The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1883.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4574, 1 September 1883, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1883.

We learn by a Sydney telegram that the proprietors of tbe Sydney Morning Herald hare been fined £250 for commenting un« fareurably on tbe conduct of Judge Innes ia a case lately heard in the Supreme Court in the sister colony. The institutions and manners of the Sydney people are all moulded on old forms and tbe coneevratmsm of past years; rery little progress ban been made in the ideas of the people, and this only, can be assigned as the cause of tbe recent trouble our contemporary, the Sydney Morning Herald, seems to hare been in for some time past. Some months ago the Herald pro* prletors were importuned bya Mr Anderson to send a reporter to' visit tbe Artisan's Working College and Agricultural Training School at Middle Harbor, and they accordingly did so. From the observations of the reporter, and statements made to him by boys attcuding or connected with the institution, the Herald published

some very unfavorable comments on its working and conduct, and Mr Anderson, feeling aggrieved took an action against the newspaper and succeeded in recovering damages. A very serious principle is involved in this matter, and one which materially effects the liberty of the Press, and consequently, the privileges of the people. la this case we have a newspaper being cast in damages for commenting, on the management of a semi public institution, after it being shown—as Mr Darley, Q.C., counsel for the defence, fpointed out*— that the editor of the Herald had been frequently importuned to send a member of the staff of that journal to report on the institution, and having sent a gentleman who was an exceedingly careful and accurate reporter, and who had truthfully reported what he saw and was told by the boys, privilege was established in the absence of evidence of express malice. It is not our intention to enter into the merits of the libel case beyond, stating that the effect of preventing legitimate comment in relation to such institutions is likely to be most disastrous ; bur chief object now is to point out the dangers to society which are certain to arise should the Press be muzzled in its criticisms on the public acts of public officials holding high, and important positions over the people;, officers in fact, who have the personal liberties of the people in their keeping. The Judges of the Supreme Court have extraordinary powers, and placed in the hands of indiscreet men, or those with overpowering notions of their own importance and dignity, it is apt to fare ill with any unfortunate who may chance to get "between the wind and their., nobility." Some time after this case was concluded, a slander action arose in which the same plaintiff (Anderson) took a part, and the Herald, not coinciding with the Judge's action in the matter, was rash enough to say so. Mr. Justice Innes, has, it appears, been acting somewhat peculiarly in both trials ; at the first he very improperly declined to receive in evidence the reports made to the Government by one of [its officers and [a doctor, and { apparently displayed some unfriendliness to, not to say bias against, the newspaper proprietors in the action; and for commenting on the Judge's conduct in the second case, the journalist was brought before their majesties—these sovereigns of the ;law, and find £250. It is farthest from our desire to, in the remotest degree, lessen the awe in which Judges are and should be held, or to ignore the necessity for the establishment and observance of law and order, by attempting to weaken the effect of the power placed in the hands of these functionaries; but there is such a thing as a boundary to the latitude to be allowed those who shew the least inclination towards an abuse of that power. It is only ju?t and right that the Press should be kept in proper check also, and justly punished if it attempt to violate the liberty it should be allowed ; but the strong rule of the Bench places the other, to a certain extent, in its power, and thus we have the collision in question, the result of which has shewn that the occupants of the Bench may err; and we must suppose for the purpose of asserting its possession of those enormous privileges we have referred to, and to vindicate the action of one of themselves they have committed the foolish action of attempting to smother just criticism and legitimate comment. There is not the' least doubt that the newspaper in this case, although compelled by a Court to pay a fine for offending a member of that Court, and one who sat and adjudicated in the hearing of the case in which be was to a great extent concerned, will have the satisfaction' of, being supported by public sympathy, and that the voice of the people will declare in its favor.

The services at St. George's Church of England to-morrow, will be conducted by the Rev. J. Haseldon.

