CRGO-PILLAGERS SENT TO CARGO-PILLAGERS SENT TO GAOL. THE JUDGE'S REMARKS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 48, 26 February 1908, Page 8

CRGO-PILLAGERS SENT TO CARGO-PILLAGERS SENT TO GAOL. THE JUDGE'S REMARKS.

[BT TELEGRAPH. — PRESS ASSOCIATrON.I CHRISTCHURCH, This Day." in the Supreme Court to-day Mr. Justice Denniston sentenced Alfred Turner, aged 20, Charles Holland, aged 21, and George Frederick Lawrence, aged 21 years, to six months' imprisonment each for pillaging cargo at Lyttelton. In sentencing them, his Honour said the offence of pillaging cargo was one of" a very serious character. The extent to which pillaging was carried on in the Dominion was notorious. No large steamer reached a New Zealand port without instances of pillage occurring. The extent and nature of pillaging showed also that it was carried on with comparative immunity, with the connivance and assistance of a great number of persons. Nothing had struck him more than tho easy and tolerant tone in which this offence was spoken of. It was alluded to as a comparatively venial offence, but he knew nothing more demoralising, more injurious to the commercial community. The injury extended far beyond the actual amount stolen. It was a very difficult offence to prove, and when discovered should receive substantial punishment.

At St. Peter's Church this afternoon Mr. Stanley J. -W. Gill, son of Mr. W. Gill, manager of the Alliance Assurance Company, was married to Miss Ivy Marshall, daughter of Mrs. J. T. Marshall, of Nairn-street. The ceremony was performed by 'the Rev. G. P. Davys, Misses Mary Marshall, sister of the bride, and Ella Gill, sister of the bridegroom, were the bridesmaids. Little Miss Eva Gill, niece of the bridegroom, and Master Dan Rawson, nephew of the brjde, also took part in the ceremony. Mr. J. H. Frater acted as best, man, and Mr. Austin D. Briggs as groomsman. Lat»t night "a fireman named Joseph M'Cartney, on the Union Company's 3teamer Maori, picked a dozen Stewart Island oysters from some sacks soon after the vessel left Lyttelton. Ho was caught in the art. To-day he pleaded guilty before Mr. Riddell,' S.\L, to the theft, and was fined 20s, in default snven days' imprisonment. Chief-detec-tive M'Grath stated that although tho offonco was a trivial one, tho Union Company had been put to considerable trouble through pilfering of this sort. A young married man nuined John Hogan was committed to the Supreme Court for trial on a charge of having criminally assaulted a child 11 years of age- at Brooklyn on 17th February. Accused was represented by M*r. O Leary.. Bail was allowed in self £100 and two sureties in £50 each. Mr. R. Hoaton Rhodes, M.P. for Ellesmere, states that a -umour that he does not intend to contest the Ellesmere seat at the next election is without foundation. He has had many promises of support from the electorate, including tho newly-appointed part of it, and he will consequently again seek the suffrages of the voters in December next. An indignant denial of Mr. F. G. Bolton's assertion that natives were refused admission ,o the Otaki Sanatorium was given at the meeting of the District Hospital Jtoard this morning. Mr. R. C. Kirk stated that during his experience no native had been refuted because he could not pay the fees. Mr. Godber (chairman) endorsed Mr. Kirk's remarks. Mr. Willis- (secretary) said the books would show that a, large number of Maoris who had been staying at the institution had never paid a penny in fee.s. The board instructed tho chairman and Mr. Kirk to institute enquiries of the medical superintendant, matron, and secretary as to the admission of indigent natives to the sanatorium, the result to bo presented at the next meeting of the board. Mr. Justice Button is leaving Wellington to-morrow afternoon. Mr. Justice Chapman is nlso going away at the same tune, u.ikJ there will be no judge in Wellington for some time. Mr. Justice Button will sit in Chambeis at 10.30 to-morrow looming. The Johngonville Town Board proceeded in the Magistrate's Cotirfc to-day against Wiliam lusher on two charges of having carried on the business' of a carrier without a license. Mr. E. P. Bunny prosecuted, and Mr. R. B. Williams defended. Dr. 'M'Arthur, S.U., dismissed the first information with £1 17s eotts on the ground that it was not proved that tho defendant used the vehicle ir> lespert of which it was claimed he had not taken out a license. A conviction was recorded oil the second mfoimation, and defendant was ordered to pay £1 8s costs. Defendant contended that he used the vehicle in question for the purpose of mi-tin.? stores for a storekeeper at Johnicnvillp He had a standing agreement with this man, and did not uso the \ chicle for any other purpose. His Worship held ihat defendant was a carrier, and that his action amounted to using tho tart for hire. Colonel Hume Ir ft Onehung? by Iho Takapuna for the ' South to-da;-'. Mr. Maughan Barnett will deliver a lecture at the Town Hall on Monday e^ ening next.