Local News.

Colonist, Issue 16, 15 December 1857, Page 2

Local News.

POLICE COURT.—Saturday, Dec 12. Before the Resident Magistrate. Bennet, of Nelson, seaman, was. summoned by 'constable Halliday for riding furiously in Bridge-street, endangering the lives of her Majesty's subjects. From the evidence of Mr. A. G. Betts, over whom defendant had nearly ridden, he appeared .very drunk. Fined £3 and costs. - , Alexander Scott, of Nelson, storekeeper, was charged by William Watts, also of Nelson, with feloniously stealing and takiug away one chain and jock, and one mare, the property of the said William Watts. William Watts, complainant, sworn, stated that he kept the Trafalgar Livery Stables. Defendant placed a mare in complainant's charge, to keep. On the 27th November last complainant provided the horse with food, and on Saturday, sth instant, a constable took possession of it, but was brought back again the same day. On Thursday last defendant applied for the horse, but would not give it up until paid for his keep ; defendant asked for his bill, and was told it would be made out as soon as possible. Defendant left without tendering any money, but a day or so after tendered a cheque or order on the bank, signed by a man of the name of Hooper, for payment of an old debt. Fastened the horse in tlie stable by a chain, did so, because defendant said he would take him away. Sometime in the afternoon, was told Scott wanted to settle for the mare, but before I got there the mare was gone, together with the chain and lock. Went with a constable to the second Maori house on the beach, and found the mare, and also the lock and chain fastened to the mare.^j ■ Cross-examined: It was haf an hour after I hatf" the message "before I went up; went as soon as possible.' Was loading gravel. Knew Moore thes carter, he was present when Scott asked for the mare. Told Scott to go to Mr. Sharp for the bills, who had them at that time. I knew the amount of the bill, and told him. Promised to get the bill in a minute or two, Two other men were in the yard, but cannot say whether they heard, they were about ten yards' off. Was not speaking particularly loud. Told him he should not have the mare, and told him to go out of the stable, as 1 did not want thrashing. Told him I would give him the broom if he pitched into me. Came on Thursday last and said he wanted the mam Did not tell me he wanted to sell the mare. Tlie chain was on the mare three days before he got summons for defendant. Moore, the carter, came for the mare, as Scott, he said, had lent it to him; would not let him have it. Lock and chain are J worth about 10s. •. James Davies sworn: I work for the complainant, remember him having a mare of Scotts', and asking,where Watts was. Told him. Saw him again about four o'clock. Defendant told me to see Watts, as he wished to settle with him. Went down to Watts; was gone about a quarter of an hour. Wlien witness came back the mare was taken away; the horse was in the stable before witness went away. Cross-examined: W»tfs said he would come directly. On Friday presented an account to defendant, he said he would have nothing to do with it, as it was in Mr. Travers1 hands. Several other witnesses were examined, but nothing of any importance1 was illicited. Case dismissed. Mr. Adams appeared for complainant, and Mr. Travers for defendant. Assault.— Sarah Taylor, wife of William Taylor, carter, was summoned before the Court by Dinah, wife of Joseph Taylor, for beating Annie Taylor, daughter of complainant. Elizabeth Mary Palmer, wife of George Palmer, sworn: I saw the defendant beat and strike Annie Taylor; met defendant in the' Waimea-road; on Friday week last, and saw her beating her as she was coming to my house; saw the bruises on her arm; heard defendant scolding and abusing her. She complained of Annie Taylorpushingdcfendant's little girl in the ditch. Eliza Hall, sworn : Saw defendant last Friday week beating complainant's girl; was in Mrs. Palmer's school at the time; defendant beat her'with her parasol; saw the. girl fall in the ditch;-' Annie Taylor pulled her out. Lucy Witney, sworn: Saw defendant beat Annie Taylor;'heard defendant say she 'would give it her for pushing her little girl in the ditch. Fined 10s. and cost?. Caution to Publicans. —A very respectable publican was fined £5 and costs, for selling spirituous liquors to the Maories, contrary to law. _ Monday, Ds:c. 14. John Kidson, jun., of Nelson, was summoned by constable Hniliday for furious riding in the Waimea-road, and Nile-street, Nelson, in such a manner as to endanger the limbs and lives of other persons. Defendant admitted the charge. Fined £3 and costs. John Boss was charged with drunkenness. Fined 10s. and costs. McGee v. Christie. —Mr. Stamper, on behalf pf the plaintiff, applied to the Court, that an order —prematurely made in this suit on the 2nd Nov. last, be rescinded on the ground that a misunderstanding, the defendant having consented to the order on condition of a stay of proceedings for six weeks, (without prejudice to another suit against the drawer of the bill on which this action was wrought against defendant as acceptor.) Mr. Travers, on the part of the defendant, consented. Granted, and the order accordingly rescinded. Melancholy Death. — Yesterday morning, Capt. Doherty, the pilot, was found dead near to Mount Cook. Deceased had for some time past been sufferingfrom asthma and disease of the lungs, and left town late on the previous evening for his house at the Heads. When found his horse was standing beside him. The body was removed to the Victoria Hotel, and an inquest held in the course of the day. We regret to add that Capt. Doherty, who has been the pilot of this port for many years, leaves a widow and large family, for whom we are sure every sympathy will be manifested.— Wellington Independent, December 5. Old English Customs.—Attractions for New Comers.—One of our oldest English customs is that of presenting to those of our countrymen legs favoured by old Father Fortune's smiles than ourselves, some token wherewith to assist in celebrating the joyous season of Christmas (commonly called Christinas boxes.) Pity, great pity; some fancy that so generous, so benevolent a custom should cease upon our arrival at dear old England's antipodes. Yet so it has been;..and;the endeavours of' a few spirited individuals to bring-it into operation within the golden eldorado of Nelson have proved fruitless, until now, when we hear by street conversation, that Government have taken it in hand, and according to the alphabetic arrangement of our names we are to be presented with a pretty construction pf black and white, the most striking characteristic of which is signified by the words " herein fail not at your peril," and moreover, Government (kind creatures) have determined upon sending them round by special messengers, who are to deliver it undamaged into the hands of the happy individuals themselves, wherein will be seen something about 11. and all expenses. But stop, my dear reader, don't misunderstand me; you are not to receive but to pay the above amount, or, if you like better, you are not to receive but to give Christmas boxes. Well, what is the difference, these Christmas boxes are an old custom of our mother country, must not we keep them up? Hark ye, my friend, this is not an old custom by any means. The old custom was to make fickle fortune's smiles compensate for his frowns, but the Nelson system is to extort alike from frowns and smiles a Christmas box, to their own fancy, being of no other nature than a minature likeness in solid gold of our most gracious Queen; and they also require the donors to pay all expenses of delivery. Not to assist in extending the happy convivialities of this rejoicing season, but to make a few extend their amiable lips like Joe Miller's guests in broad grins at their petty manoeuvres, or, in short, they mean to summons all for the Education Tax. But this sort of Christmas box does not suite my palate, and therefore t shall decline accepting of it, and in fact, as roughly as I ■can. I will reject it, and sincerely hope my fellow ratepayers will think seriously whether this is the kind of substitute for an old custom that they approve of. If not, as I suspect to be the case with the majority as well as myse'if. I say, strike at the root and endeavour all in yourpower to destroy it. Now my dear ratepayers, I respectfully solicit your patronago, as the tradesmen say.— Communicated.

