DUNEDIN NOTES.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 238, 2 June 1874, Page 5

DUNEDIN NOTES.

By 0. P. Q. There seems every probability that ere another couple of days have elapsed, the unfortunate man Stead, whose case has excited such universal sympathy in Dunedin, will be released from the imprisonment which has been his lot for the past thirteen months. A largely attended public meeting was held in the Athencenm Hall las! night, and a committee appointed to raise funds for the purpose of procuring his release. A considerable amount was subscribed by those present, and subscriptions have also flowed in freely to the office of the Guardian, that journal having been the means of bringing to the light of day the diabolical circumstances connected with the unfortunate man's incarceration. Public feeling runs very high on the subject in Dunedin, and whether Stead is the injured man he is represented to be or not, no one can excuse the vindictive spirit which has characterised the proceedings of the person who has caused his detention in gaol. As the case of Stead v. Watt never in reality came to a trial, it cannot be said positively by either side who is in the right and who is in the wrong ; but it does seem a grievous

wrong that, owing tu an omission in the pleadings when the demurrer was before the judge, the real trial of the action on its merits should have been shelved, and Stead cast in all the costs. Had the case come to a legitimate trial and gone against the plaintiff, it would have presented a different aspect, and there would doubtless have been some show of reason in Mr Watt's observations to the effect that he is perfectly justified in keeping Stead a prisoner in self-defence ; but as it is, the case cries loudly for investigation, and investigation it will now most assuredly get. The judges, magistrates, and lawyers are getting into hot water in all quarters. It is now quite an every day occurrence to read of misdeeds, animosities, or quarrellings among one class or another of the legal fraternity. The Guardian is quoted in everybody's mouth in consequence of the exposure of abuses in connection with our Courts which have latterly appeared in its columns, while the Daily Times some two or three days back published some startling telegrams purporting to be copies of very dictatorial messages sent by Judge Ward to the Premier in which he urged the suspension of Mr Justice Chapman, and which created considerable talk in town. These telegrams in the Daily Times, however, have since been characterised as grossly erroneous. Who is right and who is wrong remains to be seen. For my own part, I feel much inclined to pin my faith to the correctness of the telegrams, being aware of the general estimation in which the original sender is held. If they are correct they are samples of the supremest audacity ; for the bare idea of Judge Ward presuming to become an advocate for maintaining the purity of the woolsack is too much for anything. The latest legal squabble took place to-day in the Resident Magistrate's Court between the R. M. and Mr Haggitt, who appeared as counsel for the defendant in a case in which £IOO were claimed foxdamages done to merchandise shipped in the Dallam Tower. Mr Haggitt, in opening the defence, used the words, "speaking to the first point, my client might have preferred going into Melbourne instead of to the bottom, thus choosing very improperly, and for which I have no doubt this Court will decide against him in consequence, but still ." Upon which His Worship fired up, and accused Mr Haggitt of using words reflecting on the administration of justice in that Court. Whereupon Mr Haggitt remarked that he had practised in the Court for 12 years, long before His Worship had, and knew how to conduct a case, whatever Mr Bathgate might think to the contrary, said he would not allow the Magistrate to browbeat him, and left it for him to take what action he (Mr Bathgate) thought proper in the matter. The row was finally settled by Mr Haggitt getting His Worship, to understand that he (the latter) had misconstrued the words used, and the affair was finally settled by Mr Bathgate saying that if he had put any erroneous construction on them, he was sorry for it. Although continuous and unremitting exertions have been made for the recovery of the bodies of the unfortunate men who were drowned on Monday last, none of them have yet been found.