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Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 158, 1 February 1868, Page 2

The Charleston Warden.—"We noticed among the passengers by the Bruce from Greymouth, Mr "Warden Lightband and his family en route for the new scene of his labors at Charleston. The Bruce landed several passengers at Charleston, but Mr Lightband appears to have preferred taking the opportunity of inspecting the manifold beauties of "Westport, and returning by coach to the discomforts of a landing in a boat through the Charleston surf. Mr Dutton had arrived at his new station on the Grey. The Regatta Boat-race. The arbitration of Captain Kirkpatrick in the disputed race, which has been accepted by both the Eegatta Committee and the two boatmen who claims the pi'ize. is, as most persons foresaw it would be, for the race to be sailed over again. We believe that this will be done on Tuesday, when we hope there will be no possible room left for any further wrangling. The public will be the gainers by having the enjoyment of two races instead of one.

The Holiday.—Although to-day-was announced as a holiday at all the public offices, it will not be so kept at the Resident Magistrate's Court, as are two or three adjourned criminal cases and other business to be heard. Tice MOKiiirNTXi.—-Ruinors are prevalent in town that one of the parties having sunk through the false bottom, have struck upon a lead of gold richer than anything that has yet been discovered on the West Coast. Sale of FußjsriTrj-RE.—We notice from advertisement, with much regret that Messrs Witkowski Bros. h<ave come to the determination to relinquish business at Westport, and are going to offer their really splendid stock of furniture by public auction. It is a great pity that a spirited enterprise as that of Messrs Witkowski Bros, should not have met better success ; we only hope that our merchants, hotelkeepers, and private families will not let this rare opportunity pass without supplying themselves with comforts, as yet, so very rare.

llol'us of Attendance at the Courts.—lt has been ordered that after this date, the hours of attendance at the Resident Magistrate's and Warden's Offices will be from 10 a.m. till -1 p.m., except on Saturdays, when they will bo from 0 a.m. till 2 p.m. Opening of a BoAtAX Cathot/ic CttAPHTi Ar Addtson's HtßsLT.—On Sunday next, the newly erected chapel at Addison's Flat will be opened by the Rev. Thomas Walsh. The building, which has been erected by Messrs Wavne and Hundley at a cost of £220, is 2. r > ft. by 45 ft., and is estimated to accommodate between 300 and 400 persons.

RESIDENT MAGISTATE'-S COURT. (Before J. Grills, Esq., M.D., RM.) Friday January 31. drunk and disorder i'/v. John Barrow confessed to the charge of having been drunk and disorderly, and was fined 10s. lAroeny prom a store. Thomas Houcrt Shaw, charged with having stolen from the store of James Sims, at Mokihinui, 2 dozeu Findon haddocks, 1 cask of beer, a keg of Nelson butter and some bacon, was brought up on remand. James Sims, the prosecutor, said the prisoner had never been in his employment, but when he left Mokihinui in November last to go to Nelson he left certain goods in his store. Having summoned a man named Dart for £9 10s he instructed Shaw to appear for him in the case. Fie had posted

up the books several times, for which he received his food, and witness had bought some clothes for him. Shaw was entrusted with the care of the office, which is a building altogether separate from the office. Both were locked up and the key of one given to prisoner, believing it to be that of the office, but witness had since discovered that one key opens both locks. He asked Shaw to keep an eye on the store and see that no one broke into it. On witness's return from Nelson, he found the office open and three or four strange men in it. Prisoner was playing at cards at Dent's public house, which is about 100 ( feet from the store. Two days afterwards missed from the store the goods mentioned in the information and told Nergt. Riley of the loss. He had been absent in Nelson four or five days. He had been two or three times in the store before he discovered the loss of the goods. Could not connect the prisoner with the robbery. Cross-examined by prisoner—Cannot say when I first came to the Mokihinui. Tou never kept my books. You posted from the " scrawl" to the ledger. Tou copied several papers for me, and wrote one or two letters. My firm is James Sims and Co. There is no Co. That's a myth. I had no conversation with you the first night you came to Mokihinui. Nor any drinks. I gave Mr Brent's salesman instructions to sell some timber belonging to me, and to give an account of it to you to enter in the day book. I gave you directions to sell an ullage cask of ale, which I believe was outside the store. I don't remember giving. any instructions about other goods, nor, whether I was in the store a few minutes' before ■ leaving ■ the Murray. I was at Mokihinui about a fortnight before I went to Charleston. I don't remember the time when information was laid at Mokihinui. Tou did not work constantly for me. I had no work for myself. Charles Henry Whicher, a commission agent, lately at Mokihinui. Knew prisoner in Nouember. Shaw asked him if he wanted a commission to sell some goods, saying that he had received instructions from Sims to sell them. He accompanied prisoner to Sims store, where he showed witness the prices of the goods. Having always seen Shaw about the store, witness thought it was all right. Bought a dozen of haddocks and paid 10s for them. Two days' afterwards, purchased another dozen at the same price. When he went for some more, prisoner said he could not let him have any more at that price, as he had found it was a mistake. Those which were sold at. 16s were. 1 lb tins, whereas these were 2 lb. tins. "Witness bought a keg of. butter, on which he paid 30s on account, bnt it proved to be so bad, tliat he' could not sell it, and refused to pay any more on it. Went with Shaw and a publican to sample the ullege cask of ale, which was inside the store. The head was knocked in, and they had to dip it up in pannikins. At this stage of, the case Inspector Franklyn applied for a further remand to this day, which was acceded toby the Court. ATTEMPT TO SHOOT A WIPE. John Traffbrcl , was . brought up, charged with having attempted to fire a loaded pistol at Alice Trafford, his

wife, yesterday, at the Boatman's Anns, in Gladstone-street, where she serves as barmaid.

