THE CHIEF JUSTICE AND MR G. E. BARTON.

Evening Star, Issue 4252, 12 October 1876, Page 4

THE CHIEF JUSTICE AND MR G. E. BARTON.

What has led to the "contempt of Court" Sroceedings may be stated thus :—On Tuesay, the 3rd inst.,,the Chief Justice took His seat on the Bench at 10 a.m. sharp, and •verything was ready to proceed with the case of Kegina v. Te Puni, set down for .trial that morning, except Mr Barton, prisoner's counsel. His Honor waited for •i five minutes, and Mr Barton making no appearance, Mr Bell (the Crown Prosecutor) stated that he thought Mr Barton was collecting his witnesses. Nearly five minutes more elapsed before that gentleman put. in an appearance and bowed to the Judge. His Honor then said: "Mr Barton, you have kept the Court wait- i ing nearly ten minutes, without excuse." MiBarton replied : "If it please your Honor, I was here at a quarter to ten, and went out to see about some witnesses." His Honor : "'* You were not here at the opening of the Court." Mr Barton: " I beg your Honor's - pardon, I was." His Honor (severely): "You were not." Mr Barton once more explained i, that he. was getting the Clerk to see after witnesses. HisHonorsaidseverely : "Ihave to say, Mr Barton, I do not want this discussion to continue; ; It is the duty of •ounseltobe here at the opening of the Court. Mr Bell had excused yon: but not so far as I can see, on any particular authority from yowself." The discussion then ended, but Mr Barton was heard to say sotto voce that if bis Honor chose to quarrel with him he could not help it. That afternoon Mr Barton addressed the following letter to his Honor:—"Sir,-I have written to the proper authorities (the Government) complaining of your treatment to me this morning, and ever since I first appeared before you in Wellington. lam noc aware of any misconduct onmy partto justify such hostility as yours. I think it right to inform you that I have asked the Government for an inquiry."