The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-01-10 00:00:00

POLICE COURT.-YESTERDAY.

STEALING 17E031 A SlllP.—Michael Hernighan was
charged with stealing two pistols and a tape-line from the
cabin of the ship Eblana, now in the docks, on Saturday
last. The prisoner, who was known to have no business
on board the Eblana, was seen to be leaving her deck, his
breast being more bulky than natural. An officer fol-
lowed him, which the prisoner observing, suddenly threw
something from him, which he took from his breast,
into the river. He then ran off', and being pursued, took
a pistol from his breast, which he also threw away,
evidently intending it to go into the water. It was
picked up, and the prisoner was taken into custody. The
tape-line was found on him, and it and the pistol were
both identified as property belonging to the ship. The
prisoner, who made no defence, was committed for trial.
HOUSEBREAKING IN EVERTON.—ThOMRS Donelly, a
boy, and John Phillips, a young man, were brought up on
remand from last Monday, on a charge of having, on
Saturday, the 31st ult., broken into the house of George
Forster, residing in a court leading off from Back Salis-
bury-street, Everton, and having stolen the sum of 4s. 10d.
Phillips was now, in addition to the former accusation,
charged with having, some time in July last, broken into
the house of Mr. Evans, in Prince Albert-street, Everton,
and stolen several articles. From the evidence, it
appeared that on the evening of Saturday, the 31st ult.,
Mrs. Forster and her husband went out, leaving their
house locked up. The two prisoners were observed coming
over a back wall adjoining to Forster's house, when they
endeavoured to run away. A police-constable, who saw
them, succeeded in seizing Donelly, who threw from him
something, which, on being picked up, turned out
to be a pick-lock ; he had also two skeleton keys
in his possession. Phillips was likewise pursued
and taken into custody. On his person was found a
a purse cotaining 6s. His lodgings, in Sawney Pope-
street, being searched, a variety of articles was found,
among other things a Daguereotype portrait. A boy
named William Redfern proved, distinctly, that he saw
both the prisoners in Forster's house while Mr. and Mrs.
Forster were absent, and that they ran away on hearing
some one approach. Mr. Evans identified the portrait
found in Phillips' lodgings as one which had been stolen
from his house in July last, when it had been entered,
during the night, and several articles stolen, amongst
other things the waistcoat which Phillips now wore. In
defence, Phillips said he got the portrait alluded to as a
present from a friend a considerable time ago. The friend,
like other treacherous friends, had since gone abroad, and
prisoner knew not where. Both prisoners were committed
for trial.

ALLEGED ASSAULT OE THE POLICE.—James Parry, a
youth about 18, was charged by Police-constable 421 with
creating a disturbance in Cooper-street, about two o'clock

on Sunday morning, and alsowithassaultinghim (thepolice-
man). It appeared the youth was going along the street
singing, and was challenged by the policeman withmaking
such a noise. On being called in question, he was said
to be very insolent, and also to have struck the policeman.
Mrs. Hince, wife of a respectable shopkeeper, gave another
version of the story, in so far as she proved distinctly that
the policeman struck the youth on the forehead with great
violence with his staff, cutting him deeply, although the
provocation was comparatively slight. The charge against
Parry was dismissed ; and the police-consta' le was cau-
tioned by the magistrate as to the danger and impropriety
of usinc, his staff, especially against a slender and not very
powerful youth.
ASSAULT ON THE POLICE IN A LODGING-HOUSE.—
James M`Loughlin was charged by Alcock, an officer of
police, with having committed an aggravated assault on
him, under the following circumstances. Alcock, in the
discharge of his duty, went this morning, about half-past
one o'clock, to inspect a lodging-house in Leicester-street.
In doing so he was assaulted and kicked by the prisoner
and others. The case was clearly proved. Inspector
Ride reminded the magistrates that the regulations in
reference to the inspection of lodging-houses was now so
stringent as to Lay the officers open to much in the
exercise of their duty ; and he hoped that in the present
case an exemplary punishment would be awarded. Sen-
tenced to pay a fine of 40s. and costs, or to suffer one
month's imprisonment.

THE AIfENDED SANITARY BILL.

MEETING OF HOUSEONVNERS LAST NIGHT.

