New Zealand Times. TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 1875.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4302, 5 January 1875, Page 2

New Zealand Times. TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 1875.

The colony certainly has reason to congratulate itself upon the criminal record which has been presented, on the various Supreme Court circuits, as notified by telegraph in to-day’s issue. Everywhere, the Judges spoke of the absence of flagrant crime, and paid a high compliment to the immigrants who have arrived in such large numbers lately. If these had been even partially drafted from the criminal classes, doubtless the result would have been very different ; but their faults would appear to have been greatly magnified on arrival by local reporters, and undoubtedly in more than one instance, national and class prejudices were at the root of the unfavorable comments which appeared in certain newspapers. However, the police and gaol records are, in such matters, infallible guides to truth. To these records the immigrants may confidently appeal; and the Judges of the Supremo Court, whose duty it is to take note of the siate of crime.in the colony, have now done them full justice. We are pleased, therefore, that reference was made to the Government immigrants by Judge Johnston yesterday, in' his charge to the Grand Jury, as well as by the Chief Justice at Auckland, and by Judges Richmond and Chapman in their respective Courts at Nelson and Dunedin. It was a generous recognition of a fact which some might be disposed, after reading depreciatory newspaper paragraphs from time to time, to doubt; and it was likewise due to the AgentGeneral, Dr. Fbatheeston, whose laxity of supervision has been made the very most of in the colony. If ho had been as careless as one might reasonably suppose from all that has been said and written on the subject, a considerable sprinkling of the new arrivals would have been presented for trial at the criminal sessions of the Supreme Court before now. Their absence is a silent buc significant protest against the detractions to which Dr. Feathebston has been subjected on their account. We cannot, however, conclude these general remarks without referring to quite another matter, arising out of what transpired at the Supreme Court yesterday. There was something like a general leavetaking by the Judges all over the colony. We shall say nothing of what took place elsewhere. In Wellington, however. Judge Johnston bade “farewell,” and as might be expected from the circumstance of his long residence here, and his discharge of the duties of Supremo Court Judge during the whole of that period, he was considerably affected. He spoke with dignity and feeling: and we are certain that the Grand Jury, in their presentment expressing regret that his Honor was about to remove to--aHbther part of the colony, was simply embodying the unanimous opinion of the public of the city and neighborhood. Mr, Justice Johnston enjoys the confidence and respect of every one, as a learned and humane judge, and a fearless and impartial administrator of the law. More wo need not say ; indeed, it would be almost superfluous to add, that he enjoys the confidence of the

public of Wellington, because he has earned it by the faithful and conscientious discharge of his duties for sixteen years amongst them. In conclusion, we have simply to express the hope, that Mr. Justice Johnston’s expectations regarding the future of Wellington may bo realised. The getting of money should not, be the sole or engrossing object of a free people. This community is undoubtedly in a very prosperous state. On all sides are signs of progress. Wealth is accumulating, population is increasing, and most fortunately for us, crime, in its more heinous forms, does not exist. But these circumstances, so favorable in themselves, should induce caution. There are social duties and obligations of a weighty nature which may not be ignored. Judge Johnston indicated what those duties are, in his closing remarks to the Grand J ury, when he said, that he hoped to find, on revisiting Wellington, “ fresh evidences, not “merely of that material prosperity in “ the enjoyment and prospect of which “ we are now rejoicing, but also of such “ progress in education and general social “ culture as is indispensable for the for- “ malion and development of public “ opinionof an intelligent, large- ‘ ‘ minded, far-seeing, vigilant, vigorous, ‘ ‘ and honest public opinion, without “ which the best contrived political in- “ stitutions may degenerate into shams “ and snares, and without which even “ the wisest laws which can be devised “cannot be wholesomely and effectively “ administered.” These words of the learned Judge leave nothing to be added. They cover the whole ground of social and political activity, and we trust they may bo borne in mind, and acted upon, by our fellow-citizens.