SCENE IN A NORTHERN COURT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1253, 23 April 1880, Page 2

SCENE IN A NORTHERN COURT.

Gisborne, April 22. The Resident Magistrate's Court yesterr day again presented an undignified, scene, A case iagainst A. F. Hardy for perjury 'vaa proceeding, and during the examinav on of one of the witnesses for the prose;ation, Mr. Matthew Price, one of the oresiding Magistrates, expressed astonishment at the witness recollecting what had -ranspired about three months ago. The witness objected to discredit being thrown upon his testimony. Mr. Price replied that the witness' recollection was better than a shorthand reporter's notes. Mr. Rees, solicitor for the prosecution, re-| monstrated with the Bench, and 'stated lhat such scenes tended to bring the" administration of jtjstice ip.to ipoiatempt, and made it difficult to conduct cases in a proper yi&j. Mr. Matthew, Price forthwith committed'Mr, Rees for contempt of Court, and ordered the bailiff to take Mr. Rees in charge, which the bailiff did. By this time the Court was 1 thronged .with spectators, Mr. Rees refused to withdraw the expressions complaingd of, and after a little time, when things had become cooler, the Bench fined him LI, and then adjourned the Court. Mr. Reds declined to pay the fine. The Court again assembled, and a number of persons were

anxious to pay the fine, but Mr. Bees would not consent, preferring to take the alternative of a fortnight's imprisonment. Mr. Sees declined to go on .with the case, and his clients being unable to conduct .their case, and refusing to employ other counsel, another adjournment for two hours took place. Through the strong intervention of friends of both parties, Mr. Rees consented to the payment of the fine, and appeared in Court for his clients in .the afternoon.