LAW AND POLICE.

West Coast Times, Issue 971, 2 November 1868, Page 1 (Supplement)

LAW AND POLICE.

The last month has been singularly barren of legal events likely to interest our English readers. Sittings of the Supreme Court under the Debtors and Creditors Acts, and nlso of the District Court in Bankruptcy have been held, but not a single case has occurred of really public interest. The Resident Magistrate's Courts have also been devoid of matter which' would be rend with any degree of interest at home. Two brothers, Georg-e and John Lewis, have been committed for trial, by the Resident Magistrate of Hokitika, for conspiriug to defraud the creditoi-s ot the latter. The following case of conviction for illicit distillation may also be cjuoted. At the Resident Magistrate's Court, Hokitika, on the 7th October. Henry Smith was charged, on the information of Edward Patten, Collector of Customs at Hokitika, with having, on the 6th October, 1868, had in his possession an unlicensed still, contrary to the provisions of the " Distillation Act, 1866, Amendment Act, 1807," whereby he had forfeited the sum of £500, for which sum the Collector of Customs elected to sue. — Inspector Broham deposed that, on the previous days, in company with the Collector of Customs and some members of the police force, he went into defendant's garden, on the South Spit, and, after turning over some leaves and boughs, he found the worm and head produced; and going- into the house, witness found the boiler produced. Defendant said that the still had been in his possession for three years, having been left by a man who was now in Auckland. Defendant said that he had tried to sell the still the day before. On being questioned, defendant denied having any spirits ; but, on searching, Avitness found ths two bottles of spirits produced. Edward Patteu, Collector of Customs at Hokitika, corroborated the evidence of the previous witness as to finding the still. Witness had tested the contents of the bottles produced—they were proof spirit, manufactured on the premises. Defendant said the still had been left on his premises two years and a half ago by a man who was now in Auckland. He saw the man place the still in the bush (for the garden was not cleared then) and some time since he (defendant) had taken the boiler into the house and used it for boiling pigs food. The Resident Magistrate : You are fined £100.

We may mention that a medical practitioner, Di 1 Mourilyan, has been committed for trial at the next criminal sittings of the Hokitika Circuit Court on a charg-e of manslaughter consequent on the verdict of a Coroner's jury, that he had been guilty of culpable negligence whilst attending 1 on a female in her accouchment.

It is a matter for congratulation that during. the past month there has been comparatively little litigation in Westland. Bankruptcy too seems rather on the decrease, and the Police' Court exhibit scarcely any records of crime of a serious character. This indicates that the inhabitants of Westland constitute a community having- a high respect for that " law and order" which is the prevailing characteristic of British rule.