MR. BARTON RE-APPEARS IN COURT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 596, 30 March 1878, Page 2

MR. BARTON RE-APPEARS IN COURT.

(per press agency.) Wellington, March 29. Mr Barton made his first appearance in court since his release from gaol to-day. Mr Barton having made a certain application and argued it, Judge Richmond ruled, but, as it appeared, not very clearly. The judge explained it more than once, and having entered his decision was proceeding to the next cause when Mr Barton requested that he be treated properly, and asked to be informed what the decision of the Court was. Justice Richmond declined to reiterate any more, and asked the registrar if he heard. The registrar replied affirmatively, and read his entry, which was the same as the judge's. Mr Barton having accused the ofiicer.s of the Court of not acting impartially, the judge said, "Mr Barton I will call upon you to account for this," and took a note of the expressions used by Mr Barton. Mr Barton then asked that he might ascertain their correctness or otherwise, if not ho would dispute them. Judge Richmond declined. Later on in the afternoon Mr Barton moved that the warrant for his commitment for contempt of oourt be quashed. He argued at considerable length, and quoted as a somewhat analogous case, Pollard v. Chief Justice of Hongkong, in which the Privy Council held that no person should be punished for contempt of court before being allowed an opportunity of answering the charge raised against him. After hearing him at great length, the judge refused the application, and instanced a case recently decided by the House of Lords, in which it was laid down that a judge in the legitimate exercise of his functions, and being set at defiance by any person, could commit that person instantly. He also instanced the case where a judge eimmitted the Prince of Wales to Fleet prison for contempt of Court.