CURRENT TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 244, 5 March 1913, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS.

AN ERRTNG JUDGE. Early lust montli the l"nited States ■Senate, sitting as a Court of Impeachment, found it necessary for the first time in its history to remove a Federal Judge from office. Mr. Justice Archbold! of the Federal Court of Commerce, was charged with using improper influence on the Erie Hallway Company to sell him certain coal properties at a lower rate than others were willing to pay. and was also accused of twelve other offences. He was found guilty on five counts by a two-tliirds vote of the Senate, as required by the Constitution. and was then formally removed from office and debarred from' ever again holding an office of trust or profit in the service of the United States Government. Under the Constitution no further punishment can be inflicted on a Judge, so that Mr. Archbold, who is reputed to have made a considerable fortune by "graft." may now retire to enjoy his gains in peace and quietude. A LOST TtELIC. The destruction by fire of the old (lag; staff at Russell last week leaves Xew Zealand the poorer by one of its most interesting historical relics. The flagstaff at Kororareka, to use the Maori name, was intimately connected with Hone ITeke's uprising in 1845. The Maoris of the north had been becoming increasingly resentful of the encroachments of the white soldiers and settlers, and were beginning' lo realise that their I very title to their native land was

threatened by the invaders. The flag that waved at Kororareka seemed to them to be ail emblem of tlieir subjection iui(l at last Hone Hoke gathered a band of tribesmen and boldly cut the staff down. The authorities erected it a sain and lieke deiiantlv repeated his deed. Then soldiers were sent from Australia, and the flagstaff was given a protective casing of iron, while a blockhouse was constructed beside it. But Heke and his men attacked Kororareka township in force, killed many of the soldiers, felled the flagstaff again, and finally burned the settlement. When the staff was erected for the fourth time, after peace hiul been restored, it stood unshaken for more than half a century, and it remained for a gorsc fire finally to compass its destruction. PLOUGHING BY DYNAMITE. A demonstration of ploughing by dynamite was given on a farm near London recently. The use of explosives for loosening heavy soils has become familiar in the I'nited States, where thousands of fanners have proved for themselves that the expenditure of about £7 an acre on dynamite and labor will be more than recouped in the first year by the extra yield of the crop, owing to the roots being given easy access to the subsoil. The process proved to be very simple. A farm laborer drove a crowbar into the soil with a sledgehammer to a depth of 3ft 6in, and then withdrew it with a specially designed lever. Another man dropped into the hole a cartridge with a, detonator and a fuse attached. The charges were placed at intervals of ten feet until all the ground had been covered, and then the "fuses were lighted. A series of muffled explosions followed, and the farmers who saw the turf still unbroken laughed at the idea that the ground had been "ploughed." But investigation with a spade showed that the subsoil had been broken and fissured in all directions. An expert said that the new crop probably would be twice as profitable, as the previous one had been, even without the use of manure. SUPREME COURT. The New Plymouth sessions of the Supreme Court'were commenced .yesterday morning. It is pleasing to chronicle that in his charge to the Grand Jury the Judge congratulated the district upon its immunitv from serious crime, and the fact that there have been no cases involving offences against women or children for the last two sessions, must afford general satisfaction to the community which doubtless looks forward to the day when it will be competent to present His Honor with a pair of white gloves. The whole of yesterday was taken up with the hearing of a series of charges against James A. Tuthill, late, licensee of the Taranaki Hotel, arising out of his bankruptcy. The jury retired at a quarter past six, and after a retirement of four hours brought in a verdict of not. guiltv on the second count —that of obtaining credit without any reasonable- expectation oE being able to meet his liability--but were unable to j agree on the other charge, which involved four counts of alleged fraudulent preference payments to his wife. r lhe accused was accordingly acquitted on the second count, while the other charge was set down for trial at the next sittings of the Court. Throughout, the day the Court was thronged with the general public, who ivere treated to numerous passages-at-arnis between judge and counsel for the defendant, Mr. T. M. Wilfoni. M.P. Two cases remain on the criminal calendar, and these will probably be disposed of to-day. They are: Edward William Stockman, breaking and entering, and theft, and Erank White, two counts, failure to account and theft. Possibly the civil list may I be reached late this afternoon.