THE DISTURBANCE AT THE THEATRE.

Evening Star, Issue 3546, 4 July 1874, Page 2

THE DISTURBANCE AT THE THEATRE.

To the Editor. Sir,—Year correspondent “Theatre-goer" has appparently never beard of the wellknown legal maxims Specialia generalibm derogant, and Verba generalia restringunttlr ad habilitatem rei vel personam. The principle of these two maxims may be stated to be this : that general words used in conjunction with a ©rds of a particular signification are limited in their interpretation, and must be held to refer to things of the same kind as the particular wbrds which precede them. Applying this rule to the section of the Vagrant Act referred to by your correspondent, it is clear that, according to legal rules of construction, the word “place” must be a place having some affinity to a “thoroughfare or street,” which I do not see that’* theatre possesses in any respect. The sfrgie principle is involved in the 4eoL sion in Dr Carr’s case, also referred to by your correspondent, the apparently sweepmg general words used in the Licensed I heatrcs Ordinance being restricted in their operation by the long list of particular words preceding, and there can be no doubt bat that the magistrate was correct in law in deciding that the words of the Ordinance did not include a lecture. T presume your correspondent would hold that the soirees of the various religious bodies come within the Act, and ought to pay the license, as admission is gained by payment of money or tickets. I confess I do not see why Dr Carr was advised to pay a tax which he certainly was not bound to do.—l am, &0., ~ .. T . „ Ejosdkm Generis, Dunedin, July 4.