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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 17, Issue 979, 29 March 1871, Page 3

The Wanganui Chronicle says :—lt is imported that during the trial of the case of the Government versus the editor of the Daily Times in Duuedin, the sub-editor of the same journal refused to answer a question on the ground that it might criminate himself, whereupon "Mr Haggit (counsel for Government,) handed to the witness a free pardon, under the hand of the Governor of the Colony, for anvthing he might state in connection with the case." If true, a graver charge than this it would be impossible to bring against any Ministry entrusted with the Government of the country. It argues little for the knowledge of a practitioner who could so openly tender such an instrument; it argues worse for any magistrate who would allow his court to be the scene of such an act; it argues worst of all for the Government who could premeditatedly pollute the fountain of justice. The ihing was illegal, and is suggestive of met unpleasant reflections. Tea and coffee are threa f ened with a Brazilian rival called Guarana. Tt consists of the seeds of a tree known to botanists as Paulina, scorbilis, which is very abundant in the Province of the Amazons. A Victorian contemporary gives the following story of a mistake made by a country operator :—A member of the Masonic Order telegraphed to a companion at a distance -** Make room for ten Royal Arch Mason—coming today." When the companions arrived they found that a pen had been built for their accommodation, the telegraph at its destination reading, " Make room for ten R A M's—coming to-day." A letter from Mr Barton to Earl Kimberley, published in the Otago Daily Times on the I lth March, shows, by quoting the Royal instructions to the Governor, that he has exceeded his powers in granting a free par-don to the witness in the libel case, he not being previously convicted of any offence. Copies of the letter have been sent to the Governor and Mr Gisborne.