A HARD CASE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1855, 31 May 1888, Page 4

A HARD CASE.

There are few connected with the Courts, the Press, tbe police and prison authorities m New Zealand but what have at one time or another cam.3 In oontact with a little dirty looking Bpeoimen of humanity who travels the country under the name of the Hon John Burke O'Brien. Hia vagariea when , before the Benoh for I drunkenne.B are always more or less amu-lng, and he rejoices In the fact that he has been inside every gaol m the colony. Recently he turned up at Dunedin and hia latest moves there have been taken note of, by the Police Court journallata. A paragraph from a Dunedin paper asya : — The Hon John Burke made bia bow at tbe Police Court thia morning having been overcome m consequence of hia patriotic determination to -drink the Queen's health. He promptly addressed the Bench In hia uaual Btyie— " With all due reaped to your Worships, T a,ubmit that you ahould exercise the prerogative of Our Gracious Majeßty Queen Viotorla aud incline to mercy. Mercy la a beautiful thing, your Worßhlpa I Ie waa im possible for me to allow our blessed Qaeen's Birthduy to pass without drinking her health. I fully Intend leaving by j steamer to-morrow m pursuit of liberty. I will give a temperance lecture m every town I go to." Mr Bark here left tbe duller walks of prose and budded out Into poetry. He gave three atanzia of an ode to Liberty, whether original or not we were unable to ascertain. The first Hue went "O, Liberty I Liberty t [ever beauteous Liberty I" bat our reporter wsb unable to follow him any further owing to oircumßtancea over whioh he had no control. The Bauoh out short the Hon. John's effusions by giving him one month, whereupon he left the dook smiting hia forehead and ahouting "God save Ireland " m a moat theatrical manner.