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West Coast Times, Issue 334, 18 October 1866, Page 2

We omitted yesterday to acknowledge to the courtesy of Cupt. Francis, of the Taranaki, the files of English papers, from whioh we were enabled tp xrake copious extracts. The Tarannki made a splendid passage from Melbourne, being only four and a-half days from port to port. She lias put us in possession of the English intelligence, probably many days in advance of the ordinary means of communication, and Hokitika, on thU occasion, enjoys the distinction of being the first New Zealand port to receive the important Mail news brought by the Bombay to Melbourne. It is much to be regretted that on the recejpt of intelligence of so important a charaeler the telegraph wires were not in working order. We hope to have many opportunities of acknowledging the same obligation to Ca^.t Francis, and to Mr Taggart, the agent of the N.Z. S.N. Company.

A meeting was held last night of the Literary Debating Society, at tho Fire Brigade Hall, which, we are happy to state, was most numerously attended. The chair was occupied by the President of the Society. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed, and several members were 'duly ballotted for agd admitted. Two notices of motion, for the better guidance of the society were then given, and the preliminary business being settled, the chairman called upon Mr Harrison for a x reading, entitled, " The Hedge Schoolmaster," which was ably rendered by that gentleman, and kept the audience in continued roars of laughter. Mr Bunson then gave the " Charge of the Light Brigade." Mr M'Hugh favored t^e society with the ". Emigrant," which he delivered with some pathos. Mr Button followed, with "Richmond's address to his army," which was also well received. Several very animated debates upon the manner in which the above gentlemen had acquitted themselves followed, and were well kept up, and a yota of thanks to the chair terminated a most agreeable evening's entertainment. wTh.e long expected lire-engine which was sent for to Melbourne, by the Hokitika Brigade, arrived yesterday in the Alma. As it is still hidden in the recesses of the hold, we have not yet been able-to inspect it, but \xn- X derstand that it is a first-rate article ; with hose, bel, and other paraphernalia attached to it. On the occasion of its removal from tho wharf f to the engine-house, there will be a grand muster of the Brigade in uniform, and grand doings are anticipated. Tlio Alma will commence discharging to-day, so wo imagine that the event will come off to-morrow, night. . " We learn that an affair of a very unpleasant character took place yesterday evening, at

dinner time, at the Cnfe do Paris. Mr Carey,

£>f the firm of Mossrs Carey and Gilles, Rtutcd that tho passengers by the Panima line of steamers complained of being starved. Mr John White, the agent of the company replied that he did not credit the 1 statement, and' •f made, that it was untrue. After a lapse of a few hours Mr Carey meeting Mr White in the Cafe, demanded if Mr White would repeat

his assertion, and Mr White replied that if Mr Carey would repeat his assertion, ho, Mr White, would repeat it until morning. Mr Carey thereupon assaulted Mr White, and we understand that tho latter gentleman hus iustituted proceedings in the Supreme Court for the assault. - We are not surprised that Mr White should exhibit so ne indignation at tho charge made against the company ho represents, for it is very well known to ourselves personally, as well as to all travellers by this company's 3teainers, that the victualling department id conducted in the most liberal

It is with no ordinary feelings of satisfaction that we welcomed the arrival of the over-

