The Daily News MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19. STAR CHAMBER COURTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8051, 19 February 1906, Page 2

The Daily News MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19. STAR CHAMBER COURTS.

Counsel in a divorce case heard in Wellington a day or two ago applied to the judge for permission to cletv the court, because ilie evidence that might be given wouldn't be good for the public. If it were going to be bud for the public, it was going to be bad for the police, the lawyers,"reporters, and judge. The " people " do not crowd to hear divorce cases, but a divorce case will always " draw," Courts in New Zealand are not built for the accommodation of large audiences. So that the public hearing of a divorce case isn't a particularly far-reaching ad'air. The open door of our courts typifies the open hand of justice. When a judge closes the doors of a court (or tui rs the public out), he suggests that he is about to hear something that the people before him him desire to be hushed up. He also suggests that he may ba biassed, by undue clemency to the wrong-doers.

It doesn't matter whether the audience at a court are there t) satisfy a prurient curiosity, 11 se3 justice meted out, or to pass away an idle hour, no judge, magistrate, justice of the peace, mayor, or chauman of any public body, entrusted with the public business, has any moral right to constitute himself president of a Star Chamber, Why pander to the feelings of the adulterer by beeping the public eye ofl' him? Tt is usually only where the alleged social status of the parties to divorce proceedings isgood, that the petition of counsel for the case t j be heard in camera is listened to. The fact that divorce is now made even more easy in New Zealand, by legislation passe 1 during last session, is a further reason why the proceedings in these cases should be made public, bjth by having the court doors wile open and by having the particulars published in the papers. The Press is very discriminating, and portions of the Press do a great deal more harm in pandering to "Society," in withholding matters of this kind, than they would do to society as a whole by furnishing a full reuort. * # * # Bias, both by B;nch and Press, was shown recently in Wellington, and although the cases were not as .serious as divorce, there was no earthly reason why full publicity should not have been given to them. We refer to some Hagront cases of shop lifting by women of social standing. Names were withheld, the women were veiled, and were treated with greit courtesy by the Magistrate, who—apparently speaking to the " gods " through the reporters—said he had sent some women to gaol a few years igo for the same thing. He, however, released these particular women, who were of higher social standing, and the incident is closed. The shop-lifting cases were heard before tho usual court time, so that the public should not attend. * * * « Adulterers and thiwves are well punished by having a gaping crcwd of people to stare at them. They are fairly served by having the whole circumstances minutely described in the Press. There are no civil proceedings invohlng a default by any person—except a child—which should be heard in camera, It is possible in New Zealand to have such a case heard before a magistrate, and the world not know. We don't say it is wrong, We ask you, Js it wrong 2 We oppose every seciet system of doing public business. We hate this Star Chamber business. If thieves and adulterers object to open court, why should judges pander to them ? Why should people sneak through a life of sin without having the finger of scorn pointr lat them ? Well, because a lawyer would tell you, it is bad for the public to hear these things. And yet Eve was allowed to eat of the fruit of the tree of knowlege of good and evil! LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The next Maori census will be taken during the first week in April. The Loyal Egmont Lodge of Oddfellows meets this evening, when some interesting correspondence is to be dealt with. On l'Jtli February, 1806, just forty years ago to-day. New Zealand was first connected by cable with the outer world. Jt is reposed in Hastings that the • Government have notified Archdeacon ' Williams that they intend to acquire a portion of Te Ante Estate for closer i settlement. The Marlborough .Sounds arc in ™#ny ways receiving increased attention. The Marlborough " Express " states that quite 2i)ll oil lauilclios are in use in the Sound*. A restaurant-keeper and a dentist, who are next door neighbours in a certain street, have fallen out, aud it is rather hard on the former that the latter should place a glaring announcement m his window to the effect, "Teeth sharpened to tackle tough, steaks." An idea of the extent of the rabbit plague is shown by the news from the Molong (Australia) district, where, bv fencing olf a tank aud putting troughs of poisoned water outside, one grazier k'lli'd oOUl) of tlio pest in two nights. The Ladies' Committee, with Mrs Dockrill at the head, are working very hard lo make the Garden Parly, to 1,,' given next Wednesday, a great success, and are providing fruit stalls, loliic stalls, afternoon tea, ice-cream, and refreshments of all kinds, also i( Gipsy (cut and a bran tub for the children. The committee report that a large number of tradesmen of the town are providing dresses for lue poster march, : Mr .James Ilendy, advance manager , for the Geach-Holloway Dramatic Company, which appears at the Thcatro ' Royal, New Plymouth, next Monday, ; in "Two Little Vagabonds," culled in ' to say that so popular was Miss Beat- i I rice Holloway's impersonation of " Dick in that play that, by special request, it will be repeated next Satur- s day night, at His Majesty's Theatl'c, Auckland, the occasion serving also as i a complimentary testimonial evening, j tendered by Auckland meatre-goei's, i

