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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 7922, 14 April 1887, Page 5

Our Aratapu correspondent writes .—• A sitting of the Police Court was held in the Old Schoolroom on Monday, April 11, Messrs. T. S. Webb and P. Bradley, J.P.'s., presiding. Constables Scott and McLeod were in attendance. The first charge was against a man named Beckar, for wilful disobedience of lawful commands on board the Bride. Captain Davies made the charge. He stated that he had told the accused he jould leave the ship, but when he applied to the agent for funds to pay the man off he found there were none, so he told the man to jo to work again, which he refused. He produced the ship's articles to show that the nan had not been legally discharged, and isked that the man, who was cook and steward, might bo sent on board to complete lis engagement, which had three months to run. The defence argued that the captain's jrder was sufficient to clear him of the vessel, and declined to return to the vessel, alleging bad treatment on board. The Bench, under the circumstances, advised the man to go to his work, but declined to make «n order to that effect until they had conmlted some higher authority. The nexfc marge was preferred by Captain Davies ilso, and was of a similar nature, only that! ;he accused had not been told to go ashore jy the captain. Augustus Rohroff, seaman, was the accused. '1 he evidence showed that ;he man refused to go to work without some ioffee, and subsequently left the ship withrat permission. The prisoner pleaded that le could not work without food, but it was hown that six pounds of meat went on board laily for three men, also that accused had .brown some mutton chops overboard. The irisoner was committed to gaol = for four reeks' hard labour,-he protesting that ha rould do so rather than go on board again, s the captain wished. The third charge was ne preferred by the police against James jurrle, for malicious wounding. ' The risoner pleaded gnilty, and the charge was ally substantiatedr by * several witnesses, fter which the accused was committed for rial, at. the June session of the" {Supremo ourfc, — ...;..