RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT. [Before J. Sharp, Esq., R.M.]

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXVIII, Issue 65, 14 August 1869, Page 3

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT. [Before J. Sharp, Esq., R.M.]

Keek v. Pike — This case occupied the Court a considerable time on Wednesday and Thursday last. It was an action to recover £i 7 damages for nondelivery of sheep at the specified time. The defendant had entered into an agreement to deliver the plaintiff 1,000 sheep of 5,000 on the Tarndale run within a certain time, but was unable in consequence of bad weather to deliver more than 877 drafted out of 2,500 sheep. Subsequently plaintiff got his whole number of sheep, but he had to make two or three journeys to Tarndale before doing so, and the defendant in the meanwhile had drafted some of the best sheep on the run, and sent them to Nelson for the butcher. It was contended for the defence, that the plaintiff, on getting the 877 sheep, had agreed to take the remainder at shearing time, and had accepted twenty sheep as compensation for the balance of 123 not being the pick of the whole flock. It was also sworn that Kerr had made no demand for damages until called upon to pay for some lambs purchased by him of defendant. The case was adjourned for a week, to allow of further evidence. Pig-Stealing.— On Wednesday, George Gibbons, John Wadsworth, and Joseph Wadsivorth, of Wakefield, were charged with killing six pigs, the property of Mr. Sellon. The prisoners admitted their offence, and Gibbons was sentenced to three months' imprisonment and hard labour, and the Wadsworths to two months' each.

Hill v. White. — In this case, yesterday, at a special sitting in banco, before In 9 Honour Mr. Justice Richmond, Mr. Pitt, for defendant, moved that the Rule nisi for a new trial be made absolute. He urged that there was evidence enough in the affidavits to show that this case was like Fahrilyas v. Code (2. Burr.), a mere fabrication supported by perjury. The plaintiff had admitted he was wrong in his evidence as to the time, and therefore, according to Lister v. MundeU (1. Bd. P ) defendant was entitled to a new trial. He cited other cases, but the Court, without calling on plaintiff's counsel, said the Rule must be discharged. The defendant had pleaded fraud, and the jury had found the plea not proven and there was nothing in the new evidence to make it even very probablo that a new jury would decide differently. Rule discharged. Inquest at Motueka. — An inquest was held before F. E. Ilorneman, Esq., J.P., acting for the Coroner at Motueka, on Tuesday last, on the body of a young child named Amy Gertrude Boyce, who was unfortunately drowned by falling into a large tub of water near her father's house. Verdict, "Accidental death." Ploughing Match. — The ploughing matches of the Agricultural Association will come off on Tuesday next, on Mr. Thompson's farm, near Richmond, and the dinner will take place at the Star and Garter, at Richmond, in Ihe evening. We are glad to see the ploughing matches revived by the Association, and hope to see it well attended. Big Rivee Diggings. — The Westport Times, of the 3rd instant, says that about thirty diggers had left the Buller for West Wanganui by the steamer Murray, to try their fortune at the new rush, while several parties had proceeded up the coast to reach the spot by land. Our latest account from the spot is, that while a few parties are doing well, no new ground of any account has been opened. Fatal Accident at Addison's Flat.— A fatal nccident happened on the 2nd instant, at Addison's Flat. By a fall of earth in one of the claims there, a man named Richard Donoghue was killed. Deeadful Accident. — The Westport Times, of the 2nd instant, relates the following: — "An accident of a very serious character occurred here this morning, about eleven o'clock, on a claim known as Maloney's. The horse that was working the whim fell, when the driver and two other men went to release him. These three men considered themselves able to hold the whim when the horse was adrift, but it was not so, for the heavy bucket of dirt that was in the rope began to descend, when two of the men — M'lntyre and M'Mahon — let go, but unfortunately Niel Dogherty still held on, and was swung round at a terrible rate. He was lifted off the ground, and, his right leg coming in contact with the uprightß of the whim, it broke in two places, and the muscle of hU left arm in some way caught in the hooks attached to the bow, tearing the flesh completely off the arm nearly down to the elbow. All the assistance that could be rendered was at once applied. Dr. Peacock, of Addison's, was sent for, was quickly at the scene of the accident, and set the leg and did all that could be done, but the poor fellow's mates desired to take him to the Westport hospital. All the men on the lead knocked off work in order to go with and assist in carrying him down." Proposed Re-annexation of Mablbobough to Nelson. — The people of Marlborough are in high dudgeon at the proposal to re-annex their province to Nelson. The proposal, 'which has few recommendations for Nelson, was not originated by us, nor do we believe it is desired here. It has some recommendations no doubt, but it is questionable whether the disadvantages would not out-weigh them. The valorous Blenheimites who talk of resisting the re-union by force, may rest assured our Volunteers will not cross the Maungatapu to enforce their compliance ; but if they really mean fighting, they some twelve or thirteen months hence may have an opportunity given them of trying their prowess on Mr. Wilson's Ghoorkas. Fiee at Wellington. — A mysterious fire ocurred at Wellington, on the Bth instant, at Mr. C. Russell's music warehouse. About two o'clock in the morning in question, the premises named were discovered to be on fire by a person passing along the beach, and, on the alarm being given, and entrance forced into the warehouse (no person was sleeping on the premises), the whole stock was found nearly consumed, presenting an appearance as if the fire had been smouldering for several hours, consuming a vast amount of property without breaking out into a strong flame. The whole stock, valued at £4,000, was totally destroyed, while the insurance on it amounted to only £1,800. By the activity of the Fire Brigade the fire was prevented from spreading.

Restobation to Life. — The Neiv Orleans Times reports an extraordinary medical case— a bringing back from death, or all but death, to life, by strange means, and with equally strange results. A young German fell from a platform, and was well nigh dashed to pieces. His skull was much injured, his eyes were five times their natural size, all his senses were suspended, his body could be pricked with a penknife without the least evidence of feeling. When taken to the hospital it was supposed that he would die in two or three hours ; but, "by a novel mode of treatment — the neuropathy of Dr. John Chapman, of London, which consists in the application of heat and cold alternately to the whole length of the spine by mons of a special apparatus for the purpose, aided by the employment of induced and interrupted electrical currents, called Faradization — the young man commenced a gradual improvement. At the expiration of a month the black and blue which disfigured the upper part of his body had nearly all disappeared. In six weeks his eyes, without any improvement of vision, were reduced to their natural size, his head had contracted to very near its normal measure, and all the senses returned to their healthy status." But though reinvested with full consciousness and the power of using his tongue, it was impossible to communicate to him any idea, name, or object. The recollection of every word and idea had been literally knocked out of his head. He could remember no word of his icother tongue, and it took him three weeks to leuru Ilia own name. He i?, however, improving, and nature promises to complete the work which Dr. Chapman's extraordinary mode of treatment has begun.