LAST NIGHT, a meeting of the houseowners of the town was
held at the Clarendon Rooms, for the purpose of considering
how their interests might be effected by the new sanitary
bill. Mr. Jones, of the firm of Messrs. Williams and Jones,
house agents, was called to the chair, and amongst the gen-
tlemen present we observed Councillors Moss, Thomson,
Bradley. and Fleming ; Vestrymen Savage, Gardner, Kitchen,
and William Jones; Mr. Heyes, Mr. Roxburgh, and a num-
ber of other gentlemen. From the lateness of the hour we
can give but a brief abstract of the proeeedings.
The CHAIRMAN said. on reading in the local papers lately
the proceedings in Council, respecting the Amended Sanitary
Bill, he and another had called upon a gentleman who was
more largely interested in house property than any other, to
ask him his opinion on the clauses of the bill, and concerning
leis intentions. He was the owner of 300 houses, all clear,
and he had promised in opposition his influence and assist-
ance, personal and pecuniary. (Applause.) That was Mr.
Joseph Brooks Yates. Then, on Saturday last, a few of the
householders met at the Brunswick hotel, and after long deli-
beration they had resolved on calling, that meeting, The
object of the meeting was to ascertain the opinion, as far as it
was possible, that evening of the houseowners of Liverpool on
the Amended Sanitary Bill. As usual, it contained extraor-
dinary clauses, aiming at illimitable powers,—such powers
as he thought could not be enforced in a court of law
or equity, even if the bill were passed into an act. He quoted
one clause which he said no judge would put such a construc-
tion upon, as every plain man of business must put upon it,
and such a construction as even the Town-clerk had admitted
could not but be literally put upon it ; he referred to the clause
prohibiting to be occupied as dwellings any buildings not in
conformity with the Sanitary Act of 1846. Now previous to
1846. there were 40,000 houses in Liverpool, not in conformity
with that act. The Chairman then showed that, in time
amended bill, words limiting the power of the Health Com-
mittee in the alteration of the levelling of streets were omitted
in this. There were nearly 500 streets in the Parliamentary
boundary unadopted. They had been built upon, according
to the levels given by time former out-township surveyors, but
the bill proposed to give power to the borough engineer to cut
up the surface of those streets and alter them as he thought
fit, at the expense, it should be borne in mind, of the owners
of the houses.

Mr. Moss stated to the meeting what he said they would
be glad to hear, that at a meeting of the Parliamentary sub.
committee that day, considerable modifications had been
made in the bill. He confessed, in looking over the bill, he
agreed with their Chairman that it combined so much
tyranny and arbitrary legislation, that they should be short-
sighted, and unmindful of their own interests, if they did
not oppose it. He believed that, with the exception of Mr.
Fleming and himself, the sub-committee had been
comparatively unanimous on the subject, but he thought
it arose from their comparative ignorance on the mat-
ter. (Laughter.) Amongst the modifications carried, was
that the range of the compulsory rating clause (making
house-owners pay the rates of their tenants), had been re-
duced from houses at to those of .elO and under. Then
the 15th clause, the compulsory conversion of all obnoxious
privies into water-closets, at the dictum of the medical
officer, had been abandoned altogether. (Applause.)
Mr. nest' NO said be heard Mr. Moss had tried to get the
permissive clause applied to all property, but they were told
by the Town Clerk that, for houses from and below.
it was rendered compulsory on the owner to pay the rates
by the Public Health Act of 1848.

The CHAIRMAN said that act did not apply to Liverpool.
Mr KITCHEN moved, as follows, the first resolution :