TIII3 BYiII'XOIIH Ol 1 ' BHBUMATISM ilifl \vlH|j[,nn. uf Vll<-U|«||tlslil ItaUidly leave no doulit its in wiiat is the mattei ) nilli 1 lie suirercr. She p pains are felt in llie wrisl, knee, elbow, nkle, or other joints, which are usually hot, red, and swollen. 'l'he pain often shifts from one joint to anothor - one day it may he the hand, Hie next perliaps, the foot 'is sefzud with lance-like pains—while Ihe part first all'eetcd inuv be much oastcr. No mailer • how severe the s; liptoms of rheumatism, Khemno will completely banish thorn, Hundreds of well known peo.lo testify its wondorfnl [lower of conquering rheiimaisni. Price 2s 6d and 4s lid, from all chemists auUstoes,

The " Otaifo Daily Times" states I that a large quantity of bananas, e: | Manuka, was condemned by Inspccto j Gladstone, oi the Health Dcpartmcn j as being unfit for human consumption, j About two hundred cases in all were! ordered to be destroyed. i An exchange says that tho expense of Mr H. Cowin, who contested th . Westland soiit at the late Pavliamei. j tary election, amounted to 2s 10c' ! which probably constitutes a record i. - ! its kind for tlio colony. The jurymen at an inquest receull. held at Kaituna (Canterbury) staleu that they did not want to take the jnr. j fees, and the coroner, Mr V. G, Dn / ; to whom the money was handed, phi. | ed the amount in the poor-box at t'.. \ Christehurcb Magistrate's Court. i Owing to reduction having been c ricd at the late option poll in Mai kau, a stirring contest is expec. .: among the representatives of the rh ] parties in the district on March 13 i when the election for licensing c 0... j missioners will be held !

Charles Wills, about 45 yeurs of a;,-, died recently of thirst in the bush si Mundi Mundi, near Lake Dismal s. tion, in the Broken Hill district, N<.-t£ South Wales. He was found in lxtremis, and died after taking a dri.. of water, given him by tho stati' . mauagor.

The Commonwealth military autli. ities are about to issue regulatk which will tend to reduce the taile : bills of officers. Some of the elabo-: uniform suits which officers are ca' c upon to purchast cost as much as i 1 and this prohibits the appointments ng held by men except of priv >• means.

The Recreation Sports Ground C. mittee have arranged that all clule taking part in the procession to Garden Party on Wednesday wil admitted to Ihe grounds free. Spe arrangements have been made for s plying the children with afternoon : for which they will be chargedpence.

A Park Hill (Otago) fanner infoi the Tapanui "Courier" that seag have caused the death of a nunibci sheep in that locality. When woolly sheep get cast the birds att: ed them, picking their eyes out. , before shearing it was necessary tc through the paddocks frequently.

Fish of various kinds have I more plentiful in the waters along West coast of the South Island ( ing the last month or two than been the case for some years. (~ hauls of groper, kahawai, cod, He herrings, etc., sivj's the "(. Star," have rewarded Ihe efforts fishermen.

The football clubs in South T naki are calling meetings to arm for the fitting receptions being tendi to Messrs Glasgow, Hunter, O'Sul.i ■" and Glenn, their representatives in • New Zealand football team. Star and Tukapa Clubs are also sidering the question of aecordii, fitting welcome to their l'cpresentatMessrs Abbott and Mynott.

