PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1919, 20 July 1889, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

JUDGE WAE».

A motion has been carried in both Houses for the production of oorres- ! pondence between Mr Hislop, the Celonial Secretary, and Judge Ward, upon the subject.of the sentenceJMi imprisonment pronounced by the latter upon Christie, an Oamaru bankrupt, who has presented a petition to' Parliament about the matter. It is hinted ; that Mr Hislop called on Judge Ward to give his reasons for a particular interpretation of the law.; This was strongly resented by Judge Ward, as an evident attempt to interfere with him. Hence'the extreme warmth of the letters that are now to be produced. The story is that Cheistie, who was sentenced to four months' imprisonment, was a client of Messrs Hislop and Creagh, who are in practice in Oamaru as solicitors; that the latter acted as a junior eounsel at the trial, and that Mr Hislop rwas in Court several times during the trial. It is further stated that after the trial a petition was sent to Judge Ward, with a most improper letter from a Minister of the Crown, In this letter it was plainly pointed out that Judge Ward was indebted himself to the prosecuting Company, and that his interest had at times been in arrear. Judge Ward replied to this that it was true that he had given a mortgage over certain property to the Company named, but that his interest had never been six months in arrear. Mr Fergus, the Minister for Justice, afterwards came into the case, and informed Judge Ward that he was in error in supposing that MrHißlop had acted in any way except as a Minister of the Crown. Judge Ward then all the facts connected with . and proceeded to turn Mr Hislop's letter inside out. Judge Ward also stated that he utterly refused to admit that the Minister for Justice had a right to demand from a Judge an account of his relations with a criminal creditor or suitor that might appear.before him, and stated that if either Mr Fergus or Mr Hislop had any charge to make against him in respect of this case he was quite ready to meet it. Mr Fergus then replied, stating that the Government looked upon Judge Ward's views on the pecuniary relations with the gravest displeasure, and that he considered that whenever it becomes known that a Judge had pecuniary relations as described, it becomes the duty of the Minister for Justice to intervene. This seems rather strong from the Minister for Justice to a District Judge. It is asserted, on what appears to be good and reliable authority, that the correspondence will clearly show one of two things: either that Judge Ward is unfit to remain on the bench, or else that Mr Hislop should retire from the Ministry. I<EaiSLATITE COUNCIL. The Honorable Lords have thrown out the Bill to reform the Council, l(h being for it and 21 againßt it. Hon. Mr Scotland, in the course of the debate, said that if an angel from Heaven tried to frame a Bill to reform

the Council lie could not do it. # All that can be done with them now is to give them no honorarium. That will reform most of them readily. SCHOOL OP AGBICULTTTBE. A Bill to reform the Lincoln School ef Agriculture is about to be introduced. It proposes to give the Governor power to appoint three trustees, who will spend money as directed by file Minister of Education, and a council of twelve, nine of whom shall be selected annually by agricultural and pastoral societies. The colony is Jjo* be divided into nine districts for jfbe purposes of election, * ME JOHN KEEE. ! In the discussion on the. 8 hours Bill Greek met Greet. Mr Taylor, member for Sydenham, was in charge ef it, and was made the butt of all the witticisms the House could bring to bear on it; Mr Taylor refused to • answer questions, and Mr Kerr complained that he, was treating the House with "impunity," which was his way of' saying he waß treating them with contumelyi This is only second to the chamois. BASK OP NEW ZEALAND. The Bill to enable the Bank of New Zealand to remove its headquarters to London passed with scarcely any opposition. It slipped through quietly; just as would .anything else the Bank wanted. This is almost the only inititution we have had which had its headquarters here, and we have lost it. "We shall remain a mileh cow for London capitalists until they milk us ) into insolvency without a doubt. "*\ CONTEESION OP STOCK. Two and a-half million of old 5 per cent, bonds are to be converted into stock bearing interest at the rate of 3f per cent. Thus 1£ per cent, will be saved to the colony. THE HABE SYSTEM. The Bill involving the Hare system has been withdrawn, but it is said ■ome of the members intend to resuscitate it in the new Representation Bill, •■••■' LICENSING COMMITTEES. A Bill providing for the triennial election of. licensing committees has passed. An attempt to give votes to women was lost only by two, and several ef those who voted against it said they did because they thought it inopportune. We shall have female franchise before long in this colony, GBANT ES - AID. Efforts are being put forth to procure a grant of land for the daughters of the late Mr James Macandrew, who are in straitened circumstances. If ever a family deserved consideration at the hands of the State the Macandrew family does. No better man ever entered the Parliament of New Zealand than Mr Jas. Macandrew.