"That it is the opinion of this meeting that an interview
should be had forthwith, to-morrow, by a number of gentle-
men (to be appointed this evening), with the Tows-clerk, to
elicit from him which is the earliest opportunity, and what
are the best means, of letting the Town Council know the ob-
jections which this meeting entertains to the Amended Sani-
tary Bill."
He complained that those interested had not had a longer
time to examine and discuss the bill, and he thought it any-
thing hut just. His idea was, that if property was built sub-
ject to the regulations and under the eye of the public sur-
veyors, the public should be called upon to pay the expense
of any alteration afterwards for the benefit of the public.
Therefore lie never saw so flagrant an injustice attempted as
that in reference to altering the level of the streets. With
regard to rating, he thought that if the rates of small house
property were to be paid by the landlords, the landlords of
large property ought also to pay the rates. (Applause.)
Mr. GARDNER seconded the motion, and made some sar-
castic remarks upon the Town Council, the members of which
he thought were entirely in the leading of the public officials.
To increase salaries seemed the greatest part of their business.
(Laughter.) He commented on the hardship of making the
owners of small property responsible for the payment of the
rates of tenants from whom in so many cases they could not,
unless they had hearts of stone, even get their rent. He should
be ashamed of the Council if they passed such a bill on Wed-
nesday.
The motion was then put and carried unanimously.
Mr. W. ROXBURGH moved the next resolution, and cited
instances in which he said the borough engineer had given
levels which he had afterwards been obliged to alter at the
public expense. The resolutirpn ens t--. _

"That in the opinion of this meeting the Town Council
should be solicited to postpone the consideration in Council
of the Amended Sanitary Bill, until an opportunity shall
have been afforded to a deputation (to be appointed by this
meeting,) to state to the Health Committee or the Parliamen-
tary Sub-committee of the Health Committee, the objections
of this meeting to the

Mr. TtioNtsoN, T.C., was called upon to second the
resolution. He said he had denounced the former bill as an
Aleerine Act, but he should call this a Russian Act, as he
thought it would be only worthy of a Russian tyrant to pass
such a bill. It was well known that in many parts of Liver-
pool the owners of small house property could not get their
rents from six houses out of ten, and why, then, were they to
be made responsible for the rates? Any such stringency
would fill the Workhouse to overflowing.
Mr. NICHOLSON asked who was the father of the bill?
Mr. THOMSON did not think it had a father. (Laughter.)
Mr. NICHOLSON said he bad some suspicion that the father
of it was a public servant. (Applause.)
After a few remarks by the CHAIRMAN, in support of Mr.
Nicholson's observation, in which lie said that there was not
one of the head public officials who had not, by iiining
Building Societies, got mortgages on the small property of
the town,

Mr. HEYES, in some strong remarks, moved the third
resolution : _

" That this meeting considers that lionseowners should have
been consulted as to the provisions of the-Amended Sanitary
Bill, which so vitally affects their interests; and that if such
bill be persevered in by the Council, without giving an oppor-
tunity for hearing such objections, that every exertion should
be made in parliament to oppose the bill."
Mr. SAVAGE:, at some length, seconded the motion, whic
was also unanimously carried,--Mr. Roxburgh offering, amid
applause, to lay .45 towards the expense of a parliamentary
opposition.
The following gentlemen were then appointel the deputa-
tion, with power to act afterwards as a committee, if neces-
sary, in watching the progress of the bill :—Messrs. Gregory,
William Jones (of Fox-street), Owen Elias, Joseph Gardner,
Mr. Bremner, the Chairman, and Mr. Savage.
The Chairman expressed his surprise that the omnibus
proprietors were not up, as there was a clause that omnibuses
must only run through prescribed streets, at prescribed
hours, and in prescribed numbers.

Mr. THOMSON announced that the great landowners, who
had been the means of throwing out the bill last year, did
not now oppose. He thought they ought to apply to Lord
Derby and Mr. William Brown on the subject. and said his
lordship would surely seek the justice for them which he had
sought for himself.

At the request of Mr. SAVAGE, the clause in reference to
the payment of rates was read, and Mr. BREMNER called
attention to the provision, that if the houseowner had not
goods to distrain upon, he might be sent to gaol for three
months, and yet that was to be no liquidation of the debt.
An old gentleman sitting near to the reporters said gravely,
"They intend to bring on a civil war." (Laughter.)
Mr. BRADLEY, at this point of the proceedings, entered
the room. He said he thought the Council were determined
to carry the bill, and if carried it would depreciate the value
of property 25 per cent. He then made severe remarks upon
some of those members of the Council who were supposed to
represent the tradesmen, and asked those persons present
what else they could expect, if they elected as representatives
men who spent their time in disgraceful carousals at the
Angel Hotel ?

After some further discussion, the meeting, which had
lasted about two hours, closed, with the usual compliment to
the Chairman.

