INVERCARGILL. August 25.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 6138, 26 August 1886, Page 2

INVERCARGILL. August 25.

At a meeting of the West Coast Prospecting Association last night, it was announced that Ll5O had been Daid into tbe bank, and it was deoided to apply for the Government's promised pound for pound. Professor Black attended, and gave useful hints and information. He also promised to send down two of his assistants for a few days to give instructions how to r«oogn!se various minerals to members of the party prior to their departure. It was suggested that a st"ati«r should be sent to the Bluff next week;

Tne Supreme Court was opened this morLing before Mr Justice Johnston. In bis charge he ssid th%s the calendar did not indicate serious cr'me. Four boys pleaded guilty to charge* of larceny of g ods from a shop. The Judge postponed dealing with the ease, as he did not know if the First Offenders Probation Bill passed last session had become law. It w-is t ot the first time ho had been in the awkwrrd predicament of not knowing the law of tbe -land. He promised to teleZ f - ph to Wellirgtoa for information. C. E Roberts, for cattle stealing, was senteno^d to nil a months'.

At a later stage Jus' ice Johnston rece:v*d a reply from Wellington, informing him that the Prisoners Probation Act is in force, but that the machinery for its working has not yet been provide^. Pitrick C&rr, charged with c l anting the tally marks on Hatch's coal in Nightcaps miae, with a view to defraud his fellow workmen of their earnings, was acquitted. Gaorge Clark*, for abstracting money from the pocket of an acquaints cc named Cameron, while he slept io a hotel at Lumsden, was sentenced to 18 months'. Tne defence was that the money was taken for safe k eping. His Honor, reviewing the evidence, said that tbe defence appeared to be that accused, boing a friend of prosecutor, was morally bound to elaar everybody out of the room before he did si, and was morally bound to put his hand in Cameron's pocket. Jjhn O'Donnell, for larceuy as a bailee of a horse, was acquitted. Tbe weather to-night Is very rough and not, with thunder and lightn'n^.