SUPREME COURT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VII, Issue 2, 2 January 1872, Page 2

SUPREME COU RT.

[Before his Honor Mr. Justice Richmond. J

The first session of ihe Supreme Court under the new regulations was held this momiug, whf-n his Honor in addressing the Grand Jury said that they were of course aware of the change that had within

the last few weeks been mado in the days of sitting of the Circuit Courts throughout tlie colony, to which was to be attributed the fact of their being summoned there so shortly after the last session. One of the results of so short, an interval having elapsed was that there Wds ua business provided for them by the Crown Prosecutor. Although the absence of any criminal cases might on th*i.t occasion be considered accidental, he was of opiuion that it depended greatly upon ourselves to decide whether so pleasant an experience should not be of more frequent, occurrence, as, if we were as much in earnest with regard to the suppression of crime as about our advancement in other matters, the result would be that a blaok calendar would cease to be the exception to tbe general rule. He was no optimist, and did not believe in the possibility of the complete banishment of crime from amongst us, which*, indeed, could never be accomplished so long as drinking habits were so prevalent in the colony, but he did think that if the criminal classes were properly dealt with, their numbers might be very largely decreased. There were, however, various obstructions in the way of attaining so desirable an end, among which might be named the local jealousies that, existed in N.-.W Zealand. Provincialism in some respects was no doubt an excellent thing, but one of its drawbacks was that it tended to prevent any united attempt being made for the suppression ot crime; there were also colonial as well as provincial divisions which at present stood in the way, but he felt sure that the time would come when these would be got over, and the whole- group of the Australian colonies would work together in

iho endeavor to lessen the amount of crime that now existed in them. Our system of police aud gaols was so defective as to render any attempt to put down crimrt most- unsatisfactory, if not impracticable, whereas if proper facilities existed in the shape of penal establishments the gradual extermination of the criminal class migls t reasonably be looked for, as the irredeemable ones might be taken care of lor life, and endeavors made to reform those who were less hardened. It would afford him tbe greatest pleasure to find that blank calendars were of far more frequent occurrence than at present. The grand and petty juries were then discharged, and ihe customary pair of white kid gloves presented by the sheriff to his Honor the Judge. The only civil case set, down for henring was then called, aud a special jury sworn.

William Lonqley Fowler v, Nathaniel Foider and Joseph Young.

Messrs. Pitt and H. Adams appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Acton Adams and Mr. Shapfer for tlte defendants. The action, which arose out of a sheep agreement, was nofc brought to recover damages, but to compel the performance of an agreement entered into by the defendants with the plaintiff. The case, which is likely to last the whole day, is not of sufficient importance to the public to require a report, of the evidence.