WAVERTREE BOARD OF HEALTH.

THE monthly meeting of the Wavertree Board of Health
was held last night—the Rev. W. Badnall, A.M., in the chair.
Present: Messrs. Hill, Anderton. Bo ers, Davis, Witham,
Gore, Chaffer, Rishton, and Picton.

DRAINAGE OF WAVERTREE.

The CHAlRsl;l,liiiftecom- mencement of the proceedings
requested Mr. Halhead to favour the meeting with any re-
marks he might be inclined to offer.

Mr. HALURAD explained that, in consequence of a com-
munication he had received from Mr. Rishton, he had seen
Mr. Sergeson, who, after some conversation, agreed to renew
his offer of .e4OO towards the sewerage, provided the Board
would take the sewer in a straight line through his land from
Wellington-road, and allow him to make openings into it at
such times and places as he might find convenient. He (Mr.
Halhead) had also seen Mr. Lawrence, and that gentleman
had likewise stated his willingness to renew his offer of .4'200,
provided the sewer is continued from the tank to Wellington-
road, and thence past some cottages immediately contiguous.
Mr. Halhead would himself offer £lOO on conditions similar
to those he had mentioned, but of course with modifications.
He had expectations, from what he had learned, that small
sums might be expected from other proprietors, all of which,
in round numbers, might be stated at £750, while there was a
likelihood of Mr. Lane, the agent for the Marquis of Salis-
bury, recommending a contribution also. He might be. par-
doned for stating, however, that as the value of the drainage
and its ultimate arrangements were greatly dependent on
time, the question of those offers might be much altered if
not speedily proceeded with. Indeed, so much was that the
case, that Mr. Lawrence had said, now, at his (Mr. L.'s) time
of life, he could not be always troubled with it, and unless he
got an answer in course of next March, he should cease to
think anything of it.
The CHAIRMAN, while thanking Mr. Halhead for the
trouble he had taken in this matter, and expressing the gra-
titude of the board for the communication he had favoured
them with, begged to remark, that as lands belonging to the
Marquis of Salisbury and others interposed among the
grounds alluded to by Mr. Halhead, the board could not
come to an absolute resolution on the subject, more espe-
cially as it was desirable to have the sanction of all or as
many of the proprietors as possible to any such arrangement.
In the meantime, if Mr. Halhead would take the additional
trouble of reducing his communication to writing, it would
be a useful record for the guidance of the board.
This Mr. HALL-ram) expressed his willingness to do. He
then withdrew from the meeting.

PAVING OF OLIVE-LANE.

Mr. PicroN, pursuant to a notice he had given at the last
meeting, moved that the resolution of the hoard for enforcing
the levelling, sewering, and flagging of Olive-lane, be res-
cinded. . .

Mr. RISHTON seconded the motion ; ant after a conversa-
tion, in which Messrs. Chaffer and Bowers took part, the
motion was unanimously carried.

TEMPORARY SEWER.

The CHAIRMAN read a letter from Mr. George Whitby, on
the part of Mr. Lawrence, complaining of the proposed deep-
ening of the water-course and the construction of an open
sewer, as these would prove injurious to the property
through which it passed, and desiring to be informed of the
clause in the act under which the board intended to con-
struct it. _ .

The LAW-CLERK explained that the letter had been written

under a misapprehension which had now been removed ; and
the explanation being received as satisfactory,the work would
be proceeded with.

SEWERACIE OPERATIONS.

Mr. GORE complained of the manner in which the sewerage
operations were being carried on by the contractor; and
stated that the process of blasting had been again resorted to,
to the alarm and inconvenience of many of the inhabitants.
The CHAIRMAN, in connexion with the subject, read a
letter from Mr. Brancker, as clerk to the trustees of the
Wavertree Female National School property, complaining of
injury sustained by that property in Cow-lane consequent on
the sewerage operations.
A conversation ensued, in the course of which Nit-. PICTON
suggested that intimation should be given to Mr. Blaik ley that
he must desist from blasting ; and on the recommendation
of the Chairman it was ordered that the letter ofMr.Brancker
be answered by the law clerk, intimating that any damage
done by the parties engaged in the sewerage operations should
be made good by the contractor at the conclusion of his
contract.

