Supreme Court.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 329, 3 June 1869, Page 3

Supreme Court.

CBIMINAL SITTINGS. Tni3 Dat. (Before Mr Justice Greason Mid Common Juries.) The Court re-opened at (en o'clock thw morning. caton's case. Mr Wynn Williams, on behalf of the wife of Murphy, made an application that a bank deposit (value about £100), found upon the prisoner, should be applied to defray the i-xpenses of h : 8 defence. The prisoner was implicated in the alleged charge of conspiracy agninst Caton, but the deposit in question lia>l nothing to do with the case. Murphy's wife und chillrcn were in Chridtchurch, and hitd no means of support. Mr Duncan, Crown Prosecutor, di>] not ohjpct to the application, and it was granted by hi* Honor. ATTEJirT TO COMMIT A RAPE. Natnnahira, a native, was indicted for that, on the 26th April laat, he did unlawfully make an ass mlt on one Wikitoria, his niece, with intent to rariah her. The Key J. Stack was sworn as interpreter. Mr Duncan prosecuted on the part of the Crown; the prisoner wa< undefended. Mr W. Norivian was chosen foreman of the jury. It appeared from the evidence that the proyeoutrix. the prisoner, and another Maori, naniKd Jiek,.were stopping at the Borough Hotel, ChriHtchurch, then kept by a Mr Hart. On the night in question, the prosecutrix, who slept in a separate room, was awoke by the prisoner while he was in the act of illtreuinK her. The jury found the prisoner guilty of indecent assault, and acquitte.l him on the count charging him with having committed an ussault with intent to commit a rape. Sentence was deferred, and the Court adjourned for half-an-hour. \>n the Court resuming, h^s Honor anntonued the prisoner to nine calendar months' imprisonment, at hard labour. VREBENTMENT. The Grand Jury, having completed their labours, tamo into Court, and Mr YVilkin, foreman, read the following presentment: — Tiie Grand Jury wish to make to your Honor the following presentment: — A^The unusual number of boys charged with effeneea at. this sitting of the Supreme Court suggests tho propriety of establishing in this province, us soon 119 possible, a Jioformatory, to .which, upon conviction, may be sent juvenile offenders, to prevent as much as possible the contamination they v/ould be subjected to were they mixed with more hai-dened criminals^ . We therefore humbly request your Donor'/ to lay the matter before the proper authorities, and urge them to take the necessary steps for erectiug an institution of this description, which, in our opinion, shouM be situated at a convenient distance from the city, and have attached to it a qu unity, of land.so--tb.at the children mr.y not only be tairfflit to read and write, but also be trained to habits of industry. V\Ye are further of opinion that it is rrq'uisift- that whipping should form purt of the sentence passed upon juvenile offender^Jin the hope that the means of crime among this class may thereby be checked. ; We wish to bring before your Honor's notice the want of accommodation for Witnesses attending the Court, a matter which we think should be attended to in the bu|ld-

ing now in course of erection for the purpose of a Court-house. At present, those people, young and old, male and female, have to pace about the precincts of the Court from morning till night, and from diy to doy, without the slightest shelter and without seats. Under these circumstances, it is not to be wondered at, that some of them sliould resort to public houses, and that when they are culled upon to give evidence, they fire scarcely j in a. fit state to do so. We would sujrg'.'St to your Honor that, in the new Court-house, a waking-room, with the convenience of sent.*, and the comfort of a fire in co!d weather, should be provided for the witnessej. Although reluctant to refer to matters of a personal nature, especially after the example of patience which your Honor has exhibited in conducting the business of the Supreme Court, under circumstances so greatly inconvenient a3 regards the building used for the purpose, we cannot allow the present opportunity to pass without protesting as hciug, as Grand Jurors, compelled to sit for a lengthened period in such an uncomfortable room as is set apart for our use. The construction of the room is such that in the winter season, even with a fire, it would not be comfortably warm ; without a fire it is so cold that no gentleman of the Grand Jury, if engaged in ordinary business, would submit to pass a single hour in it. Robert Wilkin, Foreman. His Honor : Mr Foreman and Gentlemen of the Grand Jury — I shall take care to have your presentment forwarded to the proper authorities. With regard to the former part of it, I may say that it is a subject on which I fully concur with your suggestions, as very good ones. With regard to land beiug attached to the reformatory, I am aware that in Ireland there is a large quantity of land attached to a simil»r institution, and the inmates, being employed on the ground, are taught agriculture and gardening, so that if they behave themselves well, and get a certificate of good character from the superintendent, they have very little difficulty in obtaining situations as overseers, or eve-i as stewards. With regard to the wait of accommodation which you mention, I am perfectly aware of it, and have frequently calls! attention to the deficiency of aeconnnodiitkm b;>th for the judge and jury. I have been in communication with the Government regarding the new Court-house, and I am afraid, from what the Superintendent told me some time ago, that the state of the public funds was such that it was feared some time must necessarily elapse before the Court-housH could be furnished according to the original design. I think, however, that it would almost be more economical to spend £1500 now, and to doit at once, than to complete it a future time; but, from what I have gathered, I fear that there are not sufficient funds at present. However, I hope that there will be sufficient accommodation both for the Grand Jury, the common jury, and the witnesses. I thank you for your presentment, an 1 will take cara that your representations are forwarded to j the proper quarter. I have now much pleasure in discharging you from further attendance. [Left sitting. T