POLICE COURT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 4318, 17 April 1883, Page 2

POLICE COURT.

Monday, April 16. — Before C. E. Rawson, Esq., R.M., and T. King, Esq., J.P. Fruit Stkalinq. — Three little boys were charged with having, on the 15th April, stolen a melon, valued 6d., from the garden of E. Howell.— The boys admitted the charge, but they blamed each other as being the first to take the melon. — Mr. Pardy said that he did not wish to press the charge agaiDst the boys owing to their youth. One of the boys had been convicted before of larceny, but hia parents had promised to send him to Okato if the Court would deal leniently with him. The other two boys had never been before the Court previously. He thought it would be sufficient if the conviction were recorded against the boys, and they were discharged. — His Worship told the boy s that he did not like to send them to gaol or have them whipped, but if they cams before him again he would have to do so. They were discharged. Maintenance Order. — Richard Northwood was summoned for having failed to pay arrears due under an order for the maintenance of a female child of Eliza B. Payne, of which he had been adjudged to be the putative father. The defendant did not appear. Mr. Samuel, solicitor, gave evidence, stating that he had acted as solicitor for the complainant since the order was obtained on the 12th April, 1882. The defendant was ordered to pay 7s. 6d. per week. On the 26th October last the amount of arrears due was £7 17b. 6d., and since that time 7s. 6d. per week up to the present date was also due. He asked for an order under the 27th section of tho Destitute Persons Relief Act, compelling the defendant to pay, or to find sureties for" payment. This was a case where a young girl had been seduced by a married man, and as it was a flagrant case he thought the Court would be justified in dealing severely with the defendant. His Worship granted an order, commanding the defendant to pay the arrears due within 14 days, or to Und sureties for payment of the same ; in default to be imprisoned for one month.

The s.s. Hawea leaves Manukau this afternoon's tide, is due in the roadstead early to-morrow morning, and leaves for South at 9 a.m. Captain Edwin telegraphed last night a continuation of bad weather between south-east and south and west ; glass further rise, and wind. In the report of the Police Court yesterday, in the evidence of Mr. Tisch, the name of " H. Hooker" Was misprinted for John Hooker. A public meeting has been convened by his Worship the Mayor, to be held this evening at the Town Hall at seven o'clock, for tlic purpose of considering what steps shall bo taken to give the Hon. Mr. Bryce a hearty reception on his arrival overland from Auckland, through the King Country, and to welcome back to his home Mr. C. W. Hursthouse. The benefit we shall all derive from the good work Mr, Bryce is now carrying out must patent to everone. We feel sure the matter will meet with general approval. The first annual election of members for the Stony River Road District, which extends from Stony River to the Toungatara River, three miles south of Opunake is announced to take place on Saturday, tho sth May. Nominations will be received by Mr. Galvin, the Returning Officer, at his office, Opunake, up to Friday the 27th instant, and the following morning at the Road Board Office, which is close to the Rahotu Hotel. It is said that the election is likely to be a contested one, there being several aspirants for office. This is only as it should be. Settlers ought to take a great deal of interest in bodies which have the power of levying direct taxation upon them. No doubt the work entails a loss of time, but some people must undertake the duties, and .the greater the interest shown in the elections j tbe more likely are settlers to get a fair share of the expenditure. A sad story of sorrow in real life is told by tho Nelson Mail, of a lady who lived in New Plymouth for Borne time. Some three years ago Mr. Greaves, who previously to that had been employed in Messrs. Buxton and Co.'c store, was accidentally killed on the railway near Wanganui, leaving a widow, who, with her only son, came to reside in Nelson and built a house in Altonstreet. The mother's love for her only boy was intense, her whole heart being wrapped ap in him ; but their communion wuß not to be long. The little fellow (six years old) sickened, and grew worse and worse, and after four days' illness the dread summons come and he was called away. The bereaved mother's grief was intense, but it did not show itself: in any outward demonstration ; it was far too deep for that. She pined for her child until the sorrow wua too great for the human frame to bear. She, too, sickened, and the ailmen* was beyond the skill of tho doctors to remove. She grew worse, and, on Friday last, notwithstanding all the skill that was brought to bear to relievo her, she died — died of a broken heart. Three weeks i after her little boy Jeft her, the mother i was laid by l»'s sjde jn the Cemetery. Mrs. Greaves was on a vis.it tq New Plymouth a little better than a year ago, in connection with business affairs.

The King of Burmah has four queens. That's a good deal. A full baud, ia fact.