CHRISTCHURCH.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 10129, 31 August 1898, Page 3

CHRISTCHURCH.

Tuesday, August 30. (Before R. Beetham, Esq., S.M.) Drunkenness.—James Lynch, who was found drunk while in charge of a cab, was fined £2, or seven days' imprisonment with hard labour. Larckn?.—Richard Beeves, alias Rees, was charged with having, on August 22nd; stolen an axe, valued at ss, the property of Wm. Congreve. The axe had been missed from Mr Congreve's premises, and the prisoner sold it to a dealer for 2s. He now said that he bought it from a man for Is. There were four convictions against him on the record' for similar offences, and he was sentenced to three months' imprisonment, with hard labour. Alleged Embezzlement.—Robert Wardrop , was charged with having failed to account for 11s 6d, money belonging to Jas. Walsh. The accused was employed to sell mats, and disposed of one to a Mr Moore, taking a pair of boots in exchange. The accused now swore that he had paid the prosecutor 11s for the mat, and there being" some uncertainty about) the business relations of the parties, the case was dismissed. Maintenance. — Robert • Nioholls, for whom Mr Byrne appeared, was charged with failing to provide for his wife and two two children. On his agreeing to take his family to Otago, where he had been working, the case was adjourned till September 6th, to .allow of the arrangement being carried oufc.—D. Henderson Brown, in arrears £52 10s with his contribution of 15s per week to the support of his wife, for whom Mr Flesher appeared, was sentenced to two moriths' imprisonment with hard labour.—John Le. "vavasour, aged eighty years, was charged with failing to provide for .his wife, Valeric Le Vavasour, aged seventy years. Mr Byrne appeared for the plaintiff, Mr Donnelly for the defendant. The. evidence showed that the old couple had for many years lived very unhappily, and finally, after a row, the defendant left his wife, who now asked for provision for her maintenance. The defendant having some money and a section of land, was ordered to pay his wife 10s per week.