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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5158, 3 October 1877, Page 2

The lawyers are coming in for some pretty hard knocks in the House of Representatives. On Monday night Hr, Wallis stated that if there were as few lawyers as clergymen in the House the statutes of New Zealand would he more lucid. However, if legal gentlemen cannot legislate for others they can legislate for themselves, if reliance is to be placed on a remark which fell from Mr. Reynolds last night. That gentleman, in speaking on disqualification, stated that the law was so indistinct that several hon. members felt^ themselves in a doubtful position, tins Mr. Stout replied “ No, no,” Well, continued Mr, Reynolds, the law may not affect the hon. member for Dunedin, for iu drawing up the Disqualification Act of 187 G the lawyers had taken good care to protect themselves. It will probably be remembered that a legal opinion of one of the Grown Law Officers was recently given that County Councils cannot legally pay members’ travelling expenses. It will be seen by reference to our report of the proceedings at the meeting of the Hutt County Council yesterday that they have taken action with a view of getting a clause inserted in an amended Counties Bill providing for payment of members’ travelling expenses.

A meeting of , the committee of the Wellington Benevolent Society was held yesterday afternoon. Present—The Bishop of Wellington (iu the chair), the Von. Archdeacon Stock, Revs. H. B. Redstone, R. Coffey, W. H. West, A. Reid, J. Paterson, B. W. Harvey, and Messrs. D. Lewis, J. G. Holdaworth, H. C. Wilson, and the secretary. The following donations were acknowledged—Received at the box at Mrs. Old Smith’s, Ids. fid.; Mr. Best, ; a friend, per Rev. B. W. Harvey, £25. Several cases were considered and relieved.

“ It is not my business to get up a case for the prisoner,” was the reply given by Constable Couuor, at the Supreme Court yesterday morning, to a question put by Mr. Allan as to why he did not take notice of a circumstance which might have been favorable to the accused. Mr. Justice Bichmond, however, holds a different view from the police constable. His Honor said that it was the duty of the police to get at the truth of all matters brought under their notice, that it was as much their duty to to take note of favorable as unfavorable circumstances, and that their chief end should not be to get a conviction. He desired that the police should be more strongly imbued with this idea. It is to be hoped that attention will be paid to the words of Mr. Justice Bichmond. If his advice is followed it will relieve the police of a great deal of the bad odium which is attached to their calling. At present there is a popular belief that the policeman is regardless of everything which does not tend to sheet home a charge to a prisoner, and hence there is not that weight attached to his testimony by the public which would be the case if he were simply actuated by a desire to get at the truth of a matter.

ADunedinfirm recently wrote to a gentleman at Oamaru who was in their debt in the following terms, as published by the North Otago Times :—“Dear Sir, —It is said that those who give to the poor lend to the Lord. You can put this into excellent practice by sending the amount of our little account, for we occupy the position of the ‘ poor’ just now. We are, &c.” The recipient of the letter was equal to the occasion, and replied as follows :—“ Dear Sira, —Your favor reminds me of another passage: ‘ Agree with thine adversary while thou art in the way, lest he hale thee to the j udge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison.’ Accordingly please find cheque herewith.” The last' few words (says our contemporary) will no doubt be the most satisfactory of this unique commercial correspondence. Awell attended meetingof persons desirousof joining that useful institution, the newly formed Wellington Volunteer Dire Police, was held last evening at the Central Police Station. His Worship the Mayor, in response to an invitation, was present to swear in the members as special constables, and having administered the oath to twenty-six persons, congratulated the meeting on the measure of success which had attended their efforts to establish a body to preserve life and property and keep order at fires. He also suggested that the secretary should communicate with the City Council, notifying that the Volunteer Fire Police had been formed, so that they might have official recognition and standing. The suggestion was adopted by the meeting, and a vote of thanks was passed by acclamation to the Mayor for his attendanoe, and for the support and countenance he had given to the undertaking. The meeting then resolved itself into a committee to consider what uniform should be worn by members of the corps and other matters of detail. The great services rendered by the fire brigades have been fully and deservedly aoknowleged, and should the Volunteer Fire Police Corps’ services be required, they will doubtless render a good account of themselves, and be a most valuable auxiliary to the brigades, and may be the means of saving to the insurance companies and to the owners of property generally throughout the town much that would otherwise be lost or destroyed, in which event their services are not likely to be forgotten by their fellow-citizens. It speaks well for the energy and pluck of those of our young men of Wellington : who have so readily responded to the call to form themselves into a Volunteer Fire Police, and doubtless additions will be made to their numbers as the corps becomes more generally known and firmly established.

