CATTLE- STEALING. % Alexander Rocard was brought up on an indictment charging him, on three counts, with feloniously killing and stealing a bullo'ckj the property of John Waldie, at Waikouaiti, on the 6th of June.
The prisoner pleaded Not Guilty. Mr Haggitt (Crown Prosecutor) conducted the prosecution, and Mr Denniston defended the prinoner. The facts of the case, as stated by the Crown Prosecutor, showed that the prosecutor, John Waldie, was a farmer residing iv the neigh bourhood of Half-way Bush, and fchat ke had some cattle running in the Waikouaiti district. Mr Waldie's cattla were all branded "WB." One of these beasts was missed for some time, .and its skin was subsequently sold by the pri soner to Mr Charleton, a butcher at Blueskin, to whom tho prisoner had previously offered to sell the carcass of a beast he had shot on the ranges. At the time Mr Charleton purchassd the hide of the animal a constable was in the shop in plain clothes, and he asked Mr Charle ton to keep the hide on one side until he had made inquiries respecting it. The prisoner's account of bow he became possessed of the hide

d'fi&d WiTN^gy,

Criminal Sittings

6otobib ii, ifers.ji

RAILWAY CONTRACTS. The Hon. S ir F. D. BELL gavo notice to move, when affairs were settled, for a select committee to examine into and, report, with all informa tion and details, upon all railway contracts let by the Ministry since the closo of the session of 1878.
IMPREST SUPPLY BILL,

An Imprest Bill (L 20,000) beinjr received, The Hon. Colonel WHITMORE said, as his successor was not present, he would, in the iatereats of the public Bervice, take charge of piha bill. The measure then passed all its stages. i THE POLITICAL SITUATION.
