LEGAL AMENITIES.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 2008, 12 October 1869, Page 3

LEGAL AMENITIES.

The proceedings in the Hokitika police court on the 4th instant were somewhat enlivened by an altercation between Counsol and one of the presiding Magistrates, During the argument for n rehearing in the case of Proctor v. Pees, Mr Rees, the barrister, who •was defendant in the case, applied for a rehearing, when the following took place : Mr Rees again asserted that it was so. He did not want a favor but justice. He hai a legal right to assert the claim. Mr Fitzgerald : And 1 have a legal right to refuse a re-hearing. Mr Rees : But you have no moral right. Mr Fitzgerald: Pray do not talk about morality, Mr R'es, when your defence ia that of the sum is covered by a bankruptcy. Mr Rees : I will talk ns long as I please. My morality will favorably compare— But Ido not wish to lose my temper, and 1 point out to you that I did not know the case had been heard for one hour after judgment was obtained. After some argument, the Bench declined to grant the ro-hearing. Mr Rees: And you refuse the application, do you ? Mr Fitzgerald : Yes, decidedly. Mr R-es : Then I will cause a statement of the whole case to be published, and I will circulate it through every newspaper in the polopy. I will alsq send it tq the Cqlonial Bectetary. Mr Fitzgerald : You may threaten as long as you like, Mr Rees ; you have done that before, often. Mr Rees : I do not threaten ; I simply state what I Will do. [As he was sitting down, Mr Rees remarked that his morality would compare favorably with that of the Bench.] T}ic next case was being called on, and during it the Bench requested the constable uotto°allow Mr Rees to leave the Court. Mr Rees ; Oh, I’m not going. I’m not afraid. When the case was concluded Mr Fitzgerald said : Now, Mr Rees, stand up. Mr Rees : I will not stand up. Mr Fitzgerald : I ask you to stand up, Mr Rees. You arc now in the position of a defendant. Mr Rees : Oh well, if I am a defendant, 1 will stand up. Mr Fitzgerald : Upon my hearing what you said, and Mr Aylmer’s hearing, the B:nch convict you of contempt of Court, and you are fined LlO. Mr Rees : Of course, you will not hear what I have to say in defence? Mr Fitzgerald ; Yes wc will. Mr Rees: I have not been guilty of centempt. Mr Fitzgerald: We are judges of that. You have wantonly insulted me in this Co rt several times, and I have not noticed it. I aha’l bear with it no longer; and you arc fined LlO. Mr Rees : I will not pay it. I mean that I will legally resist it. I refuse to pay the fine.