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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume X, Issue 55, 5 March 1875, Page 4

A Respectable M-H.R. — The electors of the proud city of Chri 3tchurch must be well pleased with cne of the members whom they sent to represent them in the Parliament \i

New Zealand. In the Evening Post of a recent date is the following report of the proceedings in the Resident Magistrate's Court : — " An Incorrigible Drunkard.— E. J. Wakefield, M.H.R., for Christchurch City East — who has been discharged fiom the Provincial Hospital after a lengthened sojourn and clothed by subscription — was brought i up for about the thousand and first II time under the charge of being drunk I and incapable in the public streets. ] The prisioner denied the accusation, ft CorjfitablB Stewart stated that he found] the prisoner that morning lying in the! streets drunk and incapable, and took him into custody. — Prisoner (with a ludicrous air of drunken dignity) : 'Sir, if I were drunk and incapable as they! say, why was not I searched ; Seel here, they left in my pocket this pen- I knife — this penknife. Now, sir, if 1 1 had been drunk and incapable, as they I say falsely that I was, I might have 1 cut my throat.'— Sergeant Monaghan : I 'No ; I don't think so, if you were j incapable. — Wakefield: 'No matter, n sir. If I had been drunk, as you Bay, you ought to have searched me, and 11 not left this knife on me (again brand- j iehing it solemnly) with which I might! have cut my throat. In Christchurcb,! when I was taken up for being drunk/ and incapable, the police always! searched me and took everything ouu of my pockets, aye, and did not evei leave my pocket handkerchief.' — Hii Worship: 'You are fined 53 or ii default committed for twenty - four hours'. — Wakefield (with dignity): 1 'And now may I* ask you Bir, to whom I am to look for redress for this fal^e imprisonment, and how V should obtain such redress. I have been forcibly thurst into gaol, and kepfl without any breakfast ; how am I tci obtain redress for all these injuries and\ indignities?' His Worship : 'Really^ that is rot my business. You had better consult your legal adviser.' — Seargeant Monaghan : ' Come, stand down." Wakefield: Sir, I will not stand down at your command. I will not leave this Court without rediesi.' At this point two policemeu proceeded to remove the prisoner, whom they managed to get out of the box ; but ■ then he sat down on the floor with a I sudden flop, and by propping his feet | against the door posts opposed a power- 1 ful strain against the efforts of the con- II stables. At length nowever, they jj managed to get him out feet foremost ; but shortly afterwards the worthy M.H.R. again presented himself like I a substantial phantom, but quickly dis-| appeared by means of some unseen} agency in the roar." The main line of the Tasmanianj railway is now so far completed that an excursion train has been run for a dis«| tance of thirty-two miles from Hobar-1 town. I — 1 1