RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Colonist, Volume XI, Issue 1110, 16 June 1868, Page 3

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

EXTENDED JURISDICTION.

MONDAY, June 15.

LigMfoot v. Boseley. —An action to recover £ 30 17s. 2d., balance of an account for building the Bay View Hotel, at Wakapuaka. payment for which b<id been made by instalments, but payment of balance was delayed by defendant on the grounds that the house was not completed according to the specification made in May, 1866, and that the plaintiff had improperly charged interest. Case postponed till Wednesday next. Syme v. Bush. —Adjourned till Wednesday next. jacks v. HiMyer.—Mr. Kingdon, for plaintiff, explained that this case arose in consequence of defendant having failed to comply with an agreement which stated that the plaintiff sold to the defendant a half-share of his mining lease for £450, to be paid on the Ist March, 1868, and failure of this agreement on either side wns to involve a forfeiture of £50. Hillyer had left Collingwood for Nelson, and the plaintiff came to this Court to recover the £50 alleged to be forfeited by the defendant. The Court appeared to hold that the agreement involved partnership between the parties; but, in any ose, that the question should be taken back to the Collingwood Warden's Court. Case withdrawn. Freeth v. Fowler. —An action for £50, damages for non-delivery of cargo by plaintiff. Adjourned till next Court day. W. Hale v. Theophilue Mabille— Promissory Note for £17 35., and balance of account, £11 17s. Defendant did not appear. Judgment for £29, with interest on Promissory Note. Rowlands v. J. B. Clmrk.— Adjourned action for £44 15s. Id. Plaintiff staked that at former hearing defendant had sworn that he had forwarded a draft for £11 10s. to him, and since then the pluintiff had received an attested list of all money sent to him through the Bank of New Zealand, by which he found that he certainly had received a draft to that amount, but it was from a Mr. M'Kay, and had nothing whatever to do with the defendant. Si: The plaintiff, in answer to a question from the .Court, said that the defendant must have applied to •.the bank in Nelson, and asked the amount of the hist idraft sent him from Hokitika; but the Court ■objected to this evidence. Judgment for amount and costs.

TTeisok Abtilletit Compant.—Last night, the election of a Lieutenant, vice J. Wilkie, resulted as follows:— M'Cabe ... 25 votes Connal ... 14 „ Sadd ... 5 ii J?iokering ~, „, ~, 9 „

The Superintendent has appointed Mr. John Greenwood to manage the finance of the Brunner Coal Mine.

Captain Kenny, of Picton, has been returned to represent that district in the General Assembly ; he was unopposed.

Addition to Mr. Stafford's Government.—Dr Pollen, of Auckland, agent for the Colonial Government in that Province, has been appointed a member of Mr. Stafford's Government with a" seat in the Upper House.

The Bible in the Bush.—lt will be observed from an advertisement that Mr. Spear, who has been acting very successfully as a colporteur, and performing arduous mission labor in the bush, will address meetings this week in town, and at Richmond and Spring (Jiove, on the subject of his labors.

Fatal Accident.—On Thursday la3t, a very serious accident, attended by a fatal result, occurred at Takaka. In consequence of the heavy rains which prevailed in the Takaka Valley for some days, the river became " bank high," and the creek by Mr. William Page's store so much swollen that the bridge •which spans it at that place was covered with water to a depth of between two and three feet. About four o'clock on the day above-mentioned, a cart containing four persons, in attempting to cross this bridge, fell over the side of it, and Eobert Andrews (the driver), Henry Bankin, James Morrison, and John Barrett, were thrown into the deep and rushing water. Mr. John Page, who witnessed the accident) gave the alarm, and Mr. William Page and Mr; M'Callutn hastened to rescue the drowning men, who were with difficulty saved. Mr. William Page very nearly lost his life in bringing Mr. Barrett to the bank, having been pulled under by the deceased, but his brother John rushed to his assistance, aud fortunately succeeded in bringing both on shore. It is supposed that Mr. Barrett reaeived some injuries from the struggling horse, which was drownod, as ha never rallied, and died soon after lauding. Owing to the flood interrupting communication, Mr. Gibson was called upon to act as Coroner at the inquest held at Mr. Eeilly's, Shamrock Inn, Waitapu, the verdict being " Accidental death by drowning, by the upsetting of a cart in attempting to cross over the bridge near Page's store, during a heavy fresh in the creek."

Two Vessels Wbeoked—Loss of Life.—Just before the s.s. Beautiful Star left West-port, a report reached there that the selioouer Louisa had been lost, with all hands, off Saltwater Creek.—The Charleston Herald of June 11th says:—" We are sorry to learn that another of our small craft (the cutter Hope) i« supposed to have foundered at sea on her passage from Hokitika to Okavita. This, if true, makes six of our Charleston traders that are supposed to have been lost with all hands during the last eighteen months, viz :—Emma Jane, Wilson, master ; CUy of Nelson, Hooper, master; Emerald Isle, M'Aber, master ; Star of Tasmania, Milander, master ; Hope, Morgan, master."

Assault on Board the s.s. John Perm. —At tho District Court Sittings holden at Westport, last week, George Shipley and Michael Barrett, were charged that they on the 19th day of April last, on board the steamer John Perm, did unlawfully assault John M'Gillivray, with intent to murder him. A second count charged them with unlawful assault only. The jury found them guilty, and they were sent to prison for six calendar montbs, with hard labor.

Election1 of Mayors in Canterbury.—On June 10th, the City Council of Christchurch met for the purpose of bringing themselves under the operation of the Municipal Corporations Act, when Mr. William Wilson was elected as the first Mayor of the City of Christchurch. Mr. Thomas Merson was on the same day elected as Mayor of the Borough of Lytteltou, and Mr. Hall was elected as Mayor of Kaiapoi.

Savage Assault on a Female.—Yesterday week, a very brutal assault was committed at Westport, on a Mrs. Abrahams, the results of which are up to the present time unknown. It appears that a man named Hunter, in a state of intoxication was prowling about Molesworth-street, and used offensive and insulting language to a female, who went for the police to have him removed. Mr 3. Abrahams came out at the time and told the man that the police had been sent for, when, without any more provocation, he attacked her threw her down, knelt on her body, and beat her severely, at the same time drawing a knife and threat ening to "finish" her. The woman was at last resoued and Hunter taken in custody. Dr. Worrall attended the female, and found that she was seriously injured,

it being probable that premature confinement may occur. Hunter has been before the Magistrate, and stands remanded till such time as Mts. Abrahams is fit to appear against him.