A PLUCKY NEW ZEALAND JUDGE.

Kumara Times, Issue 492, 25 April 1878, Page 2

A PLUCKY NEW ZEALAND JUDGE.

With reference to His Honour Judge Weston's recent personal inspection at Nelson Creek for the purpose of makin* himself tliroroughly acquainted with the merits of the case, Graham and party v. Sherman and party, a private correspondent of the Grey River Argus sends the following :—I have been twenty years on the gold-fields, during that time I have never seen or heard of a judge going on the ground to stttle a dispute until Friday last.. No doubt the question at issue is one of great importance, not only to the miners of Nelson Creek, but to all the gold-fields in NewZealand where the system of hydraulic working is carried on, and the Judge acied wisely in visiting -the ground before deciding this important question upon which the welfare of this district may depend. . But is there another Judge in New Zealand of in these colonies who would tuck up his trowsers above his knees, take a stick in his hand, walk into the water Tcnee deep on a cold day, cross :ind recross the creek at a dozen of places, and when he came to a deep crossing would jump on to a digger's back as if he was playing leapfrog, and to crown all, in order to get out of the creek, he had to wedge himself through a long narrow tail-race, about 2.oft deep, the. water rushing down against his bare legs at the rate of twelve knots an hour. Before entering this dangerous place one of the diggers remarked it wonld.not.be safe to go that way. The Judge said, "Go on, I will follow." About forty diggers were waiting on the bank; when the Judge came out he was greeted 1 with three hearty cheers for his pluck and bravery. By this act of self-sacrifice Judge Weston has made eternal friends of the miners—they say he is,the right man in the right place. Too "much praise cannot be given for.his braveand manly conduct on this occasion. ; .It may here be remarked that the lawyers who came from GreymoutL with. the Judge took good care that they would'not get their feet wet." > I *■ : ••