OPINIONS OF THE “PRESS."

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 145, 21 November 1868, Page 4

OPINIONS OF THE “PRESS."

We read the leading article of our Picton contemporary with some considerable amusement last week. Without entering into the merits of the question wh ch calls forth the remarks attracting our notice, and which we confess puzzles us, we may quote his arguments. He tells us ihat “in a report of the proceedings in Committee we find that a representative from the province succeeded in depriving the province of the services of the only Resident Magistrate. It was alleged that the office was not required, as Justices of the Peace would perform the work without remuneration. This mode of arguing showed a great want of knowledge of the subjec , and proved how little men know about matters which they pretend to understand th0r0ugh1y.........1t would be a misfortune for this part of the province were there no Resident Magistrate ; and it is better to have one not known than none at all.” Now, no longer ago than the month of July last we find the following expression of opinion in the leading article of the same journal-still under the same management and auspices—which our readers wijl agree is a difference “ Among the many removals, of Magistrates, or dispensatiou,;with their services, in the various provinces, *by the (government; we have to note the; rbriioval of the Resident'Magistrate for.the Picton' District, and Warden-ifor the Gold Fields, 1 Cap-;' taiq’ MeUish.;, .-this gentleman will> now be performed by I >r. Muffer,....Resident' Magistrate for the Blenheim District,'’ who will ; cdm6'through to :; Pictorr ohcb a* fortnight to hear ihdidetermine any cases-that itoajr, arise.o MResjb •d^tyh|§gfctra|s&have, frequently.!.ex*" beneficially fiUpensed_ and we trust'the expense ■tenance will be r still further diminished py total! dbalitioh, -except, perhaps, in the large : ports; such as Otag(W Wellington,. &c. ; but'in small.communities Justices of the Peace will be found ' equally as satisfactory." - , ' So much for the consistency of the Free Press. The’writer,-last week, intimated that he would , pass some very sever/,'ififeictures ion his Honor vl r. My...... rcspgcti-ug tliis inatter, were it not for' the; fear of'ah action.' for libel! We extract theparagraph for the amusement of our readers “In some districts Resident Magistrates have power to determine cases when the amount reaches £IOO- This privilege was sought: to, be denied us through the qcnon, of one who was elected to prbfccr'thc iiitirests of the people. An

enlightened legislature in the nineteenth century have decided that newspapers shall not publish matters in which the public is concerned, without being liable for an action for libel, if any person in a public capacity is spoken of in a manner derogatory to his dignity. Judges and juries as a rule never award heavy damages to a person who seeks a salve in the shape of cash to heal his wounded feelings ; but ihe annoyance the defence of an action causes, induces newspapers to be circumspect in what they publish, and compells us to withhold some comments we should like to make.” The trifling fact remains, notwithstanding, that Mr. Eyes applied that Dr. Muller’s jurisdiction should be increased to £IOO.