RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1690, 26 January 1888, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Temuka—Wednesday, Jan. 25,1888.

[Before J. Ollivier, Esq., R.M., and D., Inwood, Esq., J.P.] . FAILING TO PEOVIDE. W. Henderson was charged with with having neglected to comply with the order of the Court to contribute to the support of his wife and child. It* appeared that defendant had paid'some money into Court, and the case was adjourned for three months. VAGEANCT. George Ramsay was charged with being a disorderly person, having no lawful or visible means of support. Constable Morton said accused had been wandering about the town dogging drunken men for drink and for money. He slept sometimes in the stables, and sometimes in the broom, and had had to be warned! off premises. When last before the Court he had £3, and had to pay £2 14s of it as a fine. He had no other money since. , f ,-A. R. Allan, storekeeper, , Temuka, called as a witness by the police, said that his wife complained that during his absence from the shop the defendant came in and caught up a red • herridg, and filing boy. in the '-shop/ He next putthis hand ip a tin of red herrings, took up two of them and walked away,

1 To the defendant: I did not see that you left sixpence on the tin as the price of the herrings. J , George Ramsay said he had a private income from two houses in Melbourne. He received £26 every three months from this sourci through his uncle, Mr Keith Ramsay, of Dunedin. He worked all last year for Mr Gray, and only recently left him, and went to another store. It was jealousy caused the prosecution.

To Constable Morton: Mr James Blyth never warned me out of his stables, but I caught the thief that you; hare not been able to catch. His Worship said he did not know how the police could interfere with the liberty of the subject in this way. The man had a perfect right to sleep anywhere he liked if he did no harm. It appeared the man had independent means.

Constable Morton asked the case to be remanded for week.

In reply to the Resident Magistrate, Ramsay said he received the annuity sometimes every three months, other times it was held six months, and other times 12 months, according as he applied for it. His Worship said the witness was prevaricating, and in consequence he ftould remand hit case for a week. In the meantime he must find evidence to prove be was in receipt of this money, the ease was accordingly remanded.. cmi CASK*. ■#. J. Mason r. J. Cain—Claim It 8s td,—Judgment by default for amount claimed wd costs.

W. G. Aspimfl t. 1. Mitchell— Claim 10« fid. —The defendant denied that the plaintiff had done anything for him. He only consulted him on some trespass case.—Judgment was given for the plaintiff for the amount claimed and costs.

A. B. Allan r. Thomas farrell— Claim 18* 3d.—The plaintiff stated that defendant had paid 18s, and judgment was given for the balance with colts. The Court then adjourned.

LECTURE*

A lecture on the Superstitions of the Old Country was delivered last Tuesday evening in the Volunteer Hal), Temuka, by the Rev. John Dickson, M.A. The chair was occupied by the Her. T. A. Hamilton and there was a fair attendance. The united choirs of St. Saviour’s Church and the Presbyterian Church, under the condmctorship of Mr W. GK Rutland, with Miss Blyth presiding at the piano, sang several songs during the evening. The rev. chairman, on rising to introduce the rev. lecturer, said he must first express his thanks to Mr Dickson for having asked him to preside, as by doing so he showed that he wished to cultivate a kindly feeling between his own and other branches of the Christian Church. This feeling he (the chairman) wished to reciprocate. The lecture was in aid of a very laudable object the Sunday School. It behoved Christians to teach their children the truths of Christianity, and this could bast be done in the Sunday Schools. For this reason he regretted the attendance was not larger. Another object of the lecture was to dispel error, and he was glad it bad little to do with this country—that it was to treat of the superstitions of the Old Country. He felt that such beliefs would never be held in this country, as the spread ot education would dispel them. He then introduced the Rev. Mr Dickson, who was received with applause. After dwelling for some time on, these old superstitions and how they originated, the rev. gentleman proceeded to deal in detail with fairies or wee people, witches and witchcraft, evil eye, blinking cows, churns, will-’o-wisp, ghosts, demonology, devil possession, devil manifestation, astrology, stars, comets, phases of the moon, warnings, wraiths, dog, rooster, dreams, interpretations,biblical visions, lucky things, crickets, stray animals, throwing slipper, charms, May-pole, horse shoe, flints, etc. tfe had intended to publish a full report of the lecture, but finding that to do so was not desired we have contented ourselves with this brief synopsis. We may add, however, that the subject was very ably dealt with, and that the rev. lecturer plainly showed that these superstitions were altogether contrary to reason and Christian teaching. The lecture occupied an hour and a quarter in delivery, and was listened to with rapt attention. At the close of it a, hearty vote of thanks was carried by acclamation on the motion of the Chairman, and the proceedings terminated by the choir singing the National Anthem.