STATISTICS OF THE PROVINCE OF .. ■."" NELSON. ( 'Abridgedfrom the Government Gazette, of Dec. \.) Amount op Live, Stock owned by Europeans, in tlie various Districts of the Province of Nelson, for the year 1856:—Town of Nelson: 178 horses,. 699 cattle, 1207 sheep, 156 goats, 378 pigs.—Suburban North : 60 horses, 681 cattle, 272 goats, 233 pigs.—Suburban South: 106 horses, 359 cattle, 113 sheep, 6 goats, 168 pigs.—Waimea East: 315 horses, 1931 cattle, 1853 sheep, 112 goats, 670 pigs.—Waimea South: 181 horses,' 2 mules, 2069 cattle, 8134 sheep, 188 goats, 477 pigs.—Waimea West: 104 horses, 1 mule, 522 cattle, 1282 sheep, 7 goats, 321 pigs.—Motueka: 121 horses, 1667 cattle, 1859 sheep, 147 goats, 723 pigs.—Massacre Bay : 3 horses, 1 mule, 476 cattle, 819 sheep, 30 goats, 445 pigs.—Awaroa and Croixellcs (Blind Bay) : 27 cattle, 67 pigs.—Wairau: 304 horses, 4 mules, 2983 cattle, 121,680 sheep, 186 goats, 945 pigs.—Awatere: 194 horses, 2 mules, 1743 cattle, 96,655 sheep, 186 goats, 122 Eigs. —Waitohi (Q,ueen Charlotte Sound): 6 orses, 527 cattle, 1042 sheep,-oil goats, 451 pigs. —Amuri: 65 horses, 5 mules, 209 cattle, 50,456 sheep, 4l7.goats, 39 pigs.—Total: 1637 horses, 15 mules, 13,893 cattle, 285,100 sheep, 2218 goats, and 5039 pigs.