RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT, PORT CHALMERS.

Evening Star, Issue 3479, 17 April 1874, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT, PORT CHALMERS.

Friday, April 17. (Before Capfe. Thomson and Dr. Drysdale, J.P.8.) Absence Without Leave. —Capt. Loftus, of the ship Trevelyan, charged Joseph Nash, seaman, with being absent from hia du:y without leave on the 16th inst. Accused pleaded not guilty. Captain Loftus stated that on Saturday morning last the accused came to him, together with two other seamen, and asked for his discharge, which witness promised to give. He (witness) went to Dunedin in the train with the men for the purpose of seeing the shipping master. On reaching there the accused did not come to the shipping office. He (witness) saw him next day, when accused told him upon reaching Dunedin he was suddenly taken ill and had to go and get some brandy, and asked him to give him his discharge and hia wages. Witness offered again te give him his dis charge.upon the previous agreement, which accused objected to take. The accused the* made a long statement to the effect that the Captain had given him hia old discharge, and Has part of his wages. In answer to the Bench, Captain Loftus stated the agreement between him and the accused was to give him his discharge and l2 ; the LI already given was part of that promise. The Bench were of opinion that the accused had not fulfilled his part, and ordered him to go on board, or accept the offer of Captain Loftus. CIVIL CASE. Thomas Sayers v. V. vlichael Cain.—Fraud summons for L 3 12s 6d, for which a distress warrant had been issued, but the defendant having no effects, the present summons was brought. The defendant acknowledged the debt, and offered to pay it by instalments, He was ordered to pay 20s on the 25th, and 20s each following month, or in default of any payment, seven days’ imprisonment.