POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

Kumara Times, Issue 1780, 15 June 1882, Page 2

POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

KUMARA AND GREENSTONE WARDEN’S COURT. In the House of Representatives on Thursday last, on the motion of Mr Seddon, it was ordered—Tliat a return be prepared and laid before this House showing—(l) The number of suits entered in the Warden’s Court, Kumara and Greenstone, from the Ist day of January, 1882, to the Ist day of June, 1882, the names of the parties to the suits, the dates* at which such suits were entered, and the dates upon which they were heard or partially heard, and when finally determined ; (2) the number of suits entered in the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Kumara, from the Ist day of January, 1882, to the Ist day of

June, the dates at which suits were entered, and when finally determined ; (3) the number of applications made at the Knmara and Greenstone Warden’s Districts from the Ist January, 1882, until the Ist June, for certificates for rights to be granted, by the Warden under the provisions of “ The Mines Act, 1877,” and the regulations made thereunder, the names of the applicant or party, the dates upon which such applications were made, and the dates upon which each of such applications were finally determined by the Warden; (4) also the amount received by the Receiver of Goldfields Revenue for the Kumara and Greenstone Districts from the Ist January, 1882, to the Ist day June, 1882; also the amount received by way of fees and charges by ■the Clerk of the Resident Magistrate’s Coart, Kuinara, from the Ist dny of January, 1882, to the Ist day of jane, 1882. LAW PRACTITIONERS BILL. This Bill, introduced by Sir George Grey, proposes to remove certain restrictions relative to the admission of persons to practise the paofession of the law, to enable duly-appointed persons to act on behalf of any party to civil or criminal proceedings, and to dispense with serving a term of probation, leaving the judges to say what the examination of fitness bn the part of candidates -should be. In America, it was stated, these examinations were conducted in open court. The other portion of the Bill authorises any person of good moral character to be. nominated in a court to conduct a case on behalf of any other person. Mr Seddon said it might be that the lawyers were well up in law, but as a rule they were lamentably deficient in common sense. He argued that in the Wardens’ Courts on the goldfields men of practical experience were authorised to appear as mining agents. The fact was that these men were preferred to the law\ ers, and their fees were infinite y smaller. In the Resident Magistrates Co >rts th se agents were not allowed to appear. The thing was most invidious, and he would support the Bill with the view of getting this invidionsness swept away. LICENSING ACT AMENDMENT BILL. The Licensing Act Amendment Bill, introduced by the'Hon. Mr Dick, provides that the Governor may make, altf-r, or abolish districts. Whenever any district is altered, but not abolished or the bonndalies redefined, it shall not be necessary for new appointments to he made therein, but the Licensing Committee and all officers duly acting in the district before the alteration shall continue to act for the district as alteied. Sub-section 2,3, 6,9, and 15 of section 13 are repealed ; and in lieu it is enacted as foMows :—l. The local body having jurisdiction within any district shall appoint returning officers for the district. 3. All costs and expenses incident to the election of any licensing committee shall be paid by the local body. 5. The places at which the licensing meetings are held are not necessarily to be within the limits of the licensing district to which such meetings relate, if they can be more conveniently and no less effectually held outside of such limits. Applications for the renewal of licenses need not he advertised. Section 74 is repealed, and in lieu thereof it is hereby enacted as follows:—In a place or district where, owing to the sudden increase of population or otherwise, the necessity for publicans’ licenses exists, the Governor may appoint a person or persons to exerbse special authority in the granting of licenses, and to define the limits within which the authority is to be exercised. The temporary transfer of a license is to he registered and the license not to be retained. In section 109 the words “out of such fees” are hereby repealed.