RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 14, Issue 1140, 1 April 1870, Page 3

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Tuesday, 29th March, 1870. (Before J. Anderson, Esq., J.P., J. C. L. Carter, Esq., J.P., andE. Catchpool, Esq., J.P.) HOESE STEALING}. James Chase was chai'ged with stealing a horso the property of Charles M'Kenzie. Mr. Cuff appeared for the accused. The evidence of the prosecutor was to the effect that he lent the horse to the accused, who sold it next day while in a state of intoxication. He (prosecutor) stated that he believed the accused had no intention of stealing the horse when he borrowed it. Mr. Cuff argued that the felonious intent was tho essence of the charge, and as nothing had been proved to lead the Bench to believe that there was a felonious intent, the case must bi'eak down. The Bench discharged the accused after pointing out to him the serious consequences of selling another person's property. NUISANCE. John Robjohns and Henry Charles Robjohns, appeared in answer to an. information laid against them by the police for having disobeyed a magistrate's order to abate a nuisance at the Spit. Several witnesses were examined, who proved that a nuisance existed on the premises of the defendants, owing to a strong effluvia, arising from stagnant water, &c. Mr. Cuff', who appeared for the defendants, contended that the nuisance was caused through the action of the Government, in forming a road in front of the sections without providing culverts to admit the ebb and flow of the tide, which he was instructed would effectually remedy the nuisance complained of. Mr. Rochfort, Provincial Engineer, however, in his evidence, stated that he was of opinion that a culvert would not have the effect of abating the nuisance, as it arose from filth thrown on tho sections, as well as from a quantity of weeds in a state of decomposition. The Bench dismissed tho case, on the ground that there was no evidence to show that the defendants had caused the nuisance. Several civil cases were called, but the parties did not appear, and the Court adjourned.

Aurora Atjst ralis. — Between half past seven and half past eight on Tuesday evening a fine opportunity was afforded for seeing that striking phenomenon— the Aurora Australis. A portion of the sky from the south was suffused with a bright crimson color, and streaks of a red and yellowish hue pi'esented at times a fan -like appearance. To make the scene more striking a meteor was occasionally visible —one being of a bright yellow and red hue. The evening was very calm and quiet, and the stars shone more brightly than usual. The Aurora Ausfcralis and Borealis furnish an interesting subject of speculation for meteorologists. It has been said that rays similar to those above mentioned arise from the sun shining on ice in the neighborhood of the poles. — Independent, March 24.