THE PARNELL COMMISSION WITHDRAWAL OF THE PARNELLITES' COUNSEL. THE SCENE IN COURT. London, July 19.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 400, 7 September 1889, Page 5

THE PARNELL COMMISSION WITHDRAWAL OF THE PARNELLITES' COUNSEL. THE SCENE IN COURT. London, July 19.

Mb Stead gives the following description of the scene in Court on Tuesday morning when the Parnellites' counsel withdrew from the case :—: — "At the opening of the Parnell Commission this morning it was evident that something very unusual was afloat. There was thunder in the air. Early as the hour was, there cannot certainly have been such a crowd at the doors as was to be witnessed to-day since tht dramatic breakdown and flight of Pigott months ago. ' Why, even members of Parliament have not been able to get in,' said the usher to our representative as he elbowed his way through the dense mass into the body of the room. "Everyone was asking his neighbour whether Sir Charles would or would not withdraw to-day, and an answer to questions on this point was quite unobtainable. No one seemed quite to know what was going to happen, but everyone was certain that whatever it was it would be one of the most interesting incidents that the Commission has afforded. " The Court was simply packed ; not an inch to spare ; and in the interval that elapsed before the arrival of the judges the subdued words, and, later, the growing silence became more and mere expectant and excited. Mr Parnell was in his usual place. Mr Davitt was not in Court, but with this one exception there was hardly a single habitue absent. All the counsel were there on both sides. Still the judges did not come. After a short time more of waiting and watching, the doors at the back of the bench opened and the three Commissioners entered. " Directly they had taken their seats, Sir Charles Russell rose, and without any roundabout phrases or introductory, plunged straight in medtas res. He rose, said he, as their lordships were doubtles3 aware, to announce his withdrawal from the case. He had received instructions from his client in this mattei\ and was following them in the action which he was taking. These instructions were written, and there could be no question of their meaning. We had received them at the last sitting, but he thought it more respectful to the Court to wait until this morning before announcing his withdrawal. Mr Tarnell, he continued, had most carefully thought over the whole affair, and had deliberately decided upon this course. The President answered that both he and his colleagues heard with great regret that they would no longer have the assistance of the learned counsel in this case. Those whom they represented would, however, be still as subject as before to the jurisdiction of the Court. When the President had finished speaking, Sir Charles Russell and Mr Asquith rose, and gathering their robes about them, left the Court. "Mr Parnell then rose and made an application to the Court which was listened to with profound attention. It was only an application to have a day fixed for the close of his cross-examination, so as to have it over before he went down to Edinburgh to receive the freedom ot the city. He did not specify what kind of public appointment it was, but he explained he wished to have his cross-examination closed before he resumed his public duties in the country. This Judge Hannen evidently thought most reasonable, and the Attorney promised that the cross-examina-tion should be closed, if possible, on Thursday. It was highly interesting to watch the faces of the Judges and the way in which each in his own manner watched the development of the proceedings. Judge Smith leant forward, all ears, with a look of keen and amused interest on his face. In no way vexed or moved, Sir James Hannen, on the other hand, in that same dignified attitude of his, listened alert and waiting, with anything but a pleased expression, and lookingasthougheachnewsentence was additionally unpleasant to him. How Justice Day was changed ! He was not asleep. It would not have been an unusual sbate perhaps, but this morning he was awake — veiy much awake. He had subsided into a reclining position as of collapse. Nevertheless, he was taking in all the words, with the fullest comprehension of their significance. "Then Mr Reid got up and announced that his clients had withdrawn his retainer. He only wished to say that Mr O'Kelly was in Court, and would appear if wanted. Some further remarks about another matter were curtlj' answered by the judge, who told him that he had the misfortune no longer to appear as counsel in the case. "'What about Matt Harris?' said Sir Henry James ? *Mr Lockwood will answer,' said Mr Reid ; and then Mr Lockwood announced that he also had been ordered to appear no more. Mr Matt Harris was in Court ready to appear if called upon, and, said Mr Lockwood in his most impressive tone, ' I may say on behalf of all those for whom we have appeared, they will treat with the utmost respect any summons from this this Court.' " 'I have already observed, 'said thePresidenb, tartly, • that nothing is changed in any respect excepting that we shall no longer have the assistance of counsel in the case. In every other respect the position is as it was. They are bound to present themselves before the Court if they have any information to give just as it was before.' "Thereupon silencs. " Then we all got up, and streamed out, wondering whether it would ever be worth while to come back."

The " Mataura Ensign " understands that a large slice of country— some 2,000 acres — from the point of the ridge near the Waitnea stream to the Riveredale Cemetery has changed hands, the sellers being the New Zealand Agricultural Company, and the buyer Mr Lee from Dunedin. The price was £6 per acre. Our Thames correspondent writes : — The news of the victory of Chas. Stephenson over J^Kemp, brother of the ex-champion, was received here with great satisfaction, as Stephenson, who is now about 24 years of age, resided at the Thames for many years. He was a son of the late Mr Chas. Stephenson, formerly book-keeper afc the Shortland Sawmill, and lefts here about four years ago. He formed one of the whaleboat crew for Northern Wairoa at the Auckland Anniversary Regatta, and some time ago proceeded to Sydney, where he challenged third - rate oarsruen to try conclusions with him. No match ensued, however, until J. Kemp, who is a second-rate sculler, accepted a challenge to row for £100 a-side, in which he has be&n defeated by Stephenson. While in Auckland, Hanlan spoke very highly of the winner of this contest, and judging by this performance there is a reasonable possibility that he may at no distant date become a sculler of some prominence. It may be mentioned that Stephenson was trained by Deeble, who so successfully brought out Beach and other well-known oarsmen, while J. Kemp was under the care of his brother, the exchampion. Stephenson has now a match pending against Searle.