Shipping Intelligence.

ARRIVED,

July 22—The brig Giraffe, Captain Wright, from Sydney in 10 days. Passengers, Mrs. Wright, Mr. Weston, Mr. Hobson, Mr. and Mrs. Poncett, Mr. La-Captain Anwyl, and three in the steerage.

July 22—The schooner belonging to Captain Clayton, from a coasting expedition southward.

SAILED,

July 20—The brig Transfer, for Sydney.

July 22—The brig Bee, for Sydney.

DEPARTURES IMMEDIATELY EXPECTED

The ship Diana, for the Thames with passengers.

H. M. brig Britomart for Port Nicholson this day.

The ship Cheldra for Sydney.

To the Editor of "The New Zealand Advertiser & Bay of Islands Gazette."

SIR,—Will you permit me a line or two in your columns to express my wishes on a subject which appeals to me to be of considerable consequence to the People of the Bay of Islands generally? You called attention two or three weeks ago to the subject of the Post-office, and I, with many others, was glad to see that your remarks produced the desired effect. There are still more considerations, however, on that matter, which deserve to be submitted to notice. It is exceedingly obliging of Messrs. Clayton and Co. to allow the letters and papers to be left at, and to be sent from their store, and, in some measure, to undertake the sorting of them, without charge. I do not see that Mr. Hayes is to blame in any oversight that may occur, as he cannot be here and there and everywhere. But this does not alter the necessity there is for the public convenience to be consulted. The paid and sworn Postmaster being absent, no one else can legally undertake his business, or can feel inclined to bear its responsibility. When mails arrive there is sometimes no authorised person to receive them, and when they are received, there is no one who shall safely open them. The Postmaster ought to be where the post-office is, and nowhere else.

There is another point of consequence to which I claim to advert. We may send letters by ordinary boatmen to Russell, or elsewhere. But who is to secure the certain and safe delivery of those letters? Again, at certain important directions there is no regular communication at all. Now, every person entitled to convey or to receive letters should be under the surveillance of the Government, in order that there may be due security for their safe delivery. Some system for this end ought to be immediately adopted. I am, Sir, yours, &c.

X. Y. Z.

July 20, 1840.

POLICE REPORT.

SATURDAY, JULY 16.

Before C. B. Robinson, M. Murphy, and John Johnson, Esqrs.

Captain Bland, of the Narwhal whaler, was charged by Mr. Jelly, Surgeon of the same vessel, with various violent treatment on the 9th April, and subsequently, so as to put him in bodily fear. Mr. C. B. Brewer was engaged for the prosecution, and Mr. Whitaker for the defence. The evidence produced was by agreement on the part of the Counsel chiefly confined to the transactions of the 9th April.

Mr. Jelly's statement was, that without any just cause, Captain B. on that day used personal violence towards him, and ordered his officers to do the same, in attempting to force him to leave his cabin, the object being on the part of the Captain to secure possession of the Surgeon’s chest, and to break it open. It was also stated that the Steward prevented the Captain from dragging Jelly out. Various threats were made use of to induce the Surgeon to quit his berth. Subsequently he was induced by the officers to go on deck, and was never afterwards permitted to return to his berth or to take his meals at the cabin table, but was forced to live among the sailors, and to eat on deck such food as he could get.

In answer to some questions by Mr. Murphy, he said he signed Articles in London as Surgeon, and being considered as an officer of the ship, he was entitled to a share of the produce of the voyage, which, of course, he would forfeit, if he left the ship without permission. He knew nothing of the duties of a seaman. The Articles did not require him to go to the mast head, and he never understood it to be his duty. He did it, however, before the quarrel, but refused to do it then, though ordered so to do. He had not been within the reach of Magistrates since the affair, till now.

