LEGAL DUEL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 538, 22 January 1878, Page 2

LEGAL DUEL.

$ ! The Wellington correspondent {if the l Ship telegraphs the following to thsu journal : There was another row between Mr. Barton and the Chnf Justice to-dav. Mr. Barton was proceeding to give his 1 reasons for an application when hit i Honor interrupted him by a remark. Mr. Barton said : I am giving my rea- ' sons for the application ; if th\) Cv.uv.t will not hear me I ss(t down. — His Honor : If I have any of your imperti- ■ nen.e.y J punish yo.u in the same way as others. Mr. Barton: Threats of that kind don't ail'ect me.—His Honor : I will suffer no impertinence from | you, Mr, Barton : Yon have 110 reason to say that. His Honor: Will you sit down ! I say yon are excessively impertinent,—-Mr, Barton : I will withdraw anything which was impertinent.— His Honor: Sit down, (Mr, Barton complied.) When I waa speaking to you, von said, '• If tie Court will not hear me, I will down." J say thai was verydisnsptciful very iuiperiinent. Mr. Barton : Very well, your Honor. —His Honor ; 1 t said 1 would hear the grounds] <>i your | application. Mr. Barton ; Well, 11 have irie.d to, place them before j the Court-. I have b- Dti charged with j impertinence. I certainly do (lot. desire I to force the Co'.U't to hunt - - me. any longer, j when J gee is is a hopeless matter. If j the Court wiij hear argument. J. will j proceed ; if not, 1 will sit down.—Hisj Honor :' You cm sit down if you like. I have said several times that I will hear] you. After hearing arguments his Honor j said he could not see that there was sufK. j eient ground to justify the oase being j takeii out uj ita turn. —Mr. Barton : On j the 24th of this month the Court closes i for forty days.—His Honor ; But iujunc- |

tions are already heard.—Mr. Barton : But I have ;m objection to the case being, heard in Chambers. I desire it to bo heard in the presence of the public and of the Press.— LJ is Honor: [ pay 110 attention to such an insinuation. -Mr. Barton : But Parliament lias deehved that it is well that tlyj Press should be .admitted, to exercise a wholesome effect: that, open Courts are conducive to morality in b-iui: open to public opinion. —llis Honor: I eare neither for the Press nor the Parliament. We endeavour to do our duty as judges without respect to either. I see 110 urgency in this ease— the suit lias been pending; six or seven months, ami the plaintiff will! be in in) worso position if hi; has to wait a little longer. i\lr. .Barton ; That means* that the ease must stand over until after the vacation. —His Honor; 1 can't lielp> that,