Mr. PICTON moved that all the acts of parliament, and
other public documents by which the transactions of the
board are in any way regulated, should 132 purchased at the
expense of, and for the use of the board.
Mr. RISHTON seconded the motion, whichwas unanimously
carried. BURYING-GROUND.

A report was read from the committee of inhabitants ap-
pointed to consider the means of obtaining burying-ground,
from which it appeared that some reason exists for believing
that ground may be obtained from Mr. A. Potter, or some
other proprietor in the neighbourhood. A meeting to con-
sider which will be held on the 30th instant.

Mr. PICTON suggested that the law clerk be instructed to
communicate with Mr. Potter, to ascertain whether he will
dispose of the ground in question, and if so, at what rate;
and also to communicate with the Marquis of Salisbury on
the same subject.—The meeting then adjourned.

LIVERPOOL COUNTY COURT.-

YESTERDAY.

(Before JOSEPH POLLOCK, Esq., Judge.)
ENSOR v. KERR.— William Ensor, the plaintiff, hrought an
action to recover £2 from James Kerr, Knotty Ash, farmer
and grazier, on the ground that defendant, having a number
of sheep in a field in August last, had not taken care to
have it sufficiently fenced to secure the sheep, and that they
strayed into the garden of the plaintiff, where they effected
damage to the amount sued for. The case was heard on the
20th of December, but his Honour took till this day to con-
sider his judgment, which at the opening of the court lie deli-
vered. He said, in this case of a house and garden at Garston,
the plaintiff brings his action to recover the amount of
damage done to his (plaintiff's) garden by certain sheen
of Zhe defendant which strayed into it from the adjoining
field, where by the license of the owner they were being
pastured. It is admitted that the sheep so strayed in conse-
quence of the insufficiency of the fence, such fence being,
however, as I find upon the evidence before me, sufficient
protection against the larger species of cattle, such as horses
and cows, which alone during the plaintiff's occupation at
least of his messuage had been ordinarily depastured in the
field in question. The question is, whether, under such cir-
cumstances, the plaintiff is entitled to recover, and 1 am of
opinion that be is so entitled. The verdict must be for the
defendant.

An application having been made to his Honour, in re-
ference to the costs, he said tie bad experienced some difficulty
as to the question of costs, hut he had ultimate!y come to the
conclusion that no costs should be given. He remarked that
the present was the third action which he had had tried before
him in reference to these same sheep. First, a dog worrying
them, had given Ilse to an action,; second, a man shooting
the dog so worrying them, had occasioned another action ;
and now this action for trespass. He did not mean, by these
observations, to reflect upon any party ; but he could not
divest himself of the opinion, that it was highly desirable to
have the nature of the fences adapted to the animals intended
to he fenced in,
CLAIM ON A SEAMAN'S NOTE.—WEST v. PRICE.—The
plaintiff in this case summoned the defendant for .e 2 10s. on
a seaman's advance note. The plaintiff stated that on pre-
senting the note at the office of Messrs. Baring Brothers, who
were the owners of the ship in which the seaman had sailed,
payment was refused on the ground that the party was
not on board. Mr. Duncan, solicitor, who appeared for the
defence, contended that the note was informal; the ship
being an American one, and the signatures not having been
witnessed in accordance with time provisions of the statute.
His Honour decided that the objection was a good one, and
directi.d a verdict for the defendant. At the close of the case,
he drew attention to the fact, that when the summons had
been served at Messrs. Baring Brothers' office, it had Leen
thrown back again into the bailiff's face. He said it seemed to
him that such conduct was more improper in a rich than a poor
person. The process of a court of justice should be treated
with respect, and gentlemen in the position of Messrs. Baring
Brothers ought to set an example. He was ready to believe,
however, that it had been dohe without the knowledge of the
parties themselves, by some person in their employ. Mr.
Duncan assured his Honour that such must have been the
fact, and the matter then dropped.