William Smart, Steward, could not swear to duties. He said he had heard the Captain threaten to turn Jelly out, who declared he would not go unless carried; he also said that he was ordered to break Jelly’s chest open; the Captain might have been somewhat overheated at the time; as he kept no journal he could not recollect much of what took place; he was ordered to fetch pistols, but there was no danger of mischief from them as there were no balls fit for them; he did not fetch them; he never heard the Captain threaten personal violence, and never saw any used, but the officers were ordered to get Jelly out of the berth; the officers who were present persuaded the Captain to return to the after cabin; he thought Jelly slept in his own cabin that night, and that he saw him leave it in the morning; the cause of the Captain's dislike to Jelly was that he detected him writing in his private log book, eating his (the Captain's) affairs. Again being closely questioned, witness said he would swear positively that the Captain did not attempt to take Jelly by the throat; he came today to give evidence, because the Captain offered it, although he was not summoned, but he had no conversation with the Captain on the affair; he did not feel partial to either side. Being cross-examined he again said, that the quarrel was attributable to the affair of the log-book; previously the Captain had made Jelly his companion; he never considered Jelly’s life in danger; he did not think that Jelly’s conduct towards the Captain had been so respectful as that of the other officers had been.

The next witness called was Edward Baker, chief officer, who stated, that he was at supper at the cabin when the Captain gently pushed Jelly’s elbow off the table; Jelly was ordered out of the cabin; no violence was used; the steward was in the pantry; the door was ordered to be broken; he did not think the Captain's order was justifiable; he himself used persuasion; he did not hear any order for pistols; the Captain was not very violent; witness persuaded Mr. Jelly to go up stairs, and also persuaded the Captain to go; he declared he would not; he heard nothing of pistols; witness did not give the order to the cabin boy, nor did he go into the after cabin; he did not do so with the Captain and stayed the whole time; he was quite positive as to this fact; if he went at all it was on deck, but he had no recollection of it; he did not touch pistols; witness had conversation some time after with Jelly, but recollected nothing but advising peace and quietness; could not call to mind that he said the Captain threatened Jelly with violence; he said he thought he might break open the door; he thought Jelly slept in the sail cabin; the fourth mate slept with him; he never heard anything disrespectful to the Captain, said by Jelly; he did not see the steward prevent the Captain from doing violence; could not answer whether he would or would not have done violence; recollects no bad language on the part of Jelly in the presence of Mrs. B.; the steward was shipped in London; witness had never been asked a question.

Cross-examined—saw no violence, assault, or pistol on the occasion; never considered the Surgeon’s life in danger; part of the time he was in bed; in our ships it is customary to order officers out of the cabins when they displease; witness never sailed but with Captain B.; did not recollect desiring the Captain not to send Jelly out of the cabin; the Captain and Jelly had a quarrel in this Port; Mr. J. did not go to the mast head after this affair, but he did before; the boy was ordered to fetch the carpenter and tell him to bring a lantern.

Mr. C. Brewer said he would call no further witnesses, as it must be evident that they did not give their testimony willingly.

For the defence Mr. Whitaker contended, that the evidence went fully to shew, that Jelly's life was never in danger from violence on the part of the Captain, and that on all other points the evidence was irrelevant. He left the matter now to the decision of the Court. The case was afterwards deferred till Saturday, when it was compromised by the consent of the Magistrates.

SATURDAY, JULY 18.

There being no quorum, the principal business of the day was deferred till Monday. Captain Beckham being present, Dr. Ford appeared in consequence of a summons by a man named M’Neil, who charged him with a breach of agreement respecting wages and employment. Dr. Ford had one witness who swore, that M’Neil had admitted that Dr. Ford had made no agreement with him. Witness did not know whether any agreement had been made with Mr. Ford. M’Neil said he believed Dr. Ford would have fulfilled his contract if he had made one.—The case was dismissed.

MONDAY, JULY 20.

Before Captain Beckham. The chief constable, Mr. Woods, charged John Benson and David Gilward with riotous conduct on their apprehension. They were drunk, stripped and violent, and struck several blows at him. Owing to some difficulty in treating the case, the men were merely fined 6s. each for drunkenness, and dismissed. The Magistrate put a question to Mr. Woods respecting the discharge of a prisoner without Magistrate's order. It was admitted that it had been done, and a general direction from Mr. Shortland was alleged as the authority. Captain Beckham, now, however, gave express orders to the contrary.

(To be Continued)

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