SUPREME COURTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3747, 5 October 1886, Page 3

SUPREME COURTS.

(By Telegraph.) Auckland, Oct. 4. Mr Justieo Ward, addressing the Grand Jury at tho opening of the crimina? sessions, expressed regret that on the Grst occasion of his presiding hero tho calendar should be the heaviest known m Auckland for many years. Seasons of commercial depression invariably produce gcrime, but he sincerely trusted that tho long list of criminal cases now beforo him was not to be taken as a fair indication of the Btate of the mercantile) barometer m the north. Hi 3 Honor then proceeded to comment upon the charges, i>f ■which thero are no fower than 46 to be dealt At the criminal sessions Thos. Chamber, for uttering a forged cheque, got 18 months; Jas. Macanulty, for larceny as a, bailee, six months ; Patrick Anderson, for breaking and ontering, two year 3; Luke O'Brien, for larceny, three years. John Henriekson wns sentenced to eighteen months' for horse stculinz, and James Milne, for larceny, got twelve months'. WEIIiINOTON, Oct. 4. The Supreme Court opened this morning. There are 17 oases, including the cases aoainstTe Whiti, Titokowaru and others. °The Judge m his charge said tho cases were of more importance, but presented no greater difficulties than usual. Referring to the native cases ha said that although To Whiti was not prescut when the offenco was committed, evidence would be brought to prove that ho was tho instigator of such offences, and if such was tho caso ho vrould bo held to be equally guilty with the others. His Honor mado a lengthy charge m the libel case neninst Hoskins, brought by Sir Julius Yogel He Baid there were two things for tho jury to consider, viz., the article which appeared m the Advertiser nnd a cartoon published m tho same paper. The article m question was headed "'Parliamentary Scandal and had reference to tho Waimate railway. His Honor instructed the jury that if the article was merely a narration of the condemnatory opinions expressed by the Parliamentary Committee, and if. the article only reiterated these opinions m perhaps somewhat different langungo, it was privileged. True bills were found against To Wind, Titokowaru, and tho other Maoris on two count 3 for malicious injury and forcible entry, and also againßt Hodgson on two charges for embezzlement, and Wm. Templeton alias Woods for burglary. The latter was convicted for stealing samples from a commercin traveller at the Empire Hotel and sentenced to two years' hard labour. Benj. Hobbins, for larceny from the person, was acquitted. CnnlSTCHTntcrr, Oct. 4. The criminal sittings opened to-dny before Mr Justice Johnston. Jame3 Farquhnr, accused of malicious injury to property, was discharged, no bill having been presented to tho Grand Jury. . John Hughes pleaded guilty to forging and uttering a cheque for £8, and was sentenced to five years' penal servitude. Thomas Hooper pleaded guilty to a charge of horse stealing, and was sentenced to two years' hard labour. , Cecil Williams and Edward Buckingham, two lads, wore sentenced to two years' hard labour, for stealing from a dwelling. Richard Moana, a Maori, and Matthew Wells were convicted of cattle stealing, and sentenced to twelve months' hard labour. Georgo Manning Rees was convicted of manslaughter. The charge aroso out of alleged neglect, and ill-treatment of Ins wife at St. Albaus during hor last illness. Ho was sentenced to twelve months' hard labour. There are six eases to be disposed of, besides the Timaru cases.