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Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 67, 22 May 1869, Page 6

Judges in the Far West. — Dickens' "All the Tear Bound" in an article on " Judges and Juries in the Par West," has the following: — " There is in Idaho territory a judge who is well-known as 'Alec Smith.' A woman brought suit in his court for divorce, and had the discernment to select a particular friend of her own, who stood well with the judge, as her attorney. One morning the judge called up the case, and addressing himself to the attorney for the complainant, said: — 'Mr. H., I don't think people ought to be compelled to live together where they don't want to, and I will decree a divorce in this case.' Mr. H. bowed blandly. Thereupon, the judge turning to another attorney, whom he took to be the counsel for the defendant, said : ' Mr. M., I suppose you have no objection to the decree?' Mr. M. nodded assent. But the. attorney for the defendant was another Mr. M.; not then in court. Presently he came in, and finding his client had been divorced without hearing, began to remonstrate. Alec listened a moment, then interrupted, saying : — c Mr. M., it is too late. The court has pronounced the decree of divorce, and the parties are no longer man and wife. But if you want to argue the case, right bad, the court can marry them over again and give you a crack at it.' " The number of Presbyterian ministers in pastoral charges in Victoria is 97 ; in addition to these there are 13 unattached, ministers supplying vacant charges. The' number of ministers officiating in Presbyterian churches is 11Q. The number of churches and other" places of public worship is 327. The number of the congregations worshipping as members of the Presbyterian Church is. 38,941 ; the number of communicants, 10,126 j elders, 285 ; Sunday Schools/ 230; of Sabbath school teachers, 1,370 j of children attending Sabbath schools, 14,391 ; of those attending Bible classes, 1,847. The financial returns show that £68,420 have been contributed by the congregations for religious and charit-. able purposes, not including ;bhe con-, tributions to the Theplogical-ihall fund, and the aged and infirm ministers, fund. The debt on the churches, and manses amounts to £18,000, the greater portion being on the churches, of the richer congceg^tiqnj, *