SUPREME COURT SITTINGS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3732, 2 July 1883, Page 3

SUPREME COURT SITTINGS.

Wellington, This day. _ The Supreme Court was opened this morning. There was nothing of special interest in Judge Richmond's charge to the Grand Jury. Doere, for false pretences, wasfacquitted. Dunedin, This day. At the criminal sessions of the Supreme Court to-day Judge Williams, in his charge to the Grand Jury, merely dealt with the cases on the calendar. Robert Wardrop, for maliciously wounding John Thompson at Port Chalmers, was sentenced to one hour's imprisonment on account of the prisoner's good character, and having been three months in gaol. George Fleming, aged 18, received nine months' imprisonment for stealing from a dwelling. Auckland, This day.

The criminal sessions of the Supreme Court wero opened this morning. The calender comprises 11 persons charged with 17 offences, including bigamy, perjury, indecent assault, bestiality, forgery, larceny, and bribery. His Honor remarked that the charge of bribery by a public officer preferred against W. V. Stevens was the first case of the kind brought before any Conrt in tliis colony. au<l considered that every one must sympathise with the determination of the Government to nip in the bud any attempt to bribe public servants. Henry Smith, for housebreaking and larceny, received two years ; Thomas Henry Butler, for forgery,"twelve months. Christchurch, This day.

The criminal sessions of the Supreme Court commenced this morning. The Judge, in his charge to the Grand Jury, referring to the proposal in the House of Representatives to abolish the Grand Juries, said the system had worked well, and he hoped the change would not be hastily made, and that the whole of the circumstances of the case would be carefully considered before the present system was abolished. Referring to the great prevalence of crimes in arson, His Honor said it was a subject for consideration whether it was not due to the great facilities afforded to persons in the humbler classes of life to insure their properties. One subject for congratulation was the total absence of forgery cases from the calendar for the present session. John Plunkctt, a youth of IS, for robbery, was sentenced to two vcars, and Elizabeth Johnston, larceny, to two years There aro twelve more cases.