land Christchurch coacli last evening, as from the reports current in the town, tho belief in^ tho impassibility of the track was very generally entertained. Happily, the province has been spared such a calamity, for in no other light can we regard the suspension of communication between East and West Canterbury. TUo road is not nearly so much damaged as was at first reported ; in proof whereof the coaoh came through the whole distance heavily laden, and onlj once had the passengers to alight; this was at the Teremakau, where the accident occurred on Monday, and there tho passengers code across the river on horseback, and were at once transferred into another conveyance, which Mr Crawley, with his usutil foresight, provided for their reception. They arrived in town last night " to time," a fact which speaks, volumes for the state of the road. On the way-bill we noticed tho names of Messrs Stringer, Bird (telegraph manager), Shirly, Garfortb., M'Lean, and Jones. Mr Crawley again proceeded 'to the Teremakau yesterday, and jnade further senrch for the missing mails and luggage, but failed to find them, and we much fear they arc totally lost. It is just possible they may be thrown up upon some of the points or beaches of the river, but in a worthless state, so far as the legibility of their contents is concerned. We are happy to say that the coach was recovered in good condition on Tuesday, and was s<?nt on to Christchurch with the Hokitika mails and passengers. We were betrayed into making tho 'statement which concluded our paragraph in yesterday's issue, as our informant was in error upon the subject. Right glad are we that he was so. /Owe hundred and forty-nine souls, *new arrivals from Melbourne and themorth, passed through the transit shed yesterday, and fifty more have yet to be landed from the s.b. Taranaki*. If to this number is added 148 which landed on Tuesday, a total will be arrived at of 347 men, women, and "children who arrived by the two Melbourne steamers and the Egmont. /

With reference to the late discovery of human remains in Sydney, the " Herald " says :—": — " In consequence of the verdict of the jury who were empannelled to inquire into the circumstances conueoted with the death of a woman whose remains were found in an open space of land, oTF Sussex street, oii WitnoElT ult , the Government have offered a reward of L2OO for such information as will lead to the apprehension and conviction of the murderer ; and in addition to the above reward, his Excellency the Governor will be advised to extend a free pardon to any accomplice in the crime (not being the person who actually committed the murder) who shall givo such required information. Although tho remains had been dreadfully mutilated, sufficient particulars have been'obtained to permit of identification being made at any timo. The head of the deceased was small and well-formed, with a Roman or aquiline nose ; dark brown or nearly black hair; eight back teeth (four each side of lowt»r jnw) had been extracted from the jaw for some time previous to death, leaving no socket marks' — this circumstance alone would be almost sufficient to

enable anyone to identify the deceased ; a front tooth in tho upper jaw is -also missing;

the remaining teeth are in a good state of preservation ; the fragment of uudevclothing which was found rouud the remains is of heavy unbloaohed twill calico, and appears to have been well "and strongly sewn. It has been suggested by many persons that the charring and burning of the body may have been caused by a fire on the heap of rubbish in which the remains were found ; but although it has not appeared in evidence, the police have ascertained, beyond a doubt, that no traces of fire whatever are to be fou"nd amongst the rubbish ; and even supposing such was the case, the fact of the back part of the body, which lay uppermost, not being burnt, is sufficient proof that the burning took pla f> e before the remains were laid amongst the rubbish." The " Argus," of the 10th inst., says :—: — "The uteaTrship Rangatira,' with the South Australian portion of the English August . mail, arrived at Glenelg early yesterday forenoon, and the usual summary of the news reached us from our'correspondent soon afterwards. The mail on this occasion bus arrived three days before its time, or one day in advance of the time formerly allowed for the voyage. The mail dates are, London, 27th August, and by telegram 11th September — nine days later than the news received by the Hero. The Ruahine, with the Panama mail, readied Sydney a few minutes after the arrival of the Rangatira had been telegraphed." The Melbourne " Argus'" relates the following curious incident : — " A man, who had given the name of John Tierney, was brought to the city lock-up yesterday on remand from Kilmore and Yea, charged, under the. name ef John Sparkes, with embezzling Lll,ooo, the property of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company. It seems that he was arrested at Yea on suspicion of being the late agent of this company, was thence remanded to Kilmore, and thence forwarded to Melbourne. This supposed identity was only supported by a fancied resemblance to Sparkes as described in the ' Police Gazette ' — a resemblance which, however visible it might have been at Yea, had entirely disappeared by the time that he had arrived in town. The whole affair was only saved from being very awkward and ridiculous by the singular discovery made by tho city detectives after the arrival of the prisoner, that he was a man for

'Whose apprehension warmnts were out, charging him with obtaining money by means of t valueless cheques at Willi&mstown and elset wl^ere, uncle^he name of John Shw,"

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT. (Before G. G. FitzGerald, Esq., R.M.)

