Local News.

Colonist, Issue 11, 27 November 1857, Page 2

Local News.

POLICE COURT.—Wednesday, Nov. 25. Before the Kesideut Magistrate. Phillips v. Ball, Travers v. Maxwell, Tr&vers v. Stone, Sclanclers and Others v. John Watts—none of these parties appearing, the cases were severally postponed for a further hearing. John Day, charged with deserting his wife and five children, for the last four months, appeared in Court; but the complainant being absent, the case was adjourned till Thursday. Thursday, Nov. 26. Before the Resident Magistrate. Jonathan Howard was charged with drunkenness and indecent exposure, in the neighbourhood of the depot. The defendant admitted the charge—in fact, he was so completely overcome by the extraordinary strength of what he had imbibed, that he tumbled off to sleep, and when he awoke found himself safely etowed away in the lock-up. As this was his first appearance before the Bench, never having been drunk before " in all his born days," he hoped his Worship would deal leniently with him. Fined 1/. and costs. John Day, late of Nelson, but now residing at Massacre Bay, appeared before the Court for unlawfully and without reason deserting his wife. The complainant, Mary Day, being sworn, deposed that her husband left her about four months since, during which period she had only had, on account of her husband, from various parties, 21. 155., 11. 155., and 55.; she would have been in great distress unless the Government and her friend 3 had supported her, and what work she obtained herself. Her husband has an acre of land in Nelson, and two steers down at the Wairau, and promised to send her money by the steamer, but had not done so. ...... ■ Day on b^ing called, stated that he had done very badly at the diggings, not averaging Is. 6d. per day, and had not obtained payment for work he had done. On being asked what he would give the complainant for the future, the defendant said he was agreeable to allow her whatever he might earn. His worship said this was the first case of a man neglecting his wife and family which had come before him. The decision of the Court was, that he (the defendant) pay 10s. per week, and the costs of Court.

Death bt Drowning.—On Wednesday last, during the storm, a man by the name of Donavan, belonging to the " Dun Mountain Copper Mining Company," was drowned in attempting to cross the Mitai River, which was much swollen with the late rains. An inquest will be held to-morrow at Mr. Simpson's Prince Albert Inn.

Obtaining Goods under False Pretences.— Stephen E. Poytz, a man lately arrived in the Province, was apprehended yesterday afternoon by a warrant, for fraudulently obtaining goods from Mr. George A. Betts. The case will be heard to day. In addition to the gold imported from Col'ing-wood by the Tasmanian Maid, Mr. James Spittal has brought over 19 ozs. 5 dwts. of the finest gold ever imported. The price realized was 31. 14s. per ounce. Captain Walker, of the Supply, has also brought with him 150 ozs., the produce of the Slate River Gold Fields.

Query.—-Can any of the numerous readers of the Colonist inform the subscriber which component part, or parts, of earth, any of the common vegetables, i.e., cabbage, carrot, onion, lettuce, peas, beans, &c, take up in their growth ?—Amateur Gardener. The Garden.—Look to the American blight this season, for it appears in some gardens on the increase. It would be worth while to ofter a bonus for a cure', rather than so many fine trees should annually be destroyed. If the same amount was expended by gardeners in curing their apple trees of the American blight, as our sheepfarmers expend in curing scab in the same number of sheep, most likely the pest might be got rid of.