The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, AUGUST 5, 1869. RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 172, 5 August 1869, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, AUGUST 5, 1869. RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Before John Sharp, Eso;., RM. This Day. William Simpson was charged by Mr. J. Watkins, Manager of the Bank of New Zealand, with being on his premises al 11 o'clock last night without lawful esc use. Evidence was adduced to prove that the accused had been in the habit of "loafiug" about lately, and that on the previous evening he had been found on Mr. Everett's premises at the Bank Hotel, and was unable to give any satisfactory account of himself. Prisoner was sentenced to six months' imprisonment with hard labor. William M'lntosh, charged with unlawfully assaulting and beating John Bum, eon of Mr Robert Burn, of Trafalgar-street, was sentenced to two months' imprisonment with hard labor. James Cotton was released from gaol on entering into recognisances to keep the peace for six mouths. The English Mail. — The mail by the contract steamer Pccbe, for the Southern ports, Australia, and Europe, will close at eight o'clock this evening. . Erratum. — In our report of the proceedings in the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, for " Pike versus Kerr," read " Kerr versus Pike." Morris Levy's Case. — Thanks to the energy and perseverance of Mr A. S. Collins, the House has at last awarded to Captain Levy the sum of £291 Is, and wo are informed that there is every probability of his receiving the £1000 reward that was offered by the Government. Coroner's Inquest. — An iuquest was ! held at the Lunatic Asylum to-day, before Dr Squires* the coroner, and a jury, on the body of Thomas Darke, la digger from the West Coast, who had been an inmate of the asylum since February last. After hearing the evidence, the jury returned a verdict of " Died by the visitation of God." Winter Evening Lectures. — We are requested to inform our readers that the lecture, advertised to be given to-morrow evening by His Honor the Superintendent will, owing to his prolonged absence, |be unavoidably postponed. We learn with much pleasure that Mr Justice Richmond has kindly consented to deliver another lecture in the meantime, the subject he has chosen being the " Modern Aspect of Natural Theology." The date of the lecture has not yet been fixed upon, but due notice will be given by advertisement. Prospecting near Nelson. — We understand that the adjourned . meeting of those interested in developing the mineral resources of the ranges near Nelson is to take place at the Bank Hotel to-morrow evening, when we hope to see a large attendance. Many persons seem to think ! that to send out an expedition such as that proposed, would be merely throwing away money on the most uncertain of speculations; to those who argue thus, we would say that exactly the same reasons were at one time urged against investing in the Long Drive Claim. Customs Revenue. — The Provincial Government Gazette of the 29th ulc, contains the following statement of Customs revenue collected at the port of Nelson during the quarter ending 30th June, 1869: . Spirits, £2,487 13s 2d; tobacco, £955 17s; cigars; £63 15s 8d; fixed duties, £2,788 Os lOd; duties by measurement, £2,149 16 a 4d; duties by weight, £581 14s 4d. Export duty on gold: Nelson Province, £254 8s 9d; ditto, Marlborough Province, £10 17s 6d. Total, £9,292 4s 4d. Resident Magistrate's Court. — An important decision under the Stamp Act .was given in this Court yesterday, when an action was brought to recover damages for losses alleged to have been; ; sustained by the non-fulfilment of an agreement' for Jithe sale of sheep. ;Tlie deed of agreement ' was put iv as . evidence, but was objected

to by the solicitor for the defendant, on the ground that the stamp was nofc cancelled by the parties to the agreement; but only by the plaintiff's solicitor. The objection was deemed valid, as by the 9th clause of the Stamp Act Amendment Act, 1867, it is required that the stamp on an agreement under hand must be cancelled by two of the parties executiug such agreemeut. The plaintiff was nou-suited. Bridging the Channel. — We were yesterday invited to iuspect a, plan for bridging the Straits of Dover, which has been prepared by Mr. Jacobsen, and which he intends to forward by the outgoing mail :to the French Government. For a loug time Mr Jacobsen has conceived the ambitious idea of erecting this bridge, and he has, after many years of thought and study, succeeded in producing a most elaborate plan, and at the same time he states that he has carefully gone into the whole mutter, aud is convinced that he can overcome every difficulty. that may arise. The bridge is to consist of fifty-two arches, and instead of adopting, as usual, the single principle of either suspension, tubular, or arches only, this plan comprises each and .all of these principles. It is to be 330 feet : above the sea level, and 65 feet wide, aud is to be hud for five lines of rails. All the little^minutae have been most caref ally gone into, and we trust that Mr Jacobsen may receive a favorable reply to his application to be allowed to undertake so gigautic an undertaking.