RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT. This Day. (Before Mr: Edward Shaw, R.M.) DRUNKENNESS.

Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 49, 1 March 1881, Page 3

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT. This Day. (Before Mr: Edward Shaw, R.M.) DRUNKENNESS.

Frank Leeman, for this offence, was fined ss, in default 24 hours' imprisonment. CHEAP TBIP TO WELLINGTON. William Nicholls, on remand, was charged with having travelled from Ly ttelton to Wellington in the s.s. Wanaka without previously paying his fare, and with intent to evade payment thereof. It transpired that yesterday afternoon a telegram was received from the Christchurch detective authorities, intimating that a warrant had been issued for Nioholls' arrest on a charge of wifedesertion. His Worship said he had communicated with the Union S.S. Co.'s agent here concerning this matter, and that gentleman had very kindly offered to allow the prisoner to work his passage back again in the s.s. Albion, and he (tho Magistrate) hoped that the next time Nicholls visited Wellington it would be under more favorable circumstances. As regards the arrest-warrant;, it - had no doubt been issued in consequence of the prisoner's sudden and mysterious disappearance. THB ASYLUM ENQUIRY. Ellen Frost, Mary O'Kano, and Ellen Nolan were charged, on remand, on the information of John Henry Whitelaw, the Superintendent of the Lunatic Asylum, with cruelly ill-treating a patient named Eliza Thompson, and were represented by the Hon. Mr. Buckley, who said — I suppose yonr Worship won't take these cases just yet ? It appears from the enquiry that Mr. Whitelaw is going to lay great stress on the evidence of a witness named Catherine Palmer. In view of that, I wish to apply to you to in- ¦ struot the police to look up the number of convictions recorded against Palmer during the last 10 years. Mr. Shaw— l hope you don't mention this with a view of prejudicing the witness before her evidence is taken. The cases were then further adjourned for 14 days. CHIMNEYS ON FIRE. James Bragge pleaded guilty to a charge of allowing his chimney to catch fire on the 19th ult., but stated that tbe chimney was Bwept in December last, and he was, therefore, unable to guess how the accident occurred. The Brigade turned out in this instance, their expenses amounting to £1 18s. The defendant was fined £2, and 7s costs. William Donald, for wilfully lighting a fire in the open air, near Hawker-street, without the necessary permission from the City Council, was fined 20s and costs. Charles P. Powlos was similarly charged, and the case was adjourned till to-morrow. ILLKGALLT REMOVING SOIL. John Shields, contractor, was charged with &\Bging up a certain quantity of soil in the township of Kilbirnie, without tho permission of the Kilbirnie Highway Board. Mr 0. Hendrey, the chairman of the Board, deposed that a notification had been advertised for a week in tho Evening Post to the effect that persons found removing sand or soil from the Pilot Station Road would bo prosecuted. In reply to the defendant, witness said the road in question was a chain wide, and was marked off by means of pegs. Mr. S. M'Clell&nd, a member of the Board, stated that he had frequently warned Mr. Shields' men not to take the sand from above high-water murk ; and, in extenuation, the defendant said he had received permission from the Harbour 13oard to remove tie sand. His Worship said it was quite clear Mr. Shields had taken the sand, and he would be fined Is and costs for doing so illegally. The defendant would have been fined more heavily if it had been made clear that he was aware he was taking it from a road ; but a mistake of this kind was to come extent excusable, the road apparently being only shown on the plan of the district. THE~LICENSING BENCH. * This Day. The usual quarterly meeting of the Licensing Commissioners was held at noon to-day, before Messrs. E. Shaw, R.M. (chairman), J. G. Holdsworth and J. Moore, J.P.s, when the following business was transacted :— TE ARO CLUB. John Robinson, for whom Mr. Gordon

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