threatening language to him. Defendant handed the Bench a note from complainant saying "Mr-White and I have settled our trouble, therefore please strike out the case." The Resident Magistrate said the case might be withdrawn, Mr Mutch to be informed of the costs incurred.

Is Marriage a Failure?—R. Clark was charged by his wife Elizabeth with violently assaulting and beating her. Complainant stated she went to the kitchen for a cup of tea, when defendant caught her by the neck, where might be still seen the impression of his nail prints. Holding her by the throat he threatened to Kill her. On releasing her after nearly choking her, he tried to scald her with hot tea. Defendant had hurt her internally previously, by throwing a flatiron at her. To defendant —You chased mc out of doors in your nightshirt the previous night, and locked mc out. I have nervous feeling, but not scratchings on my feet. Ido not complain of hearing voices in the house at night. R. Clark, the defendant, stated that his ,wife came into the kitchen to get a cup of tea after he had made it. He asked her then what the row was about in the house during the night, as she had been swearing and praying and going on like a lunatic, and pitching the ishes about. She then told him to go to Putney and get his head shaved. She pitched the dishes at him and laid over his shoulders with a stick, and broke a window. He then took her by the shoulders and put her out, when she threw the buckets at the door and finally went away, telling him she would never make his bed again. On the night before Mrs Clark ran out, and was making faces at the moon, cursing the clerk, the marriage certificate, and praying that the rings might drop off her fingers. The complainant vehemently stated all this statement was untrue. Mr Clark had previously cut her head open and caused the blood to run to the ground. Defendant—She says the house is infested with devils and evil spirits. The Resident Magistrate—Well, we cannot go into the matter further. I should ad-ise you to try and arrange through friends for a separation. I do not think Mr Clark's conduct has been satisfactory, but with the conflicting evidence there is nothing to show who is speaking the truth, and the information must be dismissed. Civil Cases.—Judgment was given for plaintiffs in cases L. Ridley v G. Lander, £14 17s lOd; J. Wheeler v W. Murfit,£----3s sd; same v G. Bartrum, £117s 4d, setoff £1 15s 6d; judgment for £1 ls 3d ; same v A. Campbell, £2 10s 9d, tendered 4s 2d - judgment for Ss 7d; J. Judson vE. Dillon, £12 lbs od; judgment summons, for which defendant had sent a promise to pay on January -2nd; order made amount to be paid on that date, or in default two months' imprisonment-