JUDGE GRESSON'S CHARGE,

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1279, 4 September 1872, Page 2

JUDGE GRESSON'S CHARGE,

At tho opening of the Supreme Court, Hokitika, on Monday, and in charging the Grand Jury, Judge Gresson said : — I am happy to be able to congratlate you on the lightness of the calendar. There are only four prisoners awaiting trial upon, eight charges, none of them of so grave a character as many of those that came before me in the session of January, 1871, when I last visited Hokitika. That session was remarkable for two convictions tor murder, and several, for aggravated assaults. 1 ventured, however, to express an opinion that such crimes were exceptional, and not the result of the normal condition of the country. In that opinion I have been justified by the experience of the sub3e quent sessions/ as there have been very few convictions for acts of violence. Indeed, so long as the country is prosperous and there is a sufficient demand for labor, I think that we need not' be very apprehensive of the increase of crime amongst the adult classes of our population. There is much more reason for fear from a class of our youthful population that is growing up in idleness, without education, and exposed to all the dangers incidental to their neglected situation. They are, in most cases, the offspring of parents who have i either deserted their family, or, if living notuitially with them, are wholly indifferent to their welfare. For this class a reformatory pr industrial school .seems to offer the only chance of escape from crime, and I hope that the example of Otago and Canterbury, in establishing such an institution, will be followed by' the other Provinces'. Itris gratifying to find that the Lunatic Asylum is nearly finished, and that liberal provision is being made for the health and comfort of the unfortunate patient 3. I fear that the enactments of : "The lunatics Act, 1868," which impose upon the Registrars of the Supreme Court the duty of managing the properties of lunatics. — a duty fpr which they are wholly unfitted— cause much wrong and injustice to this most helpless class of the community. I believe that in many cases their properties are wholly neglected. I see tliat the matter has not escaped the notice of one branch of the Legislature, and 1 hope, therefore, that the evil may be remedied during the present session. „ •.,.■ ..■;..;