RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT, CHRISTCHURCH.

Lyttelton Times, Volume II, Issue 71, 15 May 1852, Page 5

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT, CHRISTCHURCH.

Bth May, 1852. (Captain Simeon, Mr. Godley, and Mr. E. J. Wakefield, took their seats on the Bench at 12 o'clock.) Fitzgibhon v. Phillips, —The Plaintiff in this case sued for a balance of -fill 12s. Od.; it appeared that Mr. Phillips had employed Fitzgibhon to dig a 6 ft. ditch, 50 chains long, at 14s. a chain. Patrick Fitzgibhon stated that having completed his contract, he applied to Mr. Phillips for the balance due to him ; he had already received two payments on account, and being refused the remainder, was compelled to summon Mr. Phillips to this court. Mr. Godley asked Fitzgibhon if he knew the reason of Mr. Phillips' refusal, he said it was because Mr. Phillip complained that the ditch was not properly finished, the ditch at some parts was so full of tree and tutu roots, that it was impossible to give it that finish which otherwise it should have had, and called Wm. Ghastly to bear out his statement, but as that witness had acted as a sort of partner with Fitzgibhon in his contract, his evidence was not received. Mr. Phillips stated his perfect readiness to pay the complainant as soon as the work was finished in a proper manner, he was dissatisfied with the ditch, and had requested Mr. Cridland to inspect it. Mr. Cridland considered the ditch unfinished in its present state; and the case was therefore dismissed with costs. Dilloway v. Solomon. —The defendant was in Court, but the complainant not appearing when called upon, the case was dismissed. Jackson v. Solomon.— Thomas Jackson, sued the defendant, a native Maori, of Kaipoi, for a debt of £4. Solomon not denying the debt,. a fortnight was granted him to pay it in. Gregg v. Hulcup. —This case was also for debt; Mrs. Hulcup appeared for her husband, she acknowledged the debt, but pleaded present inability to pay, a limited time was granted. Gregg v. Falton. —This case was in every way similar to the one before mentioned. Cass v. Boyer. —Mr. Cass on behalf of Mr. Deans had summoned the defendant for trespassing in Riccarton Bush. Mr. Cass said that although every means had been adopted to give the public due notice that all trespassers would be prosecuted; yet that the annoyance of persons continually shooting in the bush was still so great, that he was determined to prosecute in every instance ; he called a witness who swore to seeing Boyer shoot into the Bush at a kaka, and as it was proved that although Boyer was at the time standing outside the present post and rail fence, yet he was on Mr. Deans' ground, the magistrates sentenced him to pay costs.