ME9SBS Hefcheiingtori and Scbofield and Moore announce that they are openiDg ap their new seasons' goods which hare just arrived, advertisements in another column are worthy of perusal. We learn that the directors of the Peep Level Cross Co. have voted £5 to the funds of the Gh-abnmstown Fire Brigade, other companies «hould follow this v good example and contribute to the working expenses of a verj useful institution. Sbevices will be conducted as follows tomorrow :—Wesleyan Churches: Rev. W. Morley ; collections in aid of the Building and Loan Fund. Congregational Church : Rev. T. Adams; subjects, morning, "Emmanuel —God;" evening, lecture on Pilgrim's Progress. Oddfellows? Hall: xMr B. S. Taylor will lecture on " Heaven-r-where is it?"

NOMIKATIOK of candidates for seats in the Borough Council for Thames North, Central, and South will be made on Tuesday next.

The Thames Central Licensing Committee met to»day and confirmed the, transfer of the license of the Hazelbank Hotel from J. Tonkin to'T. Q-odkin. There were present Messrs Honiss, in the chair, Carpenter, Danhy, and WhiteJ>ead. '

The quarterly competition for the District Pelt eventuated at the range to-day. In the Morning equad the highest scorers were:—J. Floyd, N.A., 84; Bandsman Gill, N.A., 82; P. Weir,'N.A., 74; T. Johnston, N.A., 70 j J. Cameron, N.A., 64. .

The following telegram was posted at the Corner this morning from the manager of the New Prince Imperial: —" Icvrfc specimens last night, seventh stope, No. 2 section weßt, No. 5 level, which have been crashed.', Betorts on with 3100ozs amalgam. —Or. S. Ciabk."

Thehe wus no attendance at tbe Court today of the Thames North Licensing Cjmmittee. There were three transfers to be confirmed, viz.: Shotover Hotel, Tararu, GK Comer to Mary Hogan; Boyai Hotel,Tararu,T. Godkin to'J. Tonkin; and Hotel, T. Heron to B. Biobards. Tbe meeting waa adjourned sine die.

Thb District Engineer invites tenders for supplying and erecting fittings to the bouse, Te Aroba,

The ri sectors of the New Prince Imperia' Q-.M.Co. have declared a dividend of 8a per share, payable on Friday next. This absorbs £7,200, and is the largest dividend the company has yet declared. The total amount paid to the shareholders since the company started is £30,600, or 34a per share. The Bright Smile have declared a dividend (the second) of 6d per share, payable on Saturday next.

P. QtflNiiAir/who committed suicide in tKe. bush near Puriri on Thursday, anived at the Thames from Auckland on the previous Sal> urday, and left Thames for the country on Sunday. ■ ;

The footpath on the north side of Mary street is about to be forced, and when the fine weather sets in, it is intended to asphalt it; wefwould suggest to, the authorities the advisableness of laying down white pavement similar to that placed on a portion of the west side of Owen street. It would not only be a great convenience to ordinary passengers but an improvement to the street if the pavement were carried past St. George's Church and the Hospital to Baillie street.

The programmel of Herr Carl Sohmifct's concert, to be given in the Academy of Music on Thursday next, appears in anothar column.

Tbndebs are muted till Saturday next for working on tribute several blocks in the Welcome Extended and Young New Zealand mines, Waitekauri.

A NOTICE to defaulting shareholders in the New "Whau G.M.Co. appears in our advertising columns. ;

The following is a copy of a telegram received yesterday by Capt. Wildman, who will, we understand, take action in the matter as soon as he has received the fuller information referred to by Mr T. Sheehan:—•' Wei. lington, 31st August, 1883.—Capt. Wildman, Thames Navals, Thames.—ln reference to the thirty pounds given by me for prizes to be competed for by Thames Volunteers, I would like that the money should be Bpent in the purchase of a substantial trophy to be competed for by all persons who were members of the volunteer force at the Thames when I informed you of nvy intention to give the money. You are aware that I always considered Thames Volunteers had been treated shabbily by Government over Parihaka business. 1 will esteem it a favor if you will so arrange to allow every member of the disbanded corps to enter the lists. Should you accept my suggestions to purchase a trophy, I desire that'it may bei ordered from a local jeweller. Captain Bennett will give you fuller information in: detail, as he is now present here.—(Sgd.) J. Shbehak."

