RESIDENT MAGISTRATES' COURT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume 1, Issue 3, 25 January 1851, Page 7

RESIDENT MAGISTRATES' COURT.

Jan. 22, 1851. Before J. R, Godley, Esq., EL I. Tancred,Eso.,

and E. J. Wakefield, Esq

George Armstrong, master of the cutter " Katherine Johnstone," was charged by H.G.Gouland, Esq.. the sub-collector of customs, with having five quarter casks of contraband sprrits, and a hogshead of wine, on board his vessel.

Mr. Gouland conducted the case for the customs,,and Mr. Dampier appeared in behalf of the defendant.

From the evidence adduced in support of the charge, it appeared, that Mr. Ballard, the acting landing-waiter at this port, searched the cutter, on the 20th inst, by Mr. Gouland's direction, and found on board five qr. casks of brandy, and a hogshead of wine. Mr. Ballard produced the last clearance which the master of the cut-

ter had given him ori that occasion, which stated

, the vessel to be in ballast. Armstrong had then I told him that he had procured the spirits and I wine from a French whaler at Akaroa. The I master had prepared a report for presentation 1 at the Custom-house, after Mr. Ballard had boarded the vessel. This was about a quarter past eleven on Monday morning. Upon cross-examination by Mr. Dampier, Mr. Ballavd could not state when the cutter

came into the harbour. The iirst time he saw her was on Monday. Previously to his going1 on board, he saw Armstrong on shore, who did not say anything about the

spirits and wine. He saw him afterwards on the jetty, and told him, he was going on board, the cutter. Whilst in the boat, going off to her, Armstrong told him the wine and spirits were on board, and that he had been on shore to collect the money to pay the duties. The reason given by the sub-collector for refusing the entry proffered by Armstrong, was because the vessel had been already seized. No impediment was thrown in the way of the search : the hatches were closed, but not fastened. There was ballast in her, but not sufficient to cover the spirits and wine.

Upon re-examination by Mr. Gouland, Mr. Ballard stated that Armstrong's admission as to the possession of the goods was after he had been informed of the intention to search. No money was tendered for duties, but Armstrong's willingness to pay was expressed.

Baker Polhill sworn, —stated that he had told Mr. Gouland he had received information from Akaroa, that the " Katharine Johnstone" had taken wine and spirits on boardfrom a French whaler, and that it was intended to land them at Sumner. He received orders to look out for her, and did : o accordingly. He saw her coming up on Sunday morning, and went over to Sumner. He went on board with Mr. Ballard on Monday. In all other respects this witnesses evidence only corroborated Mr. Ballard's.

Mr. Dampier made a statement on behalf of the defendant.

The case turned upon the illegal unshipment of the goods from the French vessel, which it seems is also liable to seizure, the Custom's ordinance being very explicit on this point.

After a thorough investigation, the Court came to the decision that the illegal unshipment had taken place, and that the vessel and contraband goods were forfeited. Condemned accordingly.

The " Times" of Aug. 28, contains the following paragraph. To the inhabitants of a country where there is any want of fuel for steam engines, and where jawn timber ii_iji_ in constant requisition, the discovery of a motive power by which saw mills may be driven, which may be applied as economically as steam, and that by means of an engine of small bulk, is one of the highest importance.

Electro-Magnetism as a Motive Power. —Processor Page, iif the lectures "wliicE Tie Ts now delivering before the Smithsonian Institution, states that there is no longer any doubt of the application of this power as a substitute for steam. He exhibited the most imposing experiments ever witnessed in this branch of science. An immense bar of iron, weighing ] 601b., was made to spring up by magnetic action, and to move rapidly up and down, dancing like a feather in the air, without any visible support. The force operating upon the bar, he stated to average 3001b., through ten inches of its motion. He said he could raise this bar 100 feet as readily as ten inches, and he expected no difficulty in doing the same with a bar weighing one ton, or a hundred tons. He could make a pile-driver, or a forge hammer, with great simplicity, and could make an engine with a stroke of 6, 12, 20, or any number of feet. The most beautiful experiment we ever witnessed was the loud sound and brilliant flash from the galvanic spark, when produced near a certain point in his great magnet. Each snap was as loud as a pistol, and when he produced the same spark at a little distance from this point it made no noise at all. This recent discovery is said to have a practical bearing upon the construction of an electro-magnetic engine. Truly a great power is here: and where is the limit to it ? He then exhibited his engine of between four and five horse power, operated by a battery contained within a space of three cubic feet. It looked very unlike a magnetic machine. It was a reciprocating engine of two feet stroke, and the whole engine and battery weighed about one ton. When the power was thrown on by the motion of a lever, the engine started off magnificently, making! 14 strokes per minute; though when it drove a circular saw, 10 inches in*diameter, sawing up boards an inch and a quarter thick into laths, the engine made but about SO strokes per minute. There was great anxiety on the part of the spectators to obtain specimens of these laths, to preserve as trophies of this great mechanical triumph. The force operating upon this great cylander throughout the whole motion of two feet, was stated to be 6001bs. when the engine was moving very slowly, but he

had not been able to ascertain what the force was when the engine was running at a working speed, though it was considerable less. The most important and interesting point, however, is the expence of the power. Professor Page stated that he had reduced the cost so far that it was less than steam under many and most conditions, though not so low as the cheapest steam-engines. With all the imperfections of the engine, the consumption of 31b. of zinc per day would produce one-horse power. The larger bis engines, contrary to what has been known before, the greater the economy. Professor Page was himself surprised at the result. There were yet practical difficulties to be overcome ; the battery has yet to be improved, and it remains yet to try the experiment on a grander scale—to make a power of 100-horse, or more. Truly the age is fraught with wonders, and we can now look forward with certainty to the time when coal will be put to better uses than to burn, scald, and destroy.— National Intelligencer, (American paper.)

The General Post-office, Aug. 1850.— The Lords of her Majesty's Treasury having been pleased, by a warrant dated July, 1850, to authorise the use of postage-stamps for the payment of letters forwarded to the United Kingdom by seamen employed on board Her Majesty's ships on foreign stations, all seamen's letters which may hereafter reach this country in bags made up on board any of Her Majesty's ships will be delivered free, provided the postage of Id. to which they are liable be paid, by means of a postage stamp affixed to such letters. In those cases where bags of seamen's letters are brought to the United Kingdom by private ships, the gratuity of 2d. payable by law 1 to the master will still be chargeable upon each letter, unless such sum of 2d., in addition to the postage of Id., be paid by the seaman by means of postage stamps. It must of course be understood that all the conditions laid down by law under which the letters of seamen are transmitted at a reduced rate of postage must be duly complied with as respects the letters to which the present regulation refers. Seamen will be supplied with "postage stamps by the" pnrser~af~ the vessel to which they are attached.