MASTERTON NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 914, 6 September 1910, Page 9

MASTERTON NOTES.

(By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.! Masterton, September 5. The Supreme Court sessions opened before Mr. Justieti Edwards to-day.- In addressing the grand jury, his Honour congratulated the district upon'its apparent immunity from crime, and stated that there was only one criminal casu ou the calendar whicn would nut be difficult to deal with. If the sittings of the court were to be continued in Masterton,'a new courthouse'.would have to be provided. ;' Hammington, against whom a true bill was returned ;by the grand jury, pleaded not guilty, to an, improper act, at. Gladstone on . June 10.' Alter hearing the evidence of threp' Natives and Constable Ingram, the jury returned a.verdict of-not guilty.. In discharging the prisoner, his Honour' said that, although the jury was. probably right in the verdict returned, it had not before it a fact which was in his possession, viz., thut accused had previously served four lengthy, terms; of imprisonment for a similar offence. • He then warned prisoner that, if he came b'ctoru the Court again, lie might receive 0 tovero sentence. In the meantime .'his , case would, be reported to, those'whu- woro framing legislation to provide- indetej-, minute sentences; Joseph Sheridan, .civil servant, of / Gishorne, 'sued .fori divorce from his wife, Pikihuia.Sheridaii; pn.thu ground .of: misconduct with Thomas -Carr roll/ :who was joined -as 'co-respondent.: Evidence was given, to the effect-that-the parties were married in Masterton'in 1895. They lived together for about two years,- after which respondent returned to her parents. She had, it was 'alleged! assaulted petitioner on the. wharf at Wellington, and he then abandoned her. Three years ago he learned that she was living with _ Carroll. His Honour granted a decree nisi, to be made absolute in three months, if petitioner paid the costs of tho respondent in thut'tlnio.' Jn th(< Bankruptcy Court -sovcriil discharges were granted..', A motion asking l the. Official 1 Assignee to show cause Why. Hie claim, of a Xlhinawonian,; named Li Chi, for i«J2 10s..for rent, should not be admitted as a preferential -.claim', in tho ; bankrupt estate of Cork-; antT Long, ;was dismissed with £b ss. costs, i; his- Honour holdingthat partnership could hot bo .'involved in tho lease taken by Corkl on ..his own account. The appeal of Sergeant Millfiv 'against the'decision of Mr, C; C/ Grajiam, S.M., in dismissing; an Infonimt.ion against one. Smith "for • exposing liquor for sale in a No-License district could' not-' be proceeded with; -, ai. : tho Crown.Prosecutor (Mr. Ostler) had nut: arrived; ' Tho- case-will be heard 'tomorrow. ' v . !.-■;• '■"'.'■ The' 'District 'Conference., of ''the .Women's Christian Tempera 1100';' (Jnio'n opens in the Methodist Schoolroom . tomorrow. .'•■'■'■' Much"interest is being manifested in the. drainage: poll which is, to. bu,, taken on Thursday. Both .sides are confident of success... . . ~' The lo'ciif branch-uf, the' Y.M.C.A. held a "mothers' day" yesterday, ■in Honour of the- opening, of the new, gymnasium, There was- a largo 'attendance.- of thepublic. ~:.';: ':'..-;-. •.•-.' ■ ■ ~ The bankruptcy: of Alex M'Kenaie,'; ofFeatherston, was.annulled to-day, he having paid Iris . creditors twenty shillings in tho pound. . ,