Some time ago Mr. Wakefield, in speaking of the colossal knowledge of Mr. Stout, said he had no doubt that gentleman actually knew more about Siberia than the provincial district of Canterbury. The remark of the hon. member for Geraldine received point last night in the discussion on the Band Bill. Mr. Stout, in speaking against free selection, said its effect had been to leave scarcely an acre of agricultural land not taken up on the Canterbury plains. Mr. Montgomery promptly informed him that there was a million acres left for occupation. Mr. Stout, however, appeared to adhere to his opinion, notwithstanding this assurance of the late Provincial Secretary of Canterbury. Mr. Wakefield again last night strongly expressed himself about Mr. Stout’s knowledge of Canterbury. He said he had never heard a speaker deal with a subject on which he was more ignorant. He (Mr. Wakefield) had little hesitation in stating that the hon. member’s acquaintance with Canterbury was confined to one trip across the plains on the narrow gauge railway, at the rate of eighteen miles an hour. The hon. member for Geraldine then proceeded to demolish Mr. Stout’s political economy. The member for Dunedin was not in his place. If he had, we venture to say he would have laughed heartily at the views propounded by Mr. Wakefield on this large branch of knowledge. At the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday, before B. J. Duncan and C. W. Schultze, Esq., justices, a man named Thomas Edwards, who had been employed at the Theatre Royal Hotel, was charged with being drunk and creating a disturbance in the Theatre; and on it being proved by Sergeant Fleming that the accused was very disorder’y, and refused to leave the place when told to go, the Bench fined him 10s., with the alternative of fortyeight hours incarceration in case of non-pay-ment.—Mr. Nicholas Marohant, charged with a breach of the municipal by-laws in riding round the corner of Lambtou-quay at a faster rate than a walk, admitted the offence, but said it was done quite inadvertently. The magistrates imposed a penalty of 10s. In a similar complaint against one William James, in which the police said it was not desired to press the case, the lesser fine of ss. and costs was inflicted.—John Barnard, master of the brigantine Isabelle, charged with a breach of the Harbor Regulations in not having a riding light on board that vessel as she lay at anchor, did not appear, and it was stated that he had gone with the vessel to Kaipara, and would return in about three weeks, the case was adjourned for the attendance of the defendant.

It is to be hoped that a young man examined at the Supreme Court yesterday morning is not a fair specimen of the youth of the Wairarapa, as far as learning and quickness of apprehension are concerned. When asked by counsel, he replied that he could write, but could not read. This is rather unusual, and seldom found in the educational column of the census returns. However, the witness afterwards stated that his educational acquirements were confined to the writing of his own name. He said he saw the prisoner about half-past ten o’clock on the morning of the fire; and on being asked why he remembered the hour, he replied that he had to go further for manure. The connection between this useful article of agriculture and time did not strike the Court, and the question was repeated again and again, and received the same answer. Ultimately, ho incidentally remarked that he had just time to bring another load before dinner. This, of course, established the connection, and the Court was satisfied. It is painful to notice the amount of ignorance of the simplest rudiments of education which is evinced by a considerable portion of the colonial youth, especially those brought up in the country districts. lu’ a recent case which was tried iu the Supreme Court three lads were called to give evidence, and it was found that none of them could read or write. They appeared to bo the sons of tolerably well-to-do parents, and it certainly is a strong reflection on the latter that they should allow their children to grow up in such dense ignorance. The usual weekly meeting of the Wellington Literary Association was held last evening, when a well argued and interesting debate took place on the question “ Is it justifiable to depart from the truth under any circumstances 1” On the question being put to the vote it was carried in the negative by a majority of one. Next Tuesday essays will be read on the following subjects : —“ The advantages of literary culture to men of business “ Volcanic action and the air we breathe.”

