Untitled

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4892, 25 November 1876, Page 2

The performances in the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday,.were certainly, not of a class calculated to increase respect for the administration of .the law. Wo write performances advisedly, for really the whole bearing of the case under consideration partook more of a theatrical display than of r the calm dispensation of justice. Mr/ Barton, as will be seen by our necessarily condemned • report of proceedings, has been aggravated by, the treatment he has experienced at the hands of the Press., .For ourselves, we freely acknowledge that we owe Mr. Barton an. apology- in one respect. In yesterday’s New Zealand Times our reporter; unfortunately stated that Mr. Baetqn’s client ’had been committed for. trial. This was a complete error, and .occurred doubtless from the fact that our reporter had in his mind the fact that Mr. Barton had committed himself by calling a witness a. scoundrel... Hence our reporter, suffered/a confusioU of ideas to lead him into error. But having thus far explained for-Mr. Barton’s satisfao l tion, we niay now say that in regard to our comments yesterday on the treatment of witnesses in our courts 5 of justice wo have nothing .to .say. by. way. of qualification or explanation. Aiid wo may further add : that Mr. Barton’s semi-accusation to Dr. : Buller of that gentleman’s havingany influence or, control over what appears in those columns was simply untrue, and reflected discredit on him. who made it. ■