The Temuka Leader TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 1887. CONTEMPT OF COURT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1561, 29 March 1887, Page 2

The Temuka Leader TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 1887. CONTEMPT OF COURT.

In the limaru Herald of last Saturday appeared an article dealing with the ship Lyttelton case. It went into the merits of the case thoroughly, holding that the plaintiffs could not obtain an attachment of the Karbor Board’s funds, as the way in which the money of the Board could be expended was strictly defined by law. The case his not been disposed of yet; the very point raised by the Herald must yet be submitted to Judge Johnston, and he will haye. to give his decision on it before anything can bo done. The Herald has therefore usurped the functions of the Court by offering opinions on the points which are yet sub judice ; it has dealt with the direct merits of the question at issue, and has consequemly committed a contempt of court. Now the proprietor of this paper was only last week severely treated for alleged comment on a pending lawsni*. In the matter which wo published there was not so much hs a single word dealing with the merits of the case referred to ;it showed pretty plainly that there was no feeling whatever in the matter, and that the writer did not care one straw which side would win. It was merely intended ss a humorous “ skit,” not calculated to do anyone barm, and only referred to actions which had no concern whatsoever with the subject matter of the pending lawsuit. On the other hand the Herald has dealt with the exact points which are still to come before the Court, and has offered a very decided opinion as to what the result must be in a leading article. To publish matter in sober seriousness as a leading article is a far graver offence than to publish it as a funny note, yet the Herald will doubtless escape punishment, while we have been punished. We know it will. It has frequently been guilty of similar offences ; it often commented on the Hall case before it was decided, and it always escaped punishment. Of coarse wbat it has written will not do the least harm one way or the other, and we only point this out just to show that it has been guilty of a graver offence than that for which we have been punished.