WELLINGTON.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 77, 18 December 1862, Page 6 (Supplement)

WELLINGTON.

Bt the Wong a Woiiga we have files of the Independent to the 13th inst., of the Spectator to the 10th, and of the Advertiser to the f>th only. The non-receipt of files of the Advertiser up to even date with the Independent is to ns a mystery we should like to see cleaved up. The Cmmixal Sittixga.—Dokax v. Doxouy, —At the Criminal Sitting this week, a ease was on the paper from Ahuriri, to which some of the Grand Jury have requested us to call public attention. In consequence of there being no Crown prosecutor, and Mr. Brandon not considering himself justified in acting as such for any other province than Wellington, the case nearly fell to the ground, and the gentlemen of the Grand Jury, after the business of the morning was over, had to adjourn to 3 p.m., to their very great inconvenience. Had it not been for the interference of the Judge, the ends of justice would have altogether been defeated, as the prosecutor (a soldier) was not present. His Honor suggested that the prosecutor’s wife, who was a witness, should act as her husband’s agent, and that one of the legal gentleman present should act as her counsel. MiHart did so, and Donody was found guilty. We do not think it just that now a Circuit Court is held at Naipcr, the criminals of that province should be sent to Wellington for trial, even if it be done without putting this Province to pecuniary expense. The afternoon of the Grand Jury was wholly broken in upon by their having to give a second attendance, and all the petty jury would otherwise have been discharged on the first day, as only this Ahuriri case had to be tried on the second. It would be bad enough if the juries were only townspeople ; but seeing that they comprise many from the country, the introduction of criminals from elsewhere, must be productive of much inconvenience and expense to them. Besides which, Wellington gets all the ovdium attaching to the increased calender—an odium which it is of first importance to prevent. If Napier did not possess a Circuit Court, wo would not say a word ; but as it does, it is not just to ourselves that we should let its criminals be tried here without protesting against it.— lndependent , Dec. 6.