THIS DAY.

Evening Post, Issue 180, 5 September 1865, Page 2

THIS DAY.

Pita Whakaka, Marino, Mangumangu, and Pita Te Rito, natives, were placed at the bar, charged with having, on the 19th April^ 18G4, feloniously killed, with intent to steal, a bullock, the property of John llooper ; the prisoner Mangumangu waa indicted as the principal in the offence, and the others with aiO'ng and abetting. The prisoners were defended by Mr. Borlase. Mr. Baker acted as interpreter. David Benge examined : I am a farmcr t residing at the Upper Hutt ; I Know the prisoners ; 6aw them on the 19th April, 1864, at the Mungaroa Valley ; they were putting beef in baskets, and lacing them up ; I did not spg the carcase ; there were a head and hide cloac by ; could identify them as belonging to Mr. Hooper's bullock ; they seemed to have been just taken from the animal ; there was a small piece cut away from the hide, wheto I knew the brand to have been ; my two sons and a native c*me up ; on being questioned by one of my sons, Mangamangu held up a knife and said, " This is the knife that cut the piece out of the hide ;" I did not toll them I knew who owned the bullock. Oioss-cxainined by Mr. Borlase : The land where I saw the prisoners did not belong to them ; I did not say the bullock belonged to me ; I said they knew the owner of it as well as I did (wintess here described the colour of the bullock) ; Mr. Hooper's bullock was not wild. Joseph Bengo was examined, and fully corroborated the previous witnessed evidence. Robert Hooper examined : I went to Mungaroa Valley from information received, and saw there the hide and head of my father's bullock. Cross-examined by Mr. Borlase : I uovol

received payment for this bullock from tho priponei"?. Mr. Borlise addressed the jury on behalf of t!m prisoners. He did not deny the fact of tbp pri "oners having killed a bullock, and that it was tlio property of John Hooper ; but that it was not done with a felonious intent ; bo pointed out, that large mobs of wild cattle Arerc constantly roaming about in that neighbourhood ; that the prisoners wore probably not aware of the responsibility thqy were incurrinc: ; and he requested the jury to take this view of tho matter. His Honor told the jury that the case was emircly in their hands, but that identity of the animal had been fully proved, aud there was no doubt tho crime was committed for tho flesh. The jury found tne prisoners guilty. Eobcrtllooper was culled as to the character of the prisoners ; he spoke favourably of Marino and Mangumangu. Elis Honor in passing sentence vxplaincd to the prisoners the enormity of the crime they hail been found guilty of, that in England similar offences used formerly be considered capital crimes and punished with death; ho would not pass so severe a sentence on them as he should if such crimes were of more frequent occurrence. The sentence of the Court was that Pita Whaknka and Pita, Te Rilo be imprisoned for 12 months, and Marino and Mangumangu for G months, all with hard labor. This close the criminal business of the session.

jH^ho Ahuriri, Lady Bird, ami Storm Bird, conveying the East Coast expedition, sailed to-day. Tho men appeared in excellent spirits, and wo have no doubt will give a good account of their enemies as soon us opp irtunity^gffers. The expedition numbers some GOO. jSf f^ Tho Cuminnl Sittings of tho Supreme Court terminated to-day, his Honor Judge Johnson having disposed of all the cases set down for trial. Wm. Lyon, Esq., J.P., nnd Captain Sharpe, J.P., occupied the bench at the Resident Magistrate's Court to-day, in the absence of Mr. Ward, which, we are sorry to hear, was caused through illness, 'lhe cases for adjudication were bub o£ slight importance. The New Zealand Herald says it was rumoured j-i well-informed circles that orders had been received from his Excellency to delay the departure of the fifllh Regiment, their further services being likely to bo still longer required in the colony. A now Presbyterian Church has been commenced at Picton, and is being rapidly proceeded with. This makes the third place for public worship in Picton. The New Zealand Herald infoimsus that tho non-com misßioncil officers and sappers of the 6th company Koy.tl Engineers gave a ball in honor of Major and Mrs. Mould, who are leaving the colony for England by the ship Bombay. The ball was held mi the Albert Barracks, and shortly after eight o'clock about eighty persons had assembled, including the officers and sappers with their wives and % da>ighters, and jx few gentlemen who had received special invitations. The room was profusely decorated with flugs, emblems, &c, and presented a very neat and pleasing appearance. The excellent bnnd of the 14th Regiment was in attendance during the evening, and dancing was kept with great spirit to a late hour. Among the company present were Major and Mrs. Mould, the Misses Mould, Brigade-Major Paul. Dr. Temple, Quartermaster Lambert (Military Train), Mrs. and the Misses Lambert, Mr. Jones (Clerk of Works), Mr. Thomas Henderson, junr., and Mr. Alexander. A fire took place lately at Blenheim, by which the building and stock of Mr. Austin, boot and shoemaker, were destroyed in less than half an hour, Mrs. Austin escaping from the flames with difficulty.