Untitled

West Coast Times, Issue 1287, 6 November 1869, Page 2

In the Resident Magistrate's Court, yesterday, Wm. Mackay, a colored man, was placed in the dock charged with having stolen one half chest of tea valued at £4, the property of James Neil. Inspector Broham wished to charge the prisoner with the offence of larceny as a bailee, but on his Worship pointing out that that course would take it out of the jurisdiction of the Court, the charge of simple larceny, was proceeded with. James Neil, a baker, gave evidence that having a half-chest of tea to return to Mr Pole's tea warehouse, he had engaged the prisoner to take it there in his express. Mr Patterson, clerk to Mr Pole, said he remembered the prisoner bringing a half*chest of tea to the warehouse, which he refused to take back, prisoner look the tea away with him, and witness had not seen it since. Prisoner, in his defence, : j aid ho had taken the tea to Pole's warehouse, and Patterson had refused to take it. He then went away, and returning some time after, he put the tea inside the door. Patterson was standing a little way from the door and saw what he (prisoner) had done. He was committed for trial at the next sittings of the District Court, bail allowed, prisoner iv £30, and two sureties in £25 each. Edmond Lamond, alias Richard Lainond, on remand, was charged with uttering a valueless cheque. There were two charges of uttering against the prisoner, but only one was proceeded with, the Inspector of Police having decided to withdraw from the prosecution on the second charge. David Cooper, a farmer, residing at the Arahura, said the prisoner had been in his employ previous to last June. Had never given him a cheque, nor had he a banking accouut. The cheque produced had not been written or signed by him (Cooper). Did not known the signature, "R. Cooper," to the cheque. It was not his signature, nor his brother's, whose name was George. Mr Da vies, ledgerkeeper, Bank of New South Wales, remembered the cheque produced being presented at the Bank. Witness had marked it "No account." Detective Browne knew the prisoner for several years on the Coast, aud remembered him in the employ of the witness Cooper. Prisoner was committed for trial at the next sittings of the Supreme Court, bail allowed, prisoner in £100, and two sureties in £50 each. Martin Spiller pleaded guilty to a breach of the bye-laws in driving cattle through the town during prohibited hours, and was fined 10s, and costs. George Sutton, for drawing a truck on the footpath, being the first offence, got off. " Brown v. Brown," a fraud summons. The defendant was ordered to pay the amount withi twentyfour hours, or the alternative of being sent to prison for a month. The Court then adjourned until the usual hour this morning.

The meeting of the Borough Council last evening lapsed for want of a quorum. At eight o'clock the members present were the Mayor and Councillors Hawkins, Macfarlans, and Cosgrave. The meeting was adjourned pro forma to Tuesday evening, at half-past seven o'clock ; but as that day will be holiday, in consequence of its being the Prince of Wales' birthday, it was understood that the actual meeting of the Council will be held on Friday night next.

An attractive bill of a performance which is to take place on Monday evening, the Bth inst., at the Stafford Theatre, is presented to the Waimca public, aud will undoubtedly draw a good house. The performance is for the benefit of Mr J. A. Phillips, who has taken an active part .in most of the entertainments given for charitable objects ever since the Amateur Dramatic Club was first formed here, and who has contributed considerably to the success of the pieces each time he has appeared.

An adjourued meeting of stewards of the forthcoming races will be held this evening, at the British Empire Hotel. The business before the meeting will be the adoption of a programme, and handing in subscription lists. We believe between £500 and £600, at least, will be collected, but the stewards hope for at least another XIOO, in order to clear expenses.

A meeting of the Kanieri Road Board was held on Thursday, November 4. Present • Messrs Eobinson (Chairman), Dale, and Leavmont. The minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed. Letters were received from Mr Smith tendering for a dray road and tramway from the Post Office^ Kanieri, to the terrace beyond Commissioner's Flat ; and from Cormick and Co., asking for extension of time to complete a contract. The former was deferred till a full meeting of the Board ; and in the latter, time was granted. Mr Robinson then called upon Mr Cuming (Chairman, Totara Road Board) .to explain his views with regard to the proposed track to the Totara, and to assist in fully discussing the scheme. Mr Cumiug said that he had come up from Ross at considerable inconvenience, not having received the letter from the Kanieri Board till very lately. The object of his visit was to advocate a track from the Hokitika River to the Totara, and to gain the co-operation of the Kanieri Road Board and Kokitika Prospecting Association in carrying out the work. Some time back, £3000 had been voted by the County Council for this purpose, but recent events had so crippled the Government that all hope from them was at an end for the time being ; but he had no doubt but that the G-overnment, when in funds, would reimburse the Road Boards with the amount expended ; in fact, this was the first thing to be ascertained. He thought it would be well to ask the members for their respective districts to advocate this reimbursement. If the County Council agreed the two Road Boards could strike a rate and make immediate arrangements with the banks so that there would be no delay in carrying out this important work, for not only was there the likelihood of opening up auriferous ground, but he understood that there was some good agricultural land on the route, the sale of which would be a direct benefit to the Boards. Mr Dale proposed — " That the Totara and Kanieri Road Boards, and the Hokitika Prospecting Association, each send a member, and so form a deputation to wait on the County Chairman on Thursday box^ fit 2 o'clock jp.m,, the object of such deputa-

