Untitled

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4456, 1 July 1875, Page 2

The New Zealand Times seems to harrass the existence of some pestilent fellow or another in Wellington who acts as correspondent for one or more of our contemporaries. Not long since we noticed how this gentleman, who is not on good terms with truth and honor, as he betrays little acquaintance with either, sent a directly false telegram concerning an article which had appeared in our columns. That telegram was to an Auckland paper, and wo now find the print of his hoof in a paper at the south of the Middle Island, the Otago Daily Times. We feel pretty certain that but one person is responsible for both oases, for knowing what we do of Wellington, we feel confident that there can be in it but one person so splendide mendftx. As an' evident professor in the art of falsehood, we can congratulate him, however, upon having in the latest specimen of his work exceeded even the former effort to which we drew attention. This is due to the fact that in his message to'the Daily Times he was not hampered by the brevity necessary to a telegraphic despatch. His fictions appear in a correspondent’s letter, and, to his credit, are not oven original with him, having been previously published by some less accomplished artist, in our local disseminator of such works. It may be, however, that in this latter surmise we are doing more than justice to this gentle-

man’s abilities, and that instead of carrying his devotion to his task so far as not to be original even in falsehood, he was the author of the local exhibits themselves. The first little piece of invention which we notice in the Otago Daily Times is that old one about ourselves and the New Zealand Hansard, which we- have already satisfactorily disposed of. The second concerns a record we gave some time since of certain facta connected with a number of plasterers, passengers to this port by the 1 Collingwood. Our ingenious friend sends to the Daily Times an elaboration of certain unfair and unwarranted conclusions as to our objects in publishing what was unquestionably a piece of information that the public should bemade acquainted withi What those conclusions are, and of what thsr elaboration consists, we need not now trouble our readers with. Suffice it to say that allWe the purest inventions of some one of whom it may be truly said— , ' “ Fcenum liabet in ccmu, longe fuge. . . . . . . Non hie cuiquam parcel amico.” We do not now notice the doings of this “furious beast” with hay on his horns, because we are apprehensive of receiving any injury from his pranks. On the contrary, indeed, his continual advertising of us is calculated to do us good. We write rather in ad ■ miration of his superlative talents, which, if there were but a decoration for boldness in the exercise of untruth as a weapon, would, as the playwright says, entitle him to “be grand cross of the order.” Indeed, it is not too much to say of him, with Congreve, “ Ferdinand Mendez Pinto was but a type of thee, thou liar of the first order.”

It is quite plain that Mr. Justice Johnston’s discipline with the Dunedin Bar is approved of there. The Otago Guardian, writing upon the subject, says :—“ We regard the advent of Mr. Justice Johnston to the Dunedin Bench, temporary though it be, as a most fortunate and timely circumstance. Owing to a variety of causes, upon the consideration of which it is neither desirable nor necessary that we should at present enter, the tone of the local Bar has of late years suffered very considerable declension ; so much so, indeed, that it would scarcely be exceeding the limits of justifiable censure were we to say that it has become extremely demoralised. In season and out of season, the public has been scandalised by the unseemly conduct of the legal fraternity ; and although there are gentlemen of unimpeachable honor and unquestionable integrity amongst the host of lawyers who throng the Courts of Dunedin, they are, unhappily, too few in number to save the general reputation of the profession. To these gentlemen many., recent events must have' been extremely painful ; for they know—none better—that an indiscriminating publih is but too apt to imagine that the whole flock is tarred with the same brush. It is not to be supposed that any radical reform can be effected by the moral influence of the Bench ; but there can be no manner of doubt that it is at least within the power of a. Judge to compel the practitioners who appear before him to throw a decent veil over their obnoxious proclivities —‘to assume a virtue if they have it not’— to be more respectful in their demeanor to the Bench itself, more courteous to witnesses, and more honest to clients.;; And it seems to us that Mr. Justice Johnston is eminently qualified to bring about this most desirable consummation. Already he has given us a taste of his quality; and without stopping to discuss the important question of whether twehty minute* is exactly the proper time for legal luncheon, we may remark that the sharp, shrewd, businesslike mode in which he has conducted the banco business of the present sitting of the Supreme Court has been observed with unqualified approbation by the general community, and won for him ‘golden opinions from all sorts of men.’ It is perhaps well that he has thus, to a certain extent, paved the way for Mr. Justice Williams, of whom, as nothing is yet known, nothing can be said. But it is most devoutly to be hoped that when that gentleman takes his seat on the Dunedin Bench ha will, follow out the course so judiciously adopted by Judge Johnston. And perhaps we may be pardoned if we venture to caution Mr. Williams that much will depend on his judicial debut. The majority of the gentlemen who practice in our courts have long wanted the control of a firm hand. They have now for once felt the restraining bit ; and it has had an excellent moral effect. It is very obvious that none of the legal team will attempt to kick over the traces whilst Mr. Justice Johnston holds .the reins ; and it will be the fault of his successor if he does not profit by his. Honor’s most laudable example. Judges are. superior alike to popular censure and to popular applause ; but, nevertheless, the public can and do appreciate any efforts that are made by the Bench to curb the license of the Bar.” , , ,