LOCAL INTELLIGENCE

Wellington Independent, Volume I, Issue 11, 7 May 1845, Page 1

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE

Weights and Measures.—Complaints have reached us of weights in this Town being very unjust. One and a half pound of bread has been sold as a two pound loaf. If any law of inspection exists applicable to New Zealand, it ought to be put in forre in justice to the fair trader and to the public.

Memorandum.—The weekly inspection of the Volunteers by the Commandant will be discontinued until further notice, as they will be every Wednesday with the regular troops by Captain Russell, alternately on Thorridon and Te Aro Flats. On Wednesday, the 7th instant, they will assemble on their private parades in time to be at Te Aro by a quarter before 5 o'clock. M. Richmond. Commandant.

_ Last week, the detachment of the 58th stationed at Kai Warra, were practised with ball cartridge. We are informed that some of the officers and men are capital shots. We are glad to hear it, for if ever we are compelled to attack the natives in the bush, military evolutions will be of little avail, compared to a steady hand, quick sight, and a good shot. On Saturday, the detachment of the 58th regiment, were turned out in heavy marching order, by Capt. Russell, who took them as far as the Chapel, on the Earori Road. We admire the system of drilling the military in the bush, and making them acquainted with a few of the difficulties, since if hostilities do commence in this district, bush fighting will be one of the principal features, for natives will not risk themselves often, on open ground. Karori.—Capt. Russell of the 58th regiment, has quartered one of his corporals, at the residence of Mr. Justice Chapman, for the purpose of drilling and training the settlers in the Karori District, to the use of arms. This is as it ought to be, for every man in the settlement should be prepared for the worst. We again ask-are the authorities determined to neglect the important district of the Porirua ? It must be remembered that the whole Porirua district, from its easiness of approach, is open to native attacks, and we do think that some efforts should be made to defend this locality. As the settlers are numerous, they should be drilled and trained to the use of arms, and they would then form a formidable body,

The detachment of the 96th were turned out on Saturday, and drilled most effectively by Capt. Eyton. The men went through their erolutions with quickness and regularity, and we have never seen a body of men perform their exercise better. Capt. Eytou seems to be highly esteemed by the men under his command, a sure sign that he is a good officer. During the time the soldiers were employed digging the trenches, and erecting the fortifications round the barracks and other buildings, &c, Capt. Eyton worked with his soldiers, and was as busy as any of them. Capt. Eyton has been stationed now about two years in Wellington, during which time he has gained the good will of the inhabitants generally.

POLICE COURT.

Tuesday, May I, 1845. William Pike was summoned on the complaint of Duncan Frazer, of Kai Warra Warra, before Henry St. Hill, Esq., Police Magistrate, for illegally retailing half a pint of brandy, on Tuesday, the 22nd ultimo. It appeared, by the statement of the complainant, that he went to Pike's house, in company with John Pimble, on the evening of the 22nd.—That he was quite sober, and that though Pimble had been drunk he was not intoxicated, but knew what he was about.—That Pimble called for two glasses of brandy, which were served, and that Pirable handed a shilling to Pike's wife, which he had borrowed from complainant, for payment, and received four pence back in change. On crossexamination, however, Frazer admitted that, when Pimble asked what was to be paid, Pike said—"we don't sell brandy, but lam happy to give it to you."

On the part of the complainant Pimble who stated that he was at Pike's with Frazer on the evening of Monday the 21st, and not on the 22nd.,—and that he had recollected the day well, as the Jolly God had made him so jolly on ihe Monday, that he was obliged to stop at home all Tuesday, from indisposition. There was abundance of other evidence ready to contradict Frazer on other points, but Mr. St. Hill stopped the case, and very properly dismissed it.

We may here remark that, during the enquiry, it appeared that Burgess Sayer had seized in Pike's house, under orders from the Police Magistrate, about fourteen gallons of brandy. After the case was dismissed, application wa3 made to restore it.—The Police Magistrate refused—alleging that he had seized it under the 30th clause of the Licensing Ordinance and that as there was proof before him that Pike had exposed spirits for sale, he should detain it till Friday, morning at least. The Police Magistrate was reminded that he had dismissed the case, and he had admitted that there waa no other charge against Pike, -and though convinced as to the illegality of his proceedings, he only answered that he was ready to take the responsibility upon himself. The clause of the Ordinance is perfectly clear on the point, and no spirits can legally be deemed forfeited by the Police Magistrate, or any one else unless they have been hawked about or exposed for sale, and of this we are of opinion there should be the strongest evidence before the sanctity of a dwelling is infringed, and property unlawfully seized, removed and detained. A complaint of a similar nature was preferred by Duncan Frazer against Anne Hurley, but owing to Frazer having stated that in this case the offence was committed on the 23rd ultimo., when in fact it occurred on the 22nd, the trate dismissed this case also.

May 3, 1845. Timothy O'Meara was brought before Henry St. Hill, Esq., Police Magistrate, on a charge of having forged and uttered a debenture purporting to be of the value of £1. It appeared that the prisoner went into the shop of Mr, Rowlands, on Lambton Quay, and purchased a pair of spectacles, in payment for which he tendered a debenture, which Mr. Rowland changed; but later in the day, having occasion for some silver, Mr. Rowland sent the same debenture to Mr. Rhodes' store to be changed, when the forgery was discovered, On seaching the house where the prisoner resided, two other forged debentures were found, one of which, from its number, Mr. Bell of the Thistle Inn identified as one which the prisoner had tendered in payment for a glass of ale a few days before. The forgery was executed in a very clumsy manner, and we can hardly suppose any person could have taken one pf these debentures without at once discovering that it was npt genuine. Whether the prisoner uttered these debentures with a felonious intent or not, we will not pretend to say; but we may mention, that ten or twelve pounds in notes, gold, and silver, &c. Mfere found on his premises together with two counterfeit debentures. After hearing the evidence, the prisoner, was fully committed for trial at the next criminal sittings of the Supreme Court,