tion being to induce the Government to reimburse the monies laid out on a track to Ross when the state of their finance will allow it." Mr Learmont briefly seconded thiß proposition, and Mr Cuming, before it was put to the Board, spoke in support of it, advocating expedition m carrying the scheme through, and hoping that Mr lloos would make no delay in having the survey work clone. The proposition was then carried, and Mr Dale was appointed delegate from the Kanieri Board, and he meeting terminated. An auriferous quartz reef has been struck within ten miles of the Greenstone by a well-known miner, who has brought down a sample of the stone. He was to apply for an exteuded claim yesterday at the Warden's Court held there, but we have not heard whether he did so or not. This stone is of exceedingly good quality, and gold is visible in all parts without the aid of .any magnifying glass. We trust that it will be all equal to the sample, for if so the lUcky finder will indeed have made his " pile." At the Resident Magistrate's Court, Ross, in a claim, " John M'Bride v. Peter Larkin," judgment by consent was given for £8 lla, and costs. Two unimportant cases were heard in the Warden's Court, one of which was dismissed, and the other postponed. The Church of England soiree took place at the Drill Shed, Ross, on Tuesday evening last, and passed off very pleasantly. Tea was served at half-past seven o'clock, and after grace had been sung, about 150 persons sat down. The tables were well filled with the choicest viands, which were decorated in such a manner, and presided over and dispensed by sunh a. body of fair charmers, that you could not, if otherwise inclined, fail to partake of the luxuries there provided. The room having been cleared of the tables, &c.> and the seats re-arranged, the Rev. Mr Hampton, in a few remarks, stated the objects, j and informed the company that an entertainment of a mixed nature had been provided and wound up by calling upon Miss He.iphy, who performed with exquisite effect and sweetness, some gems from the great masters' upon the pianoforte. Mr Cuming then gave a reading " American Politics," which wa3 well read. Mi&s Beck sung " Starlight Nell," very sweetly, and as an encore, " La Cliastra'' (Spanish), in both of which she accompanied herself on the Guitar. Recitation, " Modern Logic," and reading " Melting Moments," Mr Taylor. Song, " Highland Mary," Mr Gow, and as an encore " John Anderson my Joe," which he sung very well. An overture on the pianoforte by Miss Heaphy. was very well delivered. Solos on the cornet by Mr Haig, were very excellently performed. Solo, Mr Montgomerie, was very well sung. Reading, ''Bashful Man," Mr Taylor. Song. " Love's Request," accompanied with banjo, Miss Beck, and as an encore, "Le Pepitu." God save the Queen.

It has been decided by the Ilokitika Volunteers to visit Ross on the anniversary of the Prince of Wales' Birth" day. They are to muster on Monday at 3 p.m., at the Drill Shed, and afterwards proceed to the boatmen's steps. The boats will leave the steps at 3.30 p.m. sharp. We understand that great preparations are being made at Ross by the volunteers there to give the Hokitika Volunteers a grand reception. An area of ground has been cleared expressly for manrouvring the various corps, and a ball has been arranged for the evening.

The adjourned meeting of the Education Board was held yesterday afternoon. In reply to the telegram sent by the Board, as to whether it could depend on the £500 voted being available, and when ? The County Chairman replied, "Apportion money ? Yes." The Board, after the transaction of other business, proceeded to allocate the £500. We are obliged to withhold a full report, which will appear on Monday.

We understand that on Monday next the prison labov gang proceed to work on the intended Arahura road, as decided upon by resolution of the County Council. The delay has been a necessary one, in order that work in hand should not be left incomplete.

The following extract from a letter has been written by Mr Comisky, from the Thames goldfields, to Mr Casaius, his late partner here .• — ',' The people surely must be mad to keep coming here. Ido not know what they are going to do. Nine-tenths of the claims on the Thames are not worth a penny. I could name hundreds of claims that have been formed into companies and their scrip aold at big prices, that are not worth anything to-day. Unless something turns up soon, there will be lots of people glad to return to Hokitika."