WELLINGTON. We hive received files of the Independent and Spectator to the Sth instant. We notice no local news of airy moment in their columns. The " Laura," which sailed from Wellington in September last, arrived in England on the 24th December, making a rapid passage. The Government Gazette of the 24th. April contains a valuable table of the chief ports and harbours of New Zealand, astronomically determined by Captain Stokes, of H.M.S. "Acheron," in 1848-49-50-51. It also contains a comparative return of arrivals and departures of vessels to aud from the port of Wellington during the first quarters of this year and last year ; by which it appears that there has been a falling off of arrivals iv this, when compared with last year, of 10 vessels, and 2000 tons, and of departures of 7 vessels and 190 tons. The value of the imports of New Zealand produce to Wellington for the first quarter of this year is estimated at -£12,291 12s. 4d. The value of the exports of New Zealand produce from Wellington is estimated at £2,499 15s. The number of immigrants to Wellington for the first quarter of this year is 271, consisting of 115 males 62 females, and 94 children, all except 9 being from Great Britain. The number of emigrants for the same quarter is 121, consisting of 81 males, 20 females, and 20 children, their destination being almost exclusively to New South Wales. The number of immigrants to Canterbury last year was 2861, of which 2507 were from Great Britain. The number of emigrants from Canterbury last year was 48, of which 3S were destined for New South Wales and 10 for Van Diemen's Land. The nnmber of immigrants to New Plymouth last year was 134, and of emigrants only 12, 9 of whom were for Great Britain. The number of immigrants to Otago last year was 42, and of emigrants 39, 30 of whom were destined to New South Wales. The Customs Revenue for New Munster for the last quarter in 1850 was -£5124 17s. 9d., and in 1851, £8172 25., but the total ordinary and extraordinary revenue, exclusive of the land fund, was in this quarter in 1850 £13,820 3s. Sd., and in 1851 it was reduced to £12,377 Is. 5d., exhibiting a falling off in the revenue of the first quarter of last, when compared with the coiresponding quarter of the previous year, of £1,443 2s. 3d.! Notwithstanding this, there was an increase in the civil expenditure for this province in last, when compared with the previous year, of more than £2,300, while the total expenditure was considerably more than doubled, it being for the last quarter in 1850, £5,683 9s. 7<1.) and for the same quarter 1851, £12,215 Is. 2d. We thus find that while the last quarter of last year exhibits a falling off in the revenue of more than £1400, it exhibits also an increase in the expenditure of £6,521 1 Is. 7d., this increase being considerably more than the whole of the expenditure of the same quarter in the preceding year.— lndependent. It is with sincere regret we have to record the total loss of the brig " Sisters," Captain Clarke, at Tnrangauui, in Poverty Bay, on the afternoon of Good Friday. Captain Clarke was about to proceed to Ahuriri, and was on the point of getting under weigh when he was suddenly caught by a violent south-east gale, and in spite of every exertion he could use to save the vessel, was driven by the gale on the rocks. The long boat was launched, and all, with the exception of the mate and two hands who remained on board, got safe to shore. Captain Clarke then prepared to return ; but the long boat was half filled from the sea breaking over her, and he was obliged to make a signal to those on board to leave the vessel which they safely accomplished in the jolly boat. The " Sisters"-shortly aftemvards went to pieces, and the cargo on board was entirely lost. We understand the " Benlomond," a small coastin<>vessel of 30 tons, was subsequently wrecked near the same spot. — Spectator. NELSON. By the '* Mary" we have received the Examiner of the 17th and 24th April, and Ist May. Its leader of the 17th April is devoted to the failure of the proposed New Zealand Steam Navigation Company, which appears to have expired almost as soon as it was ushered into existence. It bitterly complains of the indifference manifested both by the public and its instructors, the Press. While expressing wonder at the silence with which the press treated

the proposal, it excepts the Lyttelton Times, in whose columns it was favourably noticed "if it was spoken of in any way by any other journal, such notice, whatever it was, escaped our observation." A company had been formed to work the recently discovered coal at Massacre Bay, under the title of the " Pakawau Coal and' Mining Company." The capital is £3,150, in three thousand shares of £l Is. each, with power to increase the capital by additional shares. Although so recently formed, upwards of 1,100 shares had been already taken, and sanguine hopes were entertained that in a few days the required number of 2,000 would also be taken, to enable the Company to commence operations. No sitting of the Supreme Court would, it was expected, be held until October, the Government Brig being required to convey Lieut.Governor Wynyard to Auckland, which was of more consequence than conveying Mr. Justice Stephen to Nelson ! Fortunately no criminal cases were awaiting trial, but there is one civil action on the paper, the plaintiff and defendant in which must submit to the delay of 6 months with the best grace they may. AUCKLAND. We have received files of the Auckland papers to the 24th April. The barque "John Phillips," 392 tons, Capt. Poole, arrived on the sth April from London, making the passage in 1 01 days, and bringing English news to the 22nd December, which we have anticipated via Sydney. The '* Gwalior" sailed ten days previous, but had not arrived at Auckland up to the 24th April. We regret to learn that the brig " Maukin," which had been recently fitted out for a whaling cruize, was totally wrecked in Sandy Bay, near the North Cape, during a heavy gale on the 6th March. We must reserve until our next, a further summary of intelligence received by the Auckland papers.