NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2147, 13 May 1914, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

JURY SYSTEM AN EXTREMELY RARE POSITION. !13y T«lear»n3i.—Pfcesa Ass'oclattett.l dhrlstehurch, May 12. A. curious and Move! legal position arose at the current criminal sessions. The jury empanelled Ao try one case had retired and a second c-aso was sailed. When tho jury was bting empanelled for this, Mr. Mflcnssey, Crown Prosecutor, ordered three jurors to sto.nd aside, and tho accused' challenged six. Eleven jurors had by this time been empanelled, when it was discovered that tho jury panel was exhausted owing to '•' an ■ insufficient. :n : umber of jurors • having been summoned for tiro sessions, i In reply to a question frotti Mf. 'Ju-'s- , tieo Deiiivistan as to what \vas proposed i to be-do-no, Mr. Maeassey replied: "I • shall pray a tales, -four Honour." : His Honour tlte'u directed tho dooro i of tho Court to be locked for the _ purpose of selecting -Uie required juror from tlio audience. This is a most rare course to bo pursued, and was avoided! ia this instance by ; tlus jury in the first oa-so returning at that instant. The requisite juror was then empanelled, and tho case- proceeded. DWRISTGHURCH SESSIONS. Ghristchurch, May 12, In tho Supremo Court to-day Robert H. Bentley was couriered of comttion assault under provocation, and iVas fined £1.0. Anthony Dean, who was. found guilty of the theft of £18, was admitted to probation for twelve ftioiitliis on condition that ha repaid the money, Albert Gordon Smith ' admitted two charges of breaking and ontering a.ud theft. Sentence was clef erred. 'Charles W. Adam was .convicted of common assault and fiaeil £20. Arthur King was sentenced to five years* imprisonment for theft from the pej'son. DUNEfItN, SESSIONS, purMdin, May 12, At the Supreme Court criminal sittings to-day William James Conn was found guilty of tiwft and common assault awl i not guilty of robbery with vieleticc. Tlioii»s Frederick Si-ifcor was charged with obtaining goods by false pretences awl without having o-UJ* i.u-tcirt-ion of paying for tlrein. Tbo case for tho Crown was just completed wiiep tlio Court rose. Aroused intiuiatcd Ids intention to call evidence. THRESHING WILL WORK. Ghristchurcru May 12. Tho awfl-rd in the- tjiroshiiig mill dispute ii-i Canterbury pr-ovWfts that- iso work shall ha by njooMii-giit or artificial light, except .in case of emergency, wliwi ono hour is to bo allowed. Tho iiiimmiim wage is fixed at Is. 3d. per hour; piecework, 1.45. a thousand bushels of wheat, 125.. oats; basmeu, Is. a. tisowsaiid buslicis iu addition-