Lyttelton Resident Magistrate's Court, February 25th.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IV, Issue 165, 4 March 1854, Page 7

Lyttelton Resident Magistrate's Court, February 25th.

Claries Beazley was charged with drunkenness. The Serjeant of Police produced the lock-up Registry, whereby it appeared that the prisoner had been convicted of the same offence on the 15th January and the 17th February. The prisoner was sentenced to pay a fine of £1, or, in default of payment, to be locked up for. 48 hours; and to be imprisoned with hard labour for seven days. Feb. 27. Kairakau v. Tommy. This case excited considerable interest, especially among the Maori population. The hearing1 had to be adjourned from the usual Court to the Reading Room, owing to the throng of Maoris who had assembled —nearly 200 strong, men, women, and children. The Native Assessors, Paoroa and Hakopa, sat with the Magistrates. The dignified manner in which they conducted the case would* have done credit to any Bench. Tamati Toko, a Maori, was sworn Interpreter. Tommy, the defendant, had been summoned from Timaru, where he appears to be a Chief and to do just as he likes, by the plaintiff, Kairakau, on a charge of keeping possession of a cow belonging to the latter. It appeared by the evidence adduced that Tommy pretended to keep this cow with another for the good of the tribe on some such arrangement as thirds, but that he never gave up any of the proceeds. Tommy declared that Kairakau's cow had only had one calf during several years. Kairakau said that he would be content to stick to the same arrangement as before, if this calf was given up to him. The Assessors cross-examined the witnesses pretty closely, and then gave judgment to the effect that Tommy should give up the calf, and that the dispute should be thus settled for this .time,—but it Tommy did wrong again they wished him to be punished. They adjudged Tommy to pay the costs. The R. -VI. did not interfere, as the Assessors were agreed. Tommy promised to give up the calf; and then sat looking on.with stolid indifference, while a dozen Maoris rushed forward to pay the costs for him. He seemed to think with Mr. Skimpole that it was their embarrassment not his.

To the Editor of the LyHelton Times.

Sir.—ls it not strange that the Canterbury Settlement (which certainly is as flourishing a settlement, as any other in New Zealand considering its age) should be put in Coventry as it were by the Government officials of the North Island, and be deprived of the services of those appointed by the Home Government; I allude, to the non-arrival of His Honor the Judge : sixteen months have now elapsed since his last, visit here, and the time appointed for the sittings of the Supreme Court is once in six months. There has been a young man confined in Lvttelton Jail since June last awaiting his trial, on a charge, certainly not very henious, but on the contrary apparently frivolous. The sheriff has been spoken to on the subject several times, and his reply was, that he had written to the authorities at Yfe!lington three or four times, and no answer had been returned. On whose shoulders does the neglect He r It is punishing a man before lie is found guilty. I hue been induced to make these remarks trusting that they may meet the eyes of th<>se who have power to act otherwise and iiv«v>ros.- o:i th-.-ir minds the injustice they are cnihy or', m keeping a prisoner so l:>iii>- is: sns;--i^-\ a:id so be the mrans of procuring a Ltminatton to his inipvisoniii.a',. I am. >Sir. \ our oboaitvu Servant, Ax 0th;;:;•■;.::*. Lytte'.ton, Fob. ionl, ISTm.