Wednesday, October 16. Dhunk and Incapajjlb. — James Smith and Andrew Thompson were 'charged with this offence and fined in the sum of ss, or in defanlt, 24 hours imprisonment.

Use of Obscene Language. — A charge against George Johnston for drunkenness was dismissed. There was also a further charge against this prisoner for using obscene language, for which offence he was mulcted in the sum ojE L 2, or in default of paypient, 48 hours impi-isonment. Drunk and DisOßttßßfctf — Henry Brown was fined 5s for being drunk, and 15s. for disorderly conduct, in default, 48 hours imprisonment.

Lahckny. — The charge against the prisoner, John Donovan for larceny, which had been adjourned from the 13th inst, was then proceeded with. Henry Preean was called, and stated that he resided at the Waimea. He remembered the 12th inst k He saw the prisoner on that evening) in the custody of a constable. He 'saw the prisoner throw something away. It was very dark, and he (witness) could not see distinctly; but he felt the prisoner draw a' chain across his (witness') hand. He then accused prisoner of having thrown a chain away. Prisoner denied the accusation. Witness, then by direction of the constable, searched for the chain and found it. It was a plain gold curb Ghain with A piece of tape attached. Witness gave the chain to the constable. He would not undertake to swear that the chain now shown to him was the same as the one found by him. It very strongly resembled it, however, the only difference being the absence of the tape. He was aware that the prisoner had been arrested on a charge of larceny of a watch and chain. The prisoner was then cautioned in the usual way, when he replied, "That he had not stolen the watch — a man had given it to him." His Worship committed the prisoner to take his-trial at the next Criminal Sessions) of the Supreme Court.

CIVIL CASES.

Day v. Hannah. — This wa9 an action for money payable to plaintiff, for services as a canva3ser on behalf of Mr Lynch^ one of the late candidates for Municipal h«nors. Judgment for pluintiff for amount claimed and costs.

Solomon v. Groom. — This was an action for money due and owing for board and lodging-. The plaintiff being sworn de- | |.o*ed that the defendant had boarded Bnd lodged in his house. 4 The amount claimed was justly due and owing to him; the rates charged were fair and reasonable, and the demand for payment had been repeatedly made. Judgment was given for the plaintiff for full amount and costs. Oukcs and Button v. Barnard. — This was an action on a bill of costs for professional sei vices. Judgment for plaintiffs for amount claimed, and costs. Misilich v. Gregory. — Mr Button ap- j peart d for the pluintiff, and requested per- ' mission to withdraw the case, which was accordingly done. ' Jollie v. Maddon. — Mr Campbell for plaintiff, and Mr Button for defendant. This was an action brought to obtain the value of certain tools, &c, 'Wrongfully detained by the defendant. JohnJollie, being sworn, said that he was some short time ago in partnership with the defendant. The partnership had been dissolved ; the agreement produced was the one purporting to be the dissolution of the partnership. It was signed both_by_\vitnjss_ and by defendant;" 1 Witness receiyed^ipme Tools from Maddon after the dissolution of the partnership. Defendant, a few days after the execution of the agreement, removed a lot of tools ; witness could not specify all the tools. The tools were, taking them in the lump, worth LB. At the time defendant took' the tools, witness remonstrated, and the defendant merely laughed. Witness certainly objected to the removal of the tools. He felt sure thai if he had attempted to have stopped the defendant from removing the tools that he (defendant) would have struck him, as he had a piece of iron in his hand' at the time. Witness had not demanded the tools from defendant, but his agent had. By Mr Button — He {witness) might have told defendant to be careful, and not take away any but his own tools. The agreement refers" to the tools ' belonging to the partnership. The tools specified in the agreement were originaljy the property of the defendant. Witness bought the took from defendant. He also bought, the right, title, and interest of the defendant in and to the business for the sum of Ll2 By Mr Campbell— Witness understood that defendant had abandoned all claim to tlie tools in consideration of the Ll 2 paid by him to the defendant. — Alfred Munro, being sworn, said that he was present at the shop when he saw Maddon come and take the tools. Fie could not particularise the tools. This closed the plaintiff's case. Mr Button submitted that there was no case at all, as the plaintiff himself had admitted that these tools were the private property of the defendant before the existence of -the partnership, and the plaintiff had signally failed in establishing^ that they had ever subsequently become the partnership property. His Worship thought that Mr Button hail better proceed' with the defence. The defendant was then placed in the box, and he stated that the tools taken by him were hia own private property ; that when he removed them the plaintiff was /present, and never even objected to his removing them ; and that they were not worth more than L 2. — By Mr Campbell — The tools were sometimes used in the shop. They are my private property. The plaintiff may have used them, so might other people in the shop. I left them there, but I always regarded them as my private property. Plaintiff never asked me to return j the tools until after I had demanded pay- ' ment of money due by him for board and lodging.-^His Worship gave judgment for defendant with costs.

