CHRISTCHURCH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 446, 19 October 1869, Page 3

CHRISTCHURCH.

This Dat. (Before C. C. Bowen, Esq., R.M., and C. R. Blakiston, Esq.) Vagrancy — George Long, an able-bodied man, and t"'arah Hey ward, a prostitute, were brought up in custody, charged with having no ostensible means of livelihood. It appeared that the two had been living together in a houee at. Addington on the proceeds of the female prisoner's prostitution, and that there was no bed in the house, but only straw, Whilst the place was in a most filthy state. The male prisoner had not done any work for upwards of four months, an I had deserted his wife, who had laid an information against him. The female prisoner had been previously committed for larceny, and had children who were in a most neglected and dirty state, and were a great nuisance to the neighbourhood. The male prisoner denied that he had been living with the female prisoner for four months, as stated by tke witnesses, and urged that he had more than once tried to get work, and would now gu away if allowed. The female prisoner corroborated this'statement, and denied the neglect of her children. His Worship remarked very strongly upon the disgraceful conduct of both prisoners, but more especially the male prisoner, and declining to accept such puerile excuses as those made, committed them both for three months' imprisonment at hard labour. y( Lunact. — Rojbert Mastic* in custody, was brought up for examination on a charge of this nature. He bad been riding about the streets during the morning in a somewhat peculiar jacket, with an old bell-topper hat, which ho waved aboufc whilst standing in his stirrups, and otherwise conducting himself in an irrational manner. He had, it appeared, been previously before the Bench on a similar charge, but, on examination by a medical man, was discharged. Whilst in Court, he did not exhibit any symptoms of unsoundness of mind, but protested somewhat clearly that he was not misconducting himself on horseback, and that a person had surely the right to adopt whatever peculiarity of dress he liked. He caused considerable laughter in Court by the answers he gave to the Bench, who were not, however, quite satisfied as to his sanity, and remanded him for medical examination. Transfer of License. — The license of the Sawyers' Arms Hotel, Papanui, was transferred from A. Fantham, deceased, to John Wild.