DUNEDIN.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 356, 16 May 1874, Page 2

DUNEDIN.

{From our own Correspondent,') The groat trial, Mocassay w. Bell, has been * fruitful source of amusement and information to the general public. During the course of its hearing, wo hare had an insight into the amenities of legal relationship of quite a varied nature, and the status of more than one member of the " Devil's Own "" — for the benefit of those of your readers who may not be aware of it, I may be perhaps be pardoned for stating that this is the title given to the legal fraternity in some quarters — has not been j much raised by a more intimate acquaintance with, their unworthy squabbles and ill-feeling towards each other. We hare the rather undignified spectacle of Mr. Barton alluding iv open Qonrt to private disagreements between two of -his brother " learned friends "—" — an allusion quite uncalled for, and all the more so seeing that Mr. Barton himself was the primary cause of the estrangement between Messrs. Macasscy and Smith, the other two gentlemen. That Mr. Smith felt very greatly Mr. Barton's allusion is evident by his conoluding remarks when replying to the latter : "As to Mr. Barton, his reference to the misunderstanding between myself and Mr. Macassey is most disgraceful, because he knows it is owing to me he has his present position at tha bar, because, going away in disgrace, when he returned to this country Mr. Macassey tried to keep him out, and I opposed Mr. Macassey. That is the cause of the quarrel." Then Mr. Macassey has, anything but increased in public estimation, and as a result of his unpopularity it is quite common to hear expressions of the complete ■atisfftction in which, his defeat if Tieirtd;

while the legal fraternity m a body come in for general anathema* at "cormormai*, " harpies," fte., now that they hare brotwht themselves so prominently before the panic. Ai part of the amusement incidental to tho case, we have Mr. Barton's ungenerous allusion to the "shabby genteel" appearance of a Queenstown witness, who i» described by the " little bird-like lawyer Iwho is constantly pecking at some one," as a person -who is eking out a precarious existence on a country newspaper, Mr. Barton arriving at this opinion of the circumstances of Mr. Manders, the said witness, by an inspection of that gentle* .man's costume. This draws forth a reply from Manders, to the effect that having presented himself for inspection before a fashion* able Princes-street tailor, he has no reason to be ashamed of a comparison drawn between bis wearing apparel and that of Mr. Barton, the hitter being pronounced as being much nearer allied to the "shabby genteel" than the maligned raiment from Queenstown ; while Mr. Mandors further vouchsafes to enlighten Mr. Barton as to the so-called precarious means of earning a livelihood, by stating that he had wished to resign his newspaper connection in consequence of his other business engagements demanding all the attention he could bestow upon them, with the further observation that he -had every reason to be satisfied with the liberality with which his literary efforts were recognised by the proprietor of the journal to which he contributed. Poor Mr. Barton, met on all sides by rebuffs and ill-usage, no wonder you are getting despondent ! Especially when it is quite a matter of public satisfaction that yon hare been discomfited. With Bishop Morsn dressing yon down on the one band, your legal brethern on another, and thai horrid " Daily Times '* adding its share of unkindly remarks, the cup of your misery must be full to overflowing. ' However, as that obnoxious journal remarks, "cheer up." The leaving out of Mr. Bastings from the Provincial Executive is not likely to prove a good move on the part of Mr. Eeid. From the first it was considered by most people to be a mistake, and the dissatisfaction expressed when the Executive was announced seems rather to have increased than lessened. Had Mr. Bastings been included in Mr. Reid's team, an Executive would have been formed which would have commanded the confidence of nearly everyone. As it is, much as constant changes of Government are to he' deprecated, there really does seem occasion to find fault with the constitution of the present one. Aa I observed in my last, it is hard to get at the bottom of Mr. Bastings having been Jeffc out, especially when his career during the time he has held office is remembered,— the indefatigable energy he has exhibited in his conduct of the affairs of the office under his control having been the subject of general remark. The remarks made in your hut issue concerning the dissooiation of the offices of G-oldfields Seeretarv and Secretary for Lands and Works, and the dissatisfaction that cannot help being expressed by residents on the goldfields at their member of the Executive being dispensed with, are coincided -with by all who give the subject attention. As a result of the dissatisfaction which has been growing, a caucus of the members of Council was held in the Provincial Council Library at noon today. I understand there was a large attendance, and that it was agreed to form an Opposition to test the strength of theGrovern* ment. To this end Mr. Bastings this afternoon gave notice that he would to-morrow move : " That the composition of the present Executive, and the land policy enunciated by it, do not command the confidence of the Council." Rumor says that the Opposition hare a majority.