Alice Trafford said she was the prisoner's lawful wife, but had been living separately from him for eight or nine months. She was now a barmaid at the Boatman's Arms. About one o'clock yesterday she was behind the bar when prisoner came in and asked for halr-a-pint of beer. He laid down holf-a-erown, and when she turned to the till to get his change she saw him draw a pistol half out of his right-hand pocket. There were two other men in the bar at the time. One was named M'Leod, but she did not know Ihe other man's name. As soon as she saw the pistol she stooped under the bar, and cried out " What's that man doing with the pistol?" M'Leod instantly seized the prisoner, and called out to her to go inside, which she did. About three days before this prisoner had told her he had a loaded revolver for her. Six months ago, at Brighton, he stabbed her twice in the shoulder with a knife. He had her arrested on Christmas Day for perjury, and taken to Hokitika, but the charge was dropped by the Crown Prosecutor.

Cross-examined by the prisoner— Tou did not speak a word to me yesierday beyond asking for beer. I swear I saw you take the pistol out of your pocket. 1 did not give you the chance of pointing the pistol at me. My maiden name is Alice Holt. Tou threatened ine the day after you came from Hokitika. I said I would go and live with you again, if you could keep me, but as you couldn't, I am obliged to do something to keep myself. By the Court —I am in bodily fear of him. He is always threatening to murder me.

Boderick McLeod said.—l am a carpenter and sometimes a miner. About one o'clock the previous afternoon I was sitting in the bar of the Boatman's Arms. Mrs Trafford was behind the bar ;"myself and another man sitting in front. * Trafford came in and asked for beer. She called out, " What's that man doing with a pistol ?" I jumped up and tried to take it from him. He tried to put it down into his pocket again, and I had a scramble with him to get it, but at last succeeded. (Pistol produced and identified.) It is loaded now as it was then. The landlord handed him over to the police. I detained him till they came. Cross-examined by Prisoner. —-Tou were standing between me and this woman. I saw the pistol in your hand when the woman sang out. It was in your right hand. I can't say exactly where I was sitting. Tou were at the end of the counter. Tou were trying hard to stow the pistol away when I took it from you. I belie A re it was into the right trousers pocket you were trying to put it. By the Court. —My finger was on the trigger in the struggle with my hand upon his. My impression is he wanted to hide it. The hammer was down on an empty chamber. The next cocking would bring it down on a loaded chamber.

James Davis, a miner, living at the Boatman's Arms, who was the other man sitting in the bar at the time, gave comfirmatory evidence. He said he saw the bullets in two of the chambers of the revolver. He was closely cross-questioned by the prisoner with a view to show that the witness could not, from his position, have seen the pistol in his hand, but did not succeed in shaking the previous evidence. Constable Pringle and Sergeant "Williams gave evidence of the arrest. The latter said that to the best of his belief the next chamber of the pistol, which was capped, was to the left of the hammer, so that when cocked again the : hammer would fall on a loaded chamber, This being the whole of the'evidence for the prosecution, the prisoner was remanded till this day. civil causes, the disputed regatta prizes. In the adjourned cases of Phillips v. Heid and Sale v. Heid, the Court stated that both parties having consented to refer the matter to the arbitration of Captain Kirkpatrick, that gentleman had forwarded a letter enclosing his decision, which was to the effect that the race should be rua over again. , . A somewhat protracted argument ensued between the opposing Counsel (Messrs Pitt and Tyler) on the question of costs. It was at length arranged that judgment should be recorded for the defendant, but that he should pay the costs, with the understanding that the race should be run again. i Susan IPlmies v. Annie O'Dea — This was a claim for £ls, the price of a; house, and a week's board and lodging at, Mokihinui. Mr Tyler appeared for the plaiutifF; there was no appearance of defendant, but a was put in and admitted. Judgment was

given for the amount claimed and costs—execution to bo deferred for seven days, on account of short service of the summons. Crate v. Law/ford —The defendant in this ease did not appear, but Mr Crate, who was present, stated that ho apprehended the Court had no power to adjudicate, the claim (J£lo IGs) arising out of a partnership transaction concerning a section of freehold laud, not under the G-oldfields' Regulations. The case was adjourned till Monday, to give the COurt the opportunity of examining the affidavits in the matter. There were some four or five other cases, but none of any public interest. "WARDEN'S COUET. Chavaleij and Part;/ v. Randall and Party. —This was ;.i complaint 1 of illegally taking possession of ground belonging to plaintiffs. Mr Tyler appeared for the plaintiff's, and Mr Pitt for the defendants. The latter applied for an adjournment on the ground that his clients had not received sufficient notice of the intended hearing to enable them to bring an important witnoss down fromCaledo* nian Lead. The Warden assented, and it was accordingly adjourned till next Tuesday.