. .
FONDNESS FOR Fowts.—A servant girl, who brought a
claim against her mistress, yesterday, for non-payment of
wages, when questioned as to the cause of her dismissal.
created some amusement by saying that " a sickly hen was
found dead in her mistress's bed-room, and she had accused
her of killing it." This statement was corroborated by a
witness for the defendant, who was asked by the judge if the
old lady, who is an invalid, was very fond of fowls? "Oh,
yes, sir," she answered with great simplicity.
A THIRSTY CH IMNEY-SWEEP.—HAWKINS V. SHAW.—
Samuel Hawkins, beerseller, of Wavertree, summoned James
Shaw, chimney-sweeper, of the same place, for 41 ss. 4d., for
ale, ginger beer, and tobacco supplied. The defendant called
his wife in evidence, who said that she had paid a former debt,
and warned the plaintiff against allowing her husband credit
for drink. His Honour said he should certainly give no
encouragement to parties who let men run up such long
scores, inducing them to ruin themselves and fami-
lies. The defendant said he owed nothing like the amount,
and then pleaded poverty. In answer to this, the pers n
who appeared for the plaintiff said she had heard him boast
that he could make one pound before breakfast. He was
in the habit of bringing gentlemen's servants to treat ; they,
in their turn, finding him jobs. His Honour dared say the
money was due, for a drinking man did not know how much
money he got. At the same time, to chew no indulgence to
the plaintiff for serving him, after his wife's warning, he
should order payment at the rate of only 4s. a month. Then
(addressing the r laintiff) he said, "If you come up here
again, for another beerhouse debt, I shall order you to pay
immediately, and you will be committed to gaol."
KILLING A DONKEY: EOAN V. MAC/. RTNEY AND ELLIS.—
Dennis Egan, he plaintiff in this case, was a poor old man,
making his livelihood by means of a donkey-cart, and he
sued the defendants jointly for the value of a donkey which
had been killed, and for damage to his cart. Macartney is
the driver of a lorry, and Mr. Ellis, the other defendant, the
executor of a Mr. Fairclough, deceased, who was a cartiwner.
It appeared that on the 9th of September' the plaintiff was
going: with his donkey and cart on the street between Nelson
and Stanley Dock, for a load of butter. The lorry, in charge
of Macartney, was endeavouring to pass between him and the
parapet, the driver walking on the footpath, and not having
hold of the head of his horses, although the street was
crowded. At this moment Fairclough's cart coming in the
opposite direction, struck the wheel of the donkey cart,
wheeling it along with the animal quite round, when the
wheel of Macartney's cart passed over the foot of the poor
donkey, %A hich it cut off, smashing also the frail cart. After
a variety of evidence, in which it appeared that the donkey
had cost 255., and that he had replaced it with one costing
only 175., his Honour thought both defendants equally
to blame, and ordered them to pay 41 each, that amount
covering the costs.
DETENTION OF MONEY—RUIN V. Sm'uMs.—The plaintiff
in this case was a master stevedore, the defendant a publican
at No. 15, Cooper's-row, and the action was brought to re-
cover 45, the monies of the plaintiff, which was alleged that
the defendant improperly detained. Mr. Greatley, solicitor,
appeared for the defendant. The p'aintiff stated that he had
been in the habit of paying his men at the defendant's house
for a considerable time, and on the 10th of September he gave
the waiter six sovereigns to get him change. He brought
back only a sovereign, and told the plaintiff that Mrs. Simms
had kept the other for some debt which he owed her. He de-
nied that he owed her more than 15s. 3d. He gave both the
landlady and the waiter, Daniel Colton, into custody, but Mr.
Clough, at the central office, refused to entertain the charge.
Mr. Greatley admitted that his client had received the mo.
ney, and said that it had been detained in consequence of the
plaintiff owing 158. 2d. for drink, and 45 for cash lent. He
also pleaded that Mrs. Simms did not know but that the
money had been sent to her, through the waiter, in payment
of the debt. His Honour said there was no defence. It was
plain that the money was given simply to get change, where-
with to pay the men, who were waiting in the house at the
time, and money so tendered for a particular purpose could
not be legally detained for some other debt. He directed a
verdict for the amount claimed, but intimated that Mr.
Greatley might bring an action for the recovery of the sum
alleged to be due.
CGRIPUS CASE. BRIDGE V. LUPTON'. Mark Nelson
Bridge, a pilot residing in No. 6, Church-street. Park-road,
was the plaintiff, and the defendant, Mr. John Lupton, is a
coachbuilder in the same neighbourhood. The action was
brought to recover 165., the value of gas consumed by the
defendant. It appeared that Mr. Lupton had formerly lived
at No. 6, Church-street, Toxteth-park, and that he had let the
house to the plaintiff, but still retained in his possession a
backyard adjoining, in which his workshop was situated, and
also a shop which he had let to a joiner. Mrs. Bridge stated
that she observed the defendant had gas in the workshops up
the yard, and casually mentioning the matter to one of the
gas company's collectors, he told her that they had not his
name in their books. An examination was then made, when
it appeared that the defendant had no meter, although he had
pipes 'n the yard in connexion with the meter in the house,
so that he had for four tnonths been consuming gas at their
cost. She suspected that this was so shortly before, and, by
way of testing it, one night ordered her meter to be
turned, when she observed that the gas went out in
the yard also. On mentioning the matter to the
defendant, he said he had not intended to defraud her-of the
price of the gas, but had meant to surprise her by paying her
a large bill at Christmas. (Laughter.) The joiner who occu-
pies one of the. shops was called, and stated that lie paid the
defendant 6d. a week for the gas.—Mr. Lupton, in defence,
stated that when he took the house and premises at first, he
took time fittings, which were there already. Some time after
Mr. Bridge took the house, gas " came" to his part of the
premises,—that was on the 22d November, and he lighted one
jet from dusk to dark. There was gas also in the shop above
hint, and the joiner pad him 6d. a week ; not for the gas, but
for the use of the pipes. He had paid Mrs. Bridge after that
641. a week for some time, for the use of the gas, and thought
the arrangement was agreeable to her husband, till he had
sent him in a bill for 16s. His Honour said he ought to have
told the people instantly that he was burning their gas, and
gave a verdict for the amount claimed (165.) The defendant
asked what time he should be allowed to pay it in. His
Honour: Immediately; forthwith.

