Friday, 24th July. POLICE OFFICE.

New Zealander, Volume 2, Issue 60, 25 July 1846, Page 3

Friday, 24th July.

POLICE OFFICE.

Before T. Beckham, Esq., C. P.M., and T. R. Atkyns, Esq. John Patterson, who had been brought before the Court last week, for aiding a soldier to desert from the 99th regt., was ihi» morning charged, upon the information of Chief Constable Smith, with having had in his possession a pair of regimental white trowsers, marked witn the name and number of Michael Reid, a private of the 58th regt. Michael Reid, who had deserted from his regiment about ihree weeks ago, appeared in Court under custody, and swore that the trowsers produced had been no portion of his regimental necessaries j that he bought a pair of trowsers from another soldier ; but that they were of a finer quality than those served out at the stores ; — he could not swear to the trowsers now in Court. Corporal Dowling deposed, that the trowsers in Court were regimental trowser*— he recognized them by the regimental store mark which they bore. The Court addressed the prisoner, and observed, that although bulficieiH evidence had not been adduced to prove his guilt upon the present information, yet another would be laid against him for having in his possession regimental pro perty. No doubt existed of his guilt. It was such persons as the prisoner who encouraged desertion ; and the Court would take the proper steps to have bun punished as he deserved. The piisoner was then discharged.

Most of our readers will recollect the hue and cry which was laised, in the month of December last, on the appearance in town of a rascal named Hone, belonging to the tribe Ngatiwhakaue, who after robbing Mr. Wild, tailor, had the audacity to walk into his very shop with the stolen garment upon his person. Upon his being recognised, he stalled off, making for the Government Domain, divesting himself of ho out-

■ward habiliments as be ran. He was chased, and though several limes nearly captured,— once by Mr. Elliott, who was near losing his life in the attempt, the fugitive having immersed him in the swamp in order to get free, — he finally got clear off. On Thursday night, he again presented himself in lown, and was recognised by Mr. Mitchell, into whose shop he had entered. He was seized, and, after a most desperate tesistance,overpowered, and lodged in the Lock-up. Hone was this morning bi ought before the Bench, and the theft being proven, he was sentenced to twelve month* imprisonment, to be kept at hard labour.