A contemporary has the follow . —He told his sou to milk the ci feed the horses, slop the pigs, hunt eggs, feed the calves, catch the colt put him in the stable, cut some wt split up some kindlings'for niori stir the cream, put fresh water in creamery after supper, and be sure study his lessons before he wen bed. Then he went to the Farn, Club to discuss the question: "Ho Keep Boys on the Farm." " Cairo Pilgrim " sends to the . don newspaper "Vanity Fair" Ik lowing clipping from a local paper, is not without unconscious huino; " Mohammed Ben Ali Yusuf in . the nobility and Cairo smart sei lie has opened a high-class resta shop at No. 3 Sharia Manakb, ■ Everything A 1 and dirt cheap. 1. quite wo.ideiful. NB. Delec music every evening,"

As an evidence of the; delay iu work of shearing iu tin' back con. ihe North OUigo " limes ' men that .the H ikataramea Station tneneed shearing in November, am just cut out. Tc Akatarewa tool weeks to get through, and Wai' has just started. This is the 1 period for commencing shearing in history of the disti 'ct.

In consequence of the bad wea. the attempt to refloat the Addend, been pc -tponed indefinitely, says " Waira apa Leader." The skids been lvaslie ' n ay by the rough and the cradle on which the t rested is damaged. In eonscqi the vessel now has a considerabl. to one side, The arrangement fo attempt to refloat the Addenda almost complete, and the destru work of the sea will mean a loss t M'Dougall, the owner.

The marine inquiry into the sti ing of the Kapiti at the Patea Hin December last, was held at I last week. After a lengthy exar. tion of the pilot, the Court found the accident occurred through insufficiency of water in the chn between the bar and spit, coupled a very strong set to eastward ; thr steering gear, machinery, and i appliances of the vessel were in order. The Court found that blame is attaeliablo to anybody, that each party pay their costs inci. tal to the enquiry. •

[ Tlio returning officer for Oaii tile IS ortli Otago" Times" uiidersli. has received inslriiotious to olec. Licensing Committee, notwitlistaiiuii thatOainaru is now a no-license iii district. Our contemporary points > , tliat the Act of 1895 contained a ::: viso that where 110-license had carried no committee should be elei l)iit tlie Act of lyox omits that pro and the committee must tlierpfqr, elected, and must hold quarterly n., ings, though there is nothing for lii; ing committees lo do, If any me. .7 is absent from two consecutive ir, tings he loses his seat. The Cc and Borough Councils will have to the cost of the ridiculous election.

Extraordinary things in coniicc.. with the great match against W are reported by the ''Daily Mail'' hiU'o Ijitppoiit'il In tlio Itliondda Va. Scores ot Welsh colliers had sti. their full fortnight's wages on * Welsh team. Never in the histor Rugby footballers has such uaboui. confidence in Welsh sport been sin, - by the mining inhabitants of Sc Wales. One enterprising wori.... collier at Perth, having bought a h*... 1 and furnished it neatly, staked whole oi : ]us property on W;. ... Though betting has not got a ■; Ijriii hol4 oi( the ii(ore resnec..'; \\ elsh colliers, the most uvtraoint r bets have talcii place over lllilteh. Two ithomlda trade; staked X'lo'l merchandise each • Wales would win. There is a "house of call" .. Egmont street, quite of the C'„i . ental plan. At the A C Store, ainuiu cai] enjoy hu eigami.f 01' pipe n a eosy sitting-room, writ •_ letter or two, play his g.iuio of ches. . draughts, aud Ihon continue his |1... liess. 1 lore, the morning paper, "Daily News," Mid the Welling • ''lunes" Win be purchased with . oarly morning smoke, E, 7 Deldcn, the proprietor, has a smoke suit anybody, Call in,—Advt,

MERIT KEWAnnKD 13V C'JU-tT 0 JIJSTICB.

Iho acknowledged good qualities ■ success of SAXi)i'.,i ,\ni) Sqms' : xtuaot have bi'iaigbt qut many taUons, ami nno true wah Just tried ir. bupteaic Court of Victoria, before Honor Chief Justice Sir J Madden, 1...: M.U., etc.

His honor, iu giving judgntent, . fchut U'i(one\'Ci i an avUolo is oonamcntlor tlie puUic by reason of its good qua * t'lu., it is not purmissivo to imitate air its foatuvQs. Kcstrainjng tho JniUu pei'iiotitully IVom doing so, he ot'de them to pay all osU pnhli }) this to afford tho peopl. omx)rtunity of prolocting iliemsolvcs, of scouring what is proved beyond doubt by skille<l witnesses at the £ ; rcroe Court of Victoria, and bv ir aiilbovilifis during tho last !U yoar« to )>■ ])roparation of genuine merit, viz.:— liik Grnuinr Sandbr & Soxs PUKK A'OLvm.K Eucalypti JiXTfiACJ.