TALK ABOUT TOWN.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 3, Issue 126, 28 February 1880, Page 2

TALK ABOUT TOWN.

" There's n ehiel among ye tatiu' notes, Aud faith he'll jireut thea>," A Supervisors' Library, I hear that Mr. James Laureusou has, or is about to make a very handsome and useful present to the Apia Board of Supervisors, of several volumes of the Victorian Statutes on condition that they shall be returned to him in the event of the Board collapsing. This would form tho nucleus of a valuable library for the Supervisors if other gentlemen would donate hooks on law in a similar manner. This is a hint that two or three might respond to with some of their spare or rarely used books. Meanwhile Mr. Supervisors, youv'o got weeks of good reading in those Statutes, so read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest, so that you will be able to frame some more regulations, for we haven't half enough yet—so the Printer says. Show the Municipal Board (especially the Secretary,) that they are not the only people who can draft regulations. Do not let them snub you so much as they have hitherto done, but remember that the public elected you as their representatives, and take your stand like gentlemen on that ground, or else resign. A Funny Decision. In the case Zeuibsch v. Bell, heard on Monday, before the Police Magistrate, wherein Bell was charged under Regulation XXXII. with having assaulted and molested Captain Zembsch, a member of the Municipal Board, the question as to the legality or otherwise of the Municipal Court was not decided by the Magistrate, although this was, to a certain extent, a test case, aud which ought to have been ruled by the Bench in oneway or the other, instead of being shirked. When the case was called, something like the following took place. Bell: " I refuse, Sir, to recognise this Court in anyway whatever ; I am not an Englishman born, but am a british subject, aud am willing to be tried before the Deputy Commissioner, in the High Commissioner's Court, put here by my Queen ; that's the only Court I know; this, I know nothing about, —don't recognise you." Tho Police Magistrate: " Have you brought your' witnesses 'i " Bell: " No ; do i not say I don't recognise this Court, and won't have anything to say in it." The plaintiff then called his witness, who said there was no assault committed, aiid the plaintiff himself said there had been a mistake in the indictment, aud ho would withdraw it. The Police Magistrate thereupon told Bell that the case was " dismissei I with a caution," at which Bell very naturally laughed, aud left the Court. ''Dismissed with a caution!" It could not be meant to be a caution not to again assault the German Consul-General, because he had not done so. Therefore, why the caution ? Again, as if he were afraid to tackle the question, the Police Magistrate sweetly ignored Boll's persistent protest against the authority of the Court. Perhaps he was deaf that morning; but the question is one which he will be bound to decide upon some of theße tine mornings, deaf or not. The decision in this case, therefore, may be read thus :—" You, 8011, defendant before the Court under your protect, to which wj do not pay any attention, are discharged with a caution not to do again that which you have not already done." Eureka! There's only one Magistrate's decision equal to this, which 1 heard delivered by the Police Court Magistrate in Tonga in a smuggling case, in which a white man was defendant. He gravely remarked at the conclusion of tho evidence, " You are not guilty, but don't do it again! " Cykil.