LAST NIGHT'S WIRES.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1305, 5 April 1883, Page 2

LAST NIGHT'S WIRES.

I [UNITED FBESS ASSOCtATIOX] i . WELLINGTON, Yesterday. At the Supreme Court criminal session, on Monday last. Judge Richmond, in his charge to the Grand Jury, after referring to the cases, saiil—You arc aware, gentlemen, that some strenuous efforts have been made to improve our civil procedure, hut aa yet our law makers seem to have left criminal law untouched. No doubt our Legislature have been awaiting tho result of impending changes in England, and if those changes are found to remove the blot which has been ' brought into notice, we shall probably follow suit, gentlemen, we sometimes have many of us a hard word to say of the lawyers, but as one of them I identify myself with them. I say that anything to be exfleeted in the way of law reform must be - ooked for from them just as for the most part churchmen have been the authors of great reforms in the Church, and just as to medical men. We must look for improvement in medial practice, so in the same way must we look to lawyers for reform in law | our zeal may not be according to knowledge, but it is quite plain from recent doings that it is the earnest desire of the legal profession to simplify the legal procedure. As for the civil procedure, a great attempt has been • made in that direction, and its success remains to be «een, and there is very little doubt that criminal procedure will soon follow. We are still troubled with some difficulties, as for example, with the distinction between larceny and embezslsment | the distinction which it is sometimes difficult for lawyers to understand, such relics of ancient procedure will very soon, no doubt, be swept away, and we shall have something more rational. Also, I hope to see the law of indictments made more reasonable than now. It is undeistood that Mr Justice Richmond has, on the application of Mr Bell, one of tho counsel for Sir Arthur Gordon, in Hunt v. Gordon, postponed the day of trial until the 7th of May. This was rendered necessary by the absence from Wellington, during this month, of loading counsel on either side. DUNKDIN, Yesterday. Information has been received that two men were killed, and others injured, by a fall of earth at Stock and Clarke's contract at Hindon. There are no particulars at pre- A sent. AUCKLAND, Yesterday. s The Crown lands sale realised considerably over £5000; the competition was brisk.

, Th* r*l*M. ef th* City Ceas?!! bloeh for 60 year*. next t* th* Auckland Poll Office, realised in rentals sad rates £l2OO * year more on previous rental, ths highest price £2l per foot per annum was for the lot at the corner of Shortland and Queen-street. It is understood that the whole blook was got for the New Zealand Insurance Company, who will cover it with a block of bnildingt four Storey high. At the meeting of Edward Binney'a creditors, the debtor assaulted a prosecuting creditor's solicitor, Sir Braeeey, for bantering rom&rki made. The German warship Carol* left for gun practice on the coast. The officer* sent a letter to the Mayor expressing regret at being unable to accept the invitation to be present at the reception of the Governor. At a meeting of the Harbor Board it la reported that the damage to the wharf by the steamer Australia on leaving last trip was £l2O. The Pilot, Murray, explained that hi* Order* were not obeyed. Th* Captain stated Pilot ordered her helm the wrong wav. The Captain of the Zealandla also complains to the Board of the unskilful handling of the vessel by the Pilot. NEW PLYMOUTH, Yesterday. The body of a man named James Bchargoer, was found this morning in about eight feet ef water, at about three hundred yards from the mouth of the Waiwakeho River. The man wa* a settler al Fitsroy, and is supposed to have committed suicide when laboring under a fit of insanity. KUMURA, Yesterday. A groat die broke out last night in Mrs Cooper'* fruit *hop occupied by Mr* Robert Brown, at 10.30 o’clock, and apread from Adamaen'a baker’* shop to Wood's, baker; all completely destroyed. The building* burnt are—Adamson'*, baker, Mr* Brown’s fruit shop, Hamson’* Hibernian Hotel, Nicholson, commission agent, Spier*, book, seller, Masonic Hotel, Wood, baker, all gutted. Wood’s bakery, at the back is standing, but the shop was pulled down to prevent the fire extending to the Shamrock Hotel. Except in Mrs Brown’s, most of the goods were removed, but very much damaged.