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Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 95, 29 April 1870, Page 2

The Hoyal Alfred will leave for the Thames to-morrow morning at 10 o'clock, instead of half-past 10 as previously announced. The case of Morrin and Jones v. ?'ourley, set down for hearing at the liesident Magistrate's Court this morning was not tried, the parties having come to a settlement. A.FTEE a protracted otitim cum diqnitate our old friend Mr. Gourlay has resolved to favour the Bay of Islands with his inimitable entertainment, and from the cordial reception he has hitherto met with, and the -amusing nature of the show, we augur for him a successful trip. A peculiaely handsome walking-stick is to be seen at Mr. P. If, Lewisson's, Queen-street, 'i lie wood is of mottled kauri, the knob being one square of greenstoned, edged with silver. There are four square greenstones round the side of the knob, each edged with silver. The price of the stick is £7, and we would recommend any fortunate speculator who uses such an aid to progression, to step into Mr. Lewisson's and invest. The article is really unique. The p.s. Duke of Edinbui'gh will leave for the Thames at 11 o'clock to-night,: and the Enterprise at 9 p.m. The Williams and Royal Alfred both leave to-morrow morning, the former at 11 a.m., and the latter at 10 a.m. In the Police Court to-day, during the hearing of the charge of wife desertion brought against Mr. C. Sanderson, a debate arose between the learned counsel involving points of law as to evidence of marriage, and it was clear to any spectator how much the Bench would have been bene'fitted during the debate by having time to take dispassionate legal opinion. And we think that magistrates who devote stieh a portion of their .time and services to the public, and who are not expected to have a professional acquaintance with the intricacies of the law, should have no hesitancy in I taking time for this purpose. And. especially now, when the JKota of the Police Court has been fixed ; and Mr. Beckham will be more frequently absent from the Bench, and Magistrates with less experience of legal questions than the Justices who usually sit, will have from time to time to decide I on legal questions. Any such hesitancy i should be'Danishedfrom the mind. From ; i the amalgamation of the professions, the highest and (lie lowest legal talent, and

questions involved in the-juicesii^gal intricacies, or in worthless quibblmg, *nay appear at any moment in the arena of the Police Court; and: it may be before the most inexperienced of those .holding-her Majesty's commission. The Magistrate s should kuow that there is no discredit attaching to an adjournment expressly for taking legal opinion; and,that the public, whb benefit by their services, do not expect from them anything more than the usual intelligent and legal knowledge of gentlemen. - An amusing dispute took place to-day iD the Police-court in the case of Sanderson v.\Saiaderson. The counsel for the plaintiff called Mr. Cunningham, Clerk of the Court, who, being sworn, proceeded to give evidence from his desk, taking notes at the same time. This was objected to by counsel for the defence, who cited the case of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, Sir George Grey, and many others of the great ones of the earth who had appeared in -the witness-box; but maugre tlie Prince of Wales and all the rest of them Mr. Cunningham kept his place, and quietly proceeded, in which he was protected by the Bench, for the simple reason that his absence from his deposition-book would oblige the Court " to report progress, and ask leave to sit again." At length the Court adjourned, that Mr. Lodge might take Mr. Cunningham's place, and so enable him to follow tho example of the Prince of Wales, and all the others cited iv illustration by the learned counsel, Mr. Brookfield. We would call the attention of our readers to the entertainment which will take place this eveninj* at St. Matthew's Schoolroom, in aid of the funds of the Sunday-school. The entertainment will commence at half-past seven o'clock, and as a very excellent programme has been arranged, we have no doubt there will be a very largo attendance. A meeting of the members of the Auckland Medical Society will be held; at the residence of Dr. JLenderdine, at 7 o'clock on this evening. A special meeting of the members of the Auckland Rowing Club will bs held at the Hoyal Hotel at seven o'clock on Monday evening next, when every member is requested to be present, as the business to be transacted is of importance. A deputation consisting of several of the settlers of tho Mount Albert Highway District, waited upon his Honor yesterday morning, in reference to the condition of one of the small roads in their district. His Honor gave them a satisfactory reply to their application, but the proceedings were devoid of all public interest. A labgkly-attended meeting of the A.X.V. took place last evening, at the Drill-shed, for the purpose of considering the present unsatisfactory condition of the force. About eighty members were present, and the chair was occupied by Mnjor Tisdall. The meeting lasted for nearly three hours, and a number of resolutions were passed. As may be imagined, there was a very great deal of talk, but the net result, so far as the resolutions are concerned, do not, we think, amount to much. The various discussions which took place, however, gave opportunely for certain explanations tending to restore. a good feeling among the officers and men, and if this object alone has been attained the meeting will not have been in vain.