CHRISTCHURCH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 270, 25 March 1869, Page 3

CHRISTCHURCH.

This Day. (Before C. C. Bowen, Esq., R.M.) Drunkenness. — William Russell and Edward Cooper were brought up in custody, charged respectively with having been drunk and disorderly, and drunk and incapable, yesterday. Both admitted their offence, but being their first appearance, were discharged with a caution. Cattle Trespass. — The following fines were imposed for cattle found trespassing within the city : — Charles Allison, one cow at largo in Madras street, 5s ; Samuel Stewart, two horses at large in Lichfield street, 5s ; John Vavasour, one cow, wandering in Colombo street, 5s ; James M'Kenzie, two cows at large on the South Town Belt, 5« ; John Harlor, one heifer, wandering on the South Town Belt, 5s ; W. Wilson, ss. Unregistered Dogs. — '<. J. Pearce and Charlotte Louder were each fined 20s for being the owners of unregistered dogs above the prescribed age. Breach of the Railway Offence Act. — John Dodd admitted having allowed four pigs to wander on to the railway lines, and was fined 108. Breach of the Hackney Carriage ByLaws — Walter Hartnall was summoned for leaving his licensed cab unattended on the 12th inst. Sergeant Jeffrey proved to seeing the cab standing on a piece of open ground in Oxford Terrace, near a brothel. He watched for upwards of a quarter of an hour, when no one coming to it, he went into the brothel, and found accused getting his dinner wirh some prostitutes. In defence, accused urged that he had been engaged to go to the house, and was waiting there for his fare, having first drawn his horse and cab on to the open ground, which was private property, and not a public thoroughfare. His Worship could not accept this excuse, and remarking that accused had been up so many times that he was evidently not fit to be entrusted with the charge of a cab, fined him 20s, with orders for it to be endorsed on his license. Breaches of the City By-Laws. — Christopher Dalwood appeared in answer to a summons for having conveyed luggage to Cobb's office in High street, without heing duly licensed for the same. The evidence went to show that he had carried two portmanteaus in his Hansom without hiving a passenger with them, and in defence he pleaded that he had been en gaged at the Clarendon Hotel to convey a lady and her luggage to meet Burton's 9 a.m. coach, but missed her on his way to the hotel, and then took the luggage to overtake her. A waiter at the Clarendon Hotel was called, and corroborated this statement. His Worship said he had no desire to Btrain the law to such an extent as would inconvenience the public, but the cabmen were so constantly quarrelling amongst themselves that the Bench must enforce the provision of the by-laws. Accused would therefore be fined 10s. Breaches of the Police Ordinance. — Frank Elliott, Lewis Elliott, li. Thomson, and John Hill, four boys, ranging from seven to ten years of age, were charged with having wilfully set fire to some grass in Peterbjrough street, .^ergeant Jeffrey proved to seeing the fire, and that the grass was very dry all round, whilst several buildings were in dangerous proximity. The ignition of the grass was admitted by one of the boys, who said that Thomson, the youngest, got the matches from his mother, on purpose to do it, and that he himself also tried to light some of the grass, but could not. His Worship admonished them very severely upon such conduct, pointing out the danger accruing from it, and then dismissed the case. Henry Rangecroft, driver of a 'bus, licensed to run between the Railway Station and the Junction Hotel, was charged with a breach of his regulations. From the evidence it appeared that accused had turned out of hia prescribed beat towards the City Hotel, and then gone back to the railway without going to the Junction Hotel. In defence, accused ?aid that he was not plying for hire, but had merely come from the station to fetch Mr Dalwood's cab. His Worship considered the case proved, and imposed a fine of 10s. Ae-j cused was then further charged with having obstructed a public thoroughfare by leaving hia horses and 'bus standing in Lichfield street for upwards of half an hour whilst the former were feeding. The charge I was admitted, and a further fine of 108 inflicted. John Carr was summoned for being at such a distance from his horse and cart as

not to have proper control over it. The informing constable stated that the horse had run away and been stopped in the city; but accused stating that it had started from out of his own yard, his Worship dismissed the case in consideration of the horse not having been left in a public thoroughfare. It. Brunsden, for a similar offence, the horse and trap having been left standing in Cashel street, was fined 10s. W. Sheppard was also fined the same amount for leaving his horse and trap in a public thoroughfare, and in consc • quence of which it broke away. Fußrous Dkiving. —W. R. Flint and George Doig were each fined 10s for this offence within the precincts of the city. Abusive and Threatening Language. — Andrew M'Taggart was summoned by T. C. Mullins, for having used abusive and threatening language towards him in a public thoroughfare. Complainant stated that whilst on the stand at the City Hotel, accused had asked him to have a drink, and on hia refuaiug to do so. called him opprobrious name», and threatened to strike him. Accused urged in defence that complainant had previously abused him, and called W. Hartnall, who said that he certainly heard complainant use improper language towards accused, and believed that, he in fact, commenced the disturbance. His Worship said there had been several disputes between the parties, and although the present case was not satisfactorilyproved, he had previously said that he would fine the first who interfered with the other; and it being quite clear that M'Taggart had accosted Mullins first, he would be fined '20s and costs. A similar charge by Mullins against Hans Clarke was withdrawn, accused having apologised. , „,,_.„, Obstructing the Police. — James Mazey and Henry, Pattfby-were charged with having opposed the entrance of Constable Pratt into Barnard's Hotel whilst a fight was going on. The constable proved te hearing a quarrel on the premises about a quarter-past twelve o'clock on the morning of the 18th inst., and on going to the door distinctly heard blows struck. He applied for admission, but could not obtain it, and then pushed the door open, the accused resisting on the inside, by holding it to, and thereby enabling all the parties quarrelling to get away. The case was admitted, and a fine of £5 imposed. Violent Assault. — Stephen, Michael, and Patrick Ryan were charged with having violently Francis McGuire, at Weeden's Hotel, on the 17th inst., Mr Slater appearing in support of the case. Complain* ant stated that Stephen Ryan struck him whilst in the bar, without any provocation, and afterwards ill-used him, until he became insensible, and was covered with blood from severe wounds on his head. Thomas McGuire and two other, witnesses proved to seeing complainant in the state named, and to the blows being struck, but could not say who first commenced the disturbance ; whilst accused alleged that complainant first took hold of him by the coat, abused him, and asked him to fight for £5. The evidence was very contradictory; and Sergeant Pardy then called Sergeant Jeffrey, who had seen all the parties at the Leeston races on the day named, and at a later hour, but previous to the alleged time of the disturbance. He stated that complainant was drunk on the racecourse, wanted to fight several persons, and had to be interfered with several times, whilst Stephen Ryan was, first at the racecourse, and then at Weeden's, in a much similar state, and both the other accuseds were drunk. Summing the whole up, the witness said " That the party were evidenty desirous of a fight, and did not care who with or what about." Mr Slater, in closing complainant's ca<e, said, even admitting this, it could be no justification of the murderous attack made on complainant, and asked at least that the accused miuht be bound over to keep the peace. His Worship said if he bound any one over he should bind the whole lot, but dismissed the case with an order for the accused, Stephen Ryan, to pay half of the £3 5s 2d costs, complainant to bear the remainder, and pay his own witnesses' expenses. Samuel Bell, for whom Mr Garrick appeared, was fined 20s for assaulting Peter M'Ara. Assault. — The evidence showed that words had passed between the parties, and accused struck complainant in the face; serious provocation being urged in defence.

is a thief a kind of philosopher ? — Because he regards everything from an abstract point of view, ig opposed to all notions of protection, and is open to conviction ?