Louisson v. Moir. — The plaintiff appeared in person, and i\lr Eees for defendant. This was an action on a bill of exchange. The plaintiff swore that he paid Mr Jones the value of the bill, and proved the signature of defendant. By Mr ltees — He did not know that no consideration had been given for the bill in the first instance; all he knew was, 'that he had given a valuable consideration for it. He knew that it was an [accommodation bill. He presented it for payment on the 29th September last, and it was dishonored ; he then gave the usual notice of dishonor to Mr Moir. The defendant on being examined, swore that he was the drawer of the bill produced, and he had merely signed it as an accommodation bill. He did not receive notice of dishonor till the 2nd day of October. Had he done so, witness could have had a remedy against Mr Jones. Mr Rees addressed the ( ourt, and contended that the plaintiff had entirely debarred himself from the chance of recovering Ibe value of the bill from the drawer, as The notice of dishonor should have been given twenty-fiour hours earlier than it was. His Worship being of the same opinion, gave judgment for defendant, with costs.

Nolan v. White.— This was an action brought by plaintiff to compel defendant to pay the expenses incurred by plaintiff since the detention of the steamship Ta* rarua. The plaintiff deposed that two o his mates and himself paid their passage money to Melbourne per steamship -Tararua, and that they were to have utartei on the 10th instant, • but that defendant subsequ ntly altered their tickets, substituting the name of the steamship Egmont for that of the Tararua. By dtfendant — There was no exception made as to wind and weather. Another witness corroborated the statement made by the • The defendant alleged that he had booked the plaintiff on the usual terms. It had been utterly impossible to get out to the steamers in the roadstead during the last few days, and since witness had booked plaintiff no steamer had crossed the bar. If the steamer had been detained by him he would, as agent of the Company^ have felt himself bound to pay the amount dem mded ; but this detention was owing to causes over which he had no control. His Worship said that, as this was an important case, he would not give judgment till to-morrow (this day).

Brown and Co. v. Collins. — Judgment for plaintiff by default.

Berry v. Sponsar. — This was . an action to recover the sum of LlO, alleged balance due for the purchase of a horse. The defendant pleaded payment, but being unable to substantiate his plea, his Worf hip g.we judgment for plaintiff for amount claimed, together with costs ' Clayton v. Sullivan. — Judgment for plaintiff by default. \

Manuel v. Goodman. — Judgment/ for plaintiff by default. Brown and Co. v. Goodman. — Judgment for plaintiff by default* Liddy V. Edwards and Mader. — This was an action for money alleged to be due for wages as a cook. After hearing, the evidence on both sides, his Worship gave judgment for the amount paid into Court, plaintiff to pay the costs. Collins v. Edwards and Mader. — The plaintiff claimed L 3, money due to him by defendants for wages. The plaintiff clearly proved his case, and judgment was given for amount claimed and costs.

There were a number of other cases, which were withdrawn.