A CONCERT and dance in aid of the funds for getting up tbe Catholic Bazaar will come come off next Tuesday evening at t,he Hibernian Hall, Hall, Shortland. The necesity of getting up some entertainment to raise money to procure material to enable the ladies to work up articles to furnish the,several stalls with, has been long apparent, and, as the object of the bazaar is for a good purpose, it is to be! hoped that the efforts of the ladies who hare worked bo hard since its inception,will be seconded by the charitable and well-dis-posed to enable th«m to accomplinh what they hare set their hearts oh— *o open the bazaar in November next. If Tuesday's entertainment prore successful from a monetary point of view, itis the intention of the committee to got up like ones erery fortnight or monthly, dae notice of which will ba given through, the Press.

Bx the cutter Rangatfra the Herald learns that at the Great Barrier a school of Biz whales'has been captured. It appears that on Monday last a large whale was observed ashore on the north-east side of tbe island, and a short time afterwards fire smaller ones were discovered to have got hummed in inside a reef by the ebb tide. John Palmer, who resides on the island, and who is an old whaler, at once proceeded to the spot, and very soon, under his management, the whole school was captured. It is expected that some five tuns of oil will be the result of the haul.

.TendFES for the erection of a schoolhouse at Puriri will be received by the Auckland Education Board up to Friday, 21st September. ,

Thb projected walking match between Edwards, of Melbourne, and young Scott, of Dunedin, is likely to fall through. Mr Seymour, who came from Melbourne to arrange it, stipulates that it must come off in three weeks time, and Scott would not hare sufficient time to. train.

While the Coromandel County Council were sitting on Thursday, •Mr MoG-uire marched a big cart horse all covered with mud right into the house, to, demonstrate the necessity of something being done promptly to repair the road, the said horse having fallen with a load of coal at Kapanga, and been nearly smothered in the mud.

A patbcee of 3 tons of quartz from the Golden Hill 'No. 1 claim, at the Te Aroha old field, is being put through the Herald mill, and the result will be to hand on Monday. The claim has been formed into a company, but the parcel in question was taken out by the old proprietors. The ten-bead battery at Morgantown is being put in repair, and crushing will probably be commenced in about a fortnight.

The Tablet states that '-Messrs W. Redmond and W. Walsh' leave Melbourne for Auckland on September 6, and that Mr J. E. Redmond, M.P., will follow in due course. :

The Auckland lady's donation of £1000, if; now appears," has fallen to the Women's Home .Fund in that city, and not to the Soripture Gift Association.

Thb annu >1 meeting of the' Danedin Chamber of Commerce was held yestarday. The outgoing Cbairman in his speech referred to tbe dull times, and said trade was worse than last year. He pointed out that the large Joint Stock Companies which had ootne into vogue were doing away with individual merchants. These Joint Stock Companies possessed lame capital borrowed in the 1 ondon market at half the rate of interest the local bankers' charge; against this no private enterprise could successfully compete. They pointed oat that the profits are not spent in the colony, but go to the support of a class of absentees whose only interests in tbe country were the dividends they were receiving from it. The Chamber passed a resolution viewing with satisfaction the assurance given by the Minietry that the Otago Central line wduld be opened to Sutton in two years.

A gkeat storm visited Coromandel district on Thursday night. The yacht Perseverance started for Cabbage Bay. bit had to run back to Beeson's island, One of the party on board, named Ford, is reported missing.

It is stated that the very centre of the earth is the only spot where one can be merry all the time, and the reason is that, as science tells us everything there loses its gravity. ___ , &