The Grand Jury ignored the bill against the youths charged with indecent assault, Wm, Morrison, for housebreaking, got three years. Win. Carey pleaded “ Guilty " to a charge of damaging property and was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment. John Matheton, for assaulting and robbing a Chinaman, was released on probation for twelvemonths and orcleerdto contribute in weekly instalments towards the cost of the prosecution. Annie Currie was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment. CHRISTCHURCH. Ocr. 3, The criminal sittings of the Supreme Court opened to-day before Chief Justice Prender gast, who in his charge said, "I find there are twenty-one persons against whom there are twenty-seven charges. The number I believe is rather greater than at the usual criminal

sittings here I regret to find that amongst! them are several youths, la.’s of 16,17 18, or , 19 years of age, and that more than one of these appear to be returned as N.Z. born. These are features which are not by any means • satisfactory. I regret also to state that there is no adequate means of dral'ng with prisoners of this age, should they be >- evicted. They are too old to be sent to retu. .natories and it is not desirable that they should be sent to gaol, where there is no provision for their classification. The Probationary System again will not apply to these persons, because they require to be under the control of some strict, but well-qualified master. There is no pro vision under which this can bo done in Now Zealand.” Charles Bilson pleaded guilty to the larceny of a bicycle and James Stevenson to horse steal- , ing. John Fisher was found guilty of breaking . into and stealing. Sentence in these cases was deferred.
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