Notes and l!vent&

Manawatu Herald, 22 April 1893, Page 3

Notes and l!vent&

Apparently " Our Crown Lands " guide is incorrect, so much so that i*-.one of the Minister of Lands presumed '• dummies " got off on the ground } that there was a possibility he tyas iiiisled by the guide: A present fiajp ,6ag"e, Of, tl?e blind leading the blind and which came to both nearly tumbling into the Hon Mr McKenzie's ditch. During the trial of the hunted '•dummy" at New Plymouth Mr Sttetf?ett who wtts prosecutingVde- j sired to lead the jury to accept his ' assertion that though oil the whole the Guide made the position e[uite Blear; ib was triie that, in 1 one part, owing to the manner in which a long clause had been condensed, there were words that might mislead owing to want of clearness, when His Honor said it went further than that. It stated that was exactly opposite to the law ; and he would so direct. the Jury. Mr Skerrett said that was not. his view. His Honor " tkdught tkd jury were more likely to take his construction. Me Skerrett ! said no doubt, but he ventured his version . The j ury appears however, as was likely, to accept the Judge's interpretation of the law in preference to Mr Skerrett's, by the verdict they returned. According to the prosecuting counsel because a book, the very unreliable "guide," was not dirty, it therefore, having been in the possession of a working-man, could not have been read ! A polite supposition wiiich was upset by the Judge in summing up when ha remarked, ' '" Counsel for the defence asked them to discount the statement because the book,, was not. dirty, but he noticed that it had. been turned over a good deal, and there was no' reason why the jury should hold that a working man could not have a book without making it dirty." . The Working-man's Government representatives evidently thought not. The Government evidently came in for many hard words from Judge Oonolly at this trial. He could not help saying that there was a great deal in what fell from the learned counsel for the defence that there was gross impropriety in the Government issuing such a book as this Guide, which was extremely decep tive. The Judge also eommented adversely on the manner the defendant had been cross examined, he having in one portion of it stated that the questions were very unfair, and for which Mr Skerrett apologised. This helps the public to understand how hard a conviction was tried for. To every man it is not given to receive sympathy in such a substantial manner as was shown to Mr Greenwood on the day after he left , the control of the Pall Mall Gazette. He was thinking of starting a paper, the one he* now controls, the St James' Gazette, hxsX had not the wherewithal! to do so. The story, as related in the account of the Pall Mall Gazette review is well worth reproducing, As Mr Greenwood sat that day in the club, letters poured in by every post, and almost every hour visitors called, all bent I upon one errand, and all saying the same thing. All the correspondents ex . pressed heart felt sympathy with the . deposed journalist, and offered him substantial assistance towards ea tablishing his projected paper. One . millionaire wrote, saying briefly that Mi* Greenwood might draw upon ' him for any money that he might want for starting his paper, no limit whatever being put. to this generous offetf: . That alone was sufficient to r have revived Mr Greenwood's belief in. human nature. But it did not Btand alone. Letters rained in from all quarters, some containing drafts and cheques, others containing promises of support, but all in one unbroken stream expressed sympathy with the dismounted; knight and offered to secure him an opportunity of continuing his career. One depufca- , tipn impressed him very much An officer in the Guards came to the I elub looking very nervous and ill at ease. "Mr Greenwood, I believe ?' ' «• Yes," said Mr Greenwood. " Very sorry to hear — " said this soldier fumbling in his pocket. •• Very sorry to hear ...-•■ .■. Good pane*. Shall miss it badly. Must. not be allowed to . drop. Very. Borry.'V Mr Greenwood thanked him; - His ■■visitor then went on;—**\Borne, of. us at the Guard's Club „ $£lked iji over last night. Said you ' 'would wantiaoni&y. Have not much ; !/-, put a little together. I brought it ; down,. "We don't want a receipt, ft is for the paper." 6o saying he handed t?sie astonished Mr Greenwood a trifle of JsilOO, a sum which, "however, he could not be prevailed upon to take. So it went on all day. When .Mr Greenwood^ went home in the evening he totalled up - the; sums which he had received, either; in. drafts, cheques and promises. He found he. was in possession of the substantial sum of £104,000, net including the millionaire's offer to honour any cheque whfeh" he ml£ht care to draw upon him for startup the paper. ' Be declined to take any of the monsy thus offered and made other arrangements for the starting of the 8* nmnh\ . ....