Our Auckland Letter.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3932, 5 August 1881, Page 2

Our Auckland Letter.

(from our own correspondent.)

Yesterday. THE LAWYERS AND SIE G. GREY's BILL

Private wires from Wellington state that in all probability Sir George Grey's new Law Bill, for the. admission of solicitors and barristers to practice in our Law Courts, will pass the Lower House ] and get killed by Ministers' influence, ! backed up by Dr Pollen and other ardent j admirers of the advisers of His Excellency. ■ However, whether the proposed measure i becomes law or not this session, it is ! almost certain to quickly be found among \ the statutes of the colony, at all events very shortly after the House meets sub sequent to the general elections. Your j readers are no doubt aware that Sir j George Grey brought in a bill in 1880 to 1 enable Mr DeLatour to go up for exam i ination, he being articled to a Gisborne practitioner, and as he only claimed exemption for the number of days he attended to his parliamentary duties, it was thought the concession would have been sanctionad in his case as the honorable member for Mount Ida is an ornament to the Colonial Assembly, besides having the reputation of being a most talented gentleman. What was the result ? Mr F. A. Whitaker member for Waipa took all the advantages of the forms of the House to throw out the bill, made himself very obnoxious over the whole business, and ultimately having carried out his sweet will in the matter, had to apologise for bis conduct in the House. This, no doubt, is the outcrop of Sir George Grey's general measure for the admission of aspirants for the law to go up for examination and if successful to enter on the duties of their calling. A good deal may be said for and against the contemplated alteration for the admission of members to the legal profession, but in the colonies as one man is looked upon as good as another, it is only reasonable thai facilities should be offered to men of ability to enter into the particular avocaiion to which they think they are best fitted. So far as the Auckland gentlemen of the long robe are concerned, I believe they are against the bill, and solely I believe, because it will largely interfere with vested interests if it be made a unit in the laws of the colony. There has been a good deal lately said, and especially in the House, about the non-political feeling of the Judges, but I must conjecture the opinion that notwithstanding what may be said both by honor able members and newspaper writers, very few people who have resided in the colony for any length of time will unanimously endorse the opinion that th- re is not sometimes judgments given and opinions expressed by their Honors which do not exactly coincide with what one might expect. As a rule, however, the Judges of all our Courts give satisfaction. When the late Judge Beckham presided in the Auckland Police, R. M ., and District Courts he showed a strong feeling against Mr J. B. liussell one of our leading city practitioners. It culminated, however, in the late lamented Justice having to make public apology to Mr Russell, and since then we have heard but little of the strong bias of those magistrates who preside in our local Courts except in one or two cases in which Mr Barstow gave judgments. Speaking of Mr Barstow, I believe that gentleman is paving the way for his severance from the public service during the present year on a pension for long service. This vacancy, when it follows will give Ministers another fitting opportunity for providing for one of their needy office seekers. PRESENTATION TO MR ]?. MACKAE. The late head master of the Auckland College and Grammar School I notice has had a purse ol two hundred and seventeen sovereigns presented to him by his friends and admirers, and as I have been supplied with a list of subscribers from a reliable source, I give them as under:—Judge Gillies, £25 ; Rev. D. Bruce, £25 ; J. M. Clark, Esq., £25 ; D. C. McMillan, Esq., £10 10s ; F. Larkins, Esq , £10 10s; Mr John Hay, £10 10s ; Mr Harrison, Herald, £5 ss; Mr Berry, Herald, £2 2s; Mr G. M. Main, Herald, £2 2s; Elon. Jas. Williamson, £5 ss; Mr F. Battley, £5 5s ; Mr R. H. Stevenson, £1 Is; Mr Peacock, £2 2s ; Dr Campbell, £5 5s ; Col. Haultain, £1 Is ; Mr Alexander and others, £34; private admirers, £47 2s. Total, £217. In addition to the above, the following presentations have been, or are about to be made :— Mr H. Brett —Not yet specified, as it is understood this gentleman intends to inuke a private presentation. Mr Leys —A. complete file of the Auckland Evening Star for the half-year ending 30th Jaue, 1381, containing nn accurate account of the Grammar School enquiry. Rev. C. M. Nelson —Copy of the revised edition of the Now Testament for the use of Mr McOrae's new school. P. D. Fenton, Esq —New violin for Mr McOrae's pupils. J. M. Dargaville, Esq.—Revised edition of quarantine arid detention regulations. Sir Q-. M. O'Rorke —Copy of standing orders of tne House, for the information of the boys who intend contesting for Parliamentary honors. J. M. P. Brookfield, Esq.—A bound copy of the New Native Land Laws. J. A. Tole, Esq. —A new chapter for the University. S. B. Biss, Esq.—Copy of the Postal Guide. The injured innocence put on by Mr MoCrae in his reply was truly refreshing, and as no doubt his remarks were set up, and the proof examined before being printed, they are sure to form a valuable record. MrMcCraestated: "This meeting with you today has been so unexpected that I oau only give expression to my most hearty thanks for the kind sentiments to whioli Mr Firth has given expression to me personalty." THE WELLINGTON MEETING BE THE IRISH LAND QUESTION." The Auckland Herald is " pouri" over the land meeting at Wellington on Irish affairs. The curt way in which its telegrams disposed of the speeches of Sir George Grey and Bishop Redwood shows its leanings. The lady in Wyndham street does not like to go against the movement editorially, but a paragraph in its local columns, evidently from the pen of one of the staff, is a gem in its way, and as it is worth re-publishing, here it is:—" Seeing a meeting has been held in Wellington to sympathise with the Irish Land League, whether it would be at all inappropriate to get a public meeting to sympathise with the unfortunate gentlemen who, although known to be guilty of wanton agrarian outrages, ; such as shooting men and children from i behind hedges, terrifying families by s nightly visits aud threats and ill-usage, <

not omitiing the slaughtering and maim* ing of cattle, the prop rty of poor people —yet can find no jury to convict; aud, at the same time, probably a subscription list would not be out of place to pay the expenses of the freight of the infernal machines, dynamite clocks, and other toys imported for the destruction of the base Saxons, who, as in the past so at present, do nothing for Ireland !"