The next Wairarapa race meeting is fixed for the 11th and 15th February, 1878.

We understand that Mr. Moody has disposed of the Star Hotel, Lambton-quay, for £4250, to Mr. Webb, of Havelock. It is authoritatively denied that Mr. J. L. Coster, manager of the Bank of New Zealand, Christchurch, has taken any part whatever in the formation of another new insurance company.

The Lyttelton regatta has been fixed by the committee to take place on the Ist January, 1878. A list of the prizes to be competed for appears in our advertising columns, by which it will be seen that they are of considerable value.

We understand that the Evening Post will have to defend an action for libel at the suit of Mr. Cornelius Croft. The libel is alleged to be contained in a statement that plaintiff is on the verge of bankruptcy. The damages have been laid at £6, the plaintiff’s object being not to proceed for more than in case of a verdict in his favor he would be safe in being paid. It is a fact, singular perhaps, but nevertheless true, that the paid staff officers of the Volunteer Corps in the South Island whose services have been dispensed with by the Government are taking to hotelkeeping. Mr. H. E. Haywood, late superintendent of the Southland District, and Mr. Blackmore, the late sergeant-instructor, have lately taken to the “ bar,” the one at Invercargill and the other elsewhere in Southland. Some amusement was created in the Court yesterday when a witness was under crossexamination. He stated that in a door in the prisoner’s house there were two keyholes—a large one and a small one. That seemed to him a very suspicious circumstance. Mr. Allan suggested Haggerty might have acted as the man they read of who made a big hole in the wall to let in the big cat, and a little hole to let in the little cat. The witness was proceeding to enlighten the Court as to his opinions about keyholes, but as the explanation was not deemed material to the issue, he was stopped short in his explanation.

The St. George's Hall exhibition and entertainment attracted a very good house last night, notwithstanding the inclement weather. Sullivan’s “ Trial by Jury” was performed for the first time, and was placed on the stage with excellent effect. Mr. B. W. Cary played the Judge in capital style, Miss Howarde as the defendant looked charming, and the other parts were ably filled. The prizes given away included a silver service. To-night “ Trial by Jury” will be performed for the last time, and to-morrow “ Aladdin” will be performed. A meeting of the “ Wellington Keform Club and Working Men's Institute ” was held last evening at the Odd Fellows’ Hall, Mr. Quick in the chair, to take into consideration the condition and prospects of this new society. There was a very small attendance. After some discussion the following resolution, proposed by Mr. Bell, seconded by Mr. Miles, was carried, —That the committee be requested to call in all outstanding debts due by the club, for the purpose of liquidation, and that those who have signed be requested to pay their entrance fees ; and should there not be-sufficient funds to carry it on, that the operations of the club be suspended sine die.

We are requested to state that Mr. it. J. Duncan's furniture sale advertised for this day is postponed until further notice.

The latest intelligence is, that buyers for cash when they visit Wellington, or send their orders to J. McDowell and Co.'s, will find thefollowing advantages under their new system of discount for cashjpayments; —A large and well-assorted stock, which is being constantly added to, with the new fashions as they come out. Prices of the same moderate characterfor which their establishment has become so noted. And this season J. McDowell and Co. have commenced by offering all their new goods to cash purchasers of £2 or upwards at a discount of 5 per cent.; and on all accounts paid monthly, a discount of 2J percent.; quarterly accounts, without discount or abatement. Special cheap lines on the tables and in the baskets during the season. Victoria House, corner of Lamb-ton-quay and Willis-street, Wellington.—[Ad vi.)