.
About 120 cases were„ disposed of in the course of the day,
and the Court rose about five o'clock.

THE RATTLE OF THE BROICERS.—A very spirited
sketch of the recent battle on the flags, with snow-balls,
has been executed by a member of the Stock Exchange.
It displays no mean talent, and will most probably be
engraved.
RAGGED SCHOOL FETE.—The boys and girls attending
the evening Ragged School, held in Cornwallis-street
church school-room, were, on Friday, entertained with an
excellent collation, provided at the expense of their teachers
and friends, consisting of roast beef, bread, tea, and bun-
loaf. Mr. Thompson, of Elliot-street, contributed to the
hilarity of the occasion by exhibing a magic lantern, and
other gentlemen addressed the assembled children.
ST. PHILIP'S CHURCH SUNDAY AND DAY ScnooLs.
—The children of these schools had their Annu 11 Tea-
party on Wednesday last. The average number of boys
and girls in daily attendance is 200; but owing to the incle-
mency of the weather and the prevalence of sickness among
them, only 150 partook of the repast. The school-rooms
were tastefully decorated with evergreens and flowers ; and
two large Christmas trees, laden with oranges and apples,
were by no means objects of small attraction to the spark-
ling eyes of the children. When ample justice had been
done to the tea and buns, &c., and the tables were removed,
Robert Berthon Preston, Esq., highly delighted not only
the children but all who were present,—among whom
were many of the parents of the scholars, as well as the
clergymen and Sunday-school teachers, and some of the
most influential members of St. Philip's congregation,—by
an exhibition of his splendid dissolving views and the
powers of the magic lantern. The loud and vociferous ap-
plause of the youngsters, bursting forth at intervals during
the exhibition, left no doubt on the minds of all present
as to the gratification it afforded them. At the conclu-
sion, three hearty cheers were given for Mr. Preston, in a
manner which could not fail to convey to that gentleman's
mind an assurance of the happiness and delight he had
occasioned the children,—more than a thousand thanks
could possibly have expressed. Not the least amusing
scene, in the evening's entertaiment, was the scramble
for the fruit off the Christmas trees. And the only
thing to be regretted was that the inclement night
prevented many of the friends and supporters of the schools
from being present to witness the joyous scene.