LYTTELTON.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5697, 16 October 1896, Page 3

LYTTELTON.

Friday, Oct. 16. (Before Mr G. Laurenson, J.P., and Mr S. R. Webb, J.P.) Smuggling. — Robert Severs, second officer on board the ship Agnes Lilian, was charged with having uncustomed goods in his possession, contrary to Section 210 of the Customs Laws Consolidated Act. He was defended by Mr H. N. Nalder, and pleaded guilty. The Collector of Customs (Mr Patten) stated that on the previous evening the defendant had "been met taking three ostrich feathers ashore. They were valued at 20s, and he had elected to sue for three times their value— .£3. Mr Nalder explained that the defendant had purchased the goods at Capetown to take to England with him. On Thursday afternoon a man came on board the ship and wanted to buy some feathers. After some persuasion the defendant agreed to sell, but the man said he had no money with him. It was arranged, that the accused should take them to the railway station. He did so, and was met by a Customs officer. •Mr Nalder contended that it was a case in which the Bench would be justified in remitting the fine, as provided by the Act. Mr Patten objected to the fine being remitted. It had been reported to him that these feathers were being freely sold in Lyttelton, and he had taken steps to stop the breaches of the law. The Bench fined defendant .£3 and costs. Alleged - Larcent. — John Thompson and James Harris were charged with stealing 20s from the bar of the Empire Hotel. After the evidence of Mary Riley, the barmaid, and John Gordon, the licensee of the house, had been taken, the case was dismissed, the Bench remarking that there was nothing to connect the men with the offence. Alleged Vagrancy. — The same two defendants were charged with having no lawful means of existence. They pleaded not guilty. The evidence of Constables Fitzgerald, M'Cormack and Moore was to the effect that Harris left a. steamer in Lyttelton about six weeks ago, since when he had done no work. He had been suspected of several petty larcenies. Thompson and he were mates. The Bench said the evidence was not clear enough to convict the men, but they must understand that in the case of idle persons, the police had a perfect right, if they suspected anything,' to call upon them to explain how and by what means they were obtaining a living. Youthful Thieves. — Frank Reed aged thirteen, and Thomas Gillard, aged twelve, were charged with stealing coal, the property ot C. E. Curtis. They pleaded ■guilty. Mr Curtis stated that the practice of boys and others stealing coal from the railway trucks was becoming so general that it threatened to be a most serious matter. The Railway Department and the . Harbour Board both refused to take the responsibility, and the police stated that the matter was outside their jurisdiction. In cases where coal was left standing in the railway trucks during the night he could safely say that many hundredweights were taken every night. The two boys had been caught filling bags from the top of the truck at 8 1 p.m., and it was evident they took the coal to their home. The Bench said they were in sympathy with the complainant. The case, taken with others that had recently occurred, pointed to the want that existed for a detective being permanently stationed at Lyttelton. They would advise Mr Curtis to communicate with the authorities with a view of having the responsibility of such matters fixed. With regard to the two boys it was evident that they stole the coal for the purpose of taking it home. They would be convicted and ordered to come up for sentence the first time the police found they were misbehaving themselves in any way.