The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE, Proprietor. SATURDAY, JULY 9, 1898.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 312, 9 July 1898, Page 2

The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE, Proprietor. SATURDAY, JULY 9, 1898.

There is a Bill now before Parliament, " The Coroner's Act," which it is to be hoped will pass into law. It passed the Legislative Council last session and was transmitted to the Assembly. It provides for the holding of inquests by Stipendiary Magistrates, or in the event of a Magistrate of that rank not being able to hold the inquiry, any Justice of the Peace is empowered to do so. In either case the Magistrate id to hold an informal preliminary inquiry, and is endowed with discretion as to whether a formal inquiry is necessary. If a Stipendiary Magistrate, he is to record a memorandum that he does not think a formal inquiry neeessary. If not a Stipendiary Magistrate, he shall forthwith transmit the report, with a memorandum of such opinion to a Slipeudary Magis trate having jurisdiction in tho district, who shall record a memorandclum upon the report directing that a formal inquiry need not or that a formal inquiry shall be held and shall return the report to tho Coroner, who shall obey such direction. These precautions provide against the risk of a suspicious case being hushed up by a Justice, as the decision as to whether an inquiry shall be held rests with the Stipendiary Magistrate of the district, in fact, "the Bill in no respect lessens the probability of crime being detected than is the case under the law as it exists at present.

It may be urged against the Bill that Justices of the Peace will object to having the duties of Coroner thrust upon them; and again, that many of them would be found incapable of performing the duties ; as to the first objection, all we can say is that, if a man is not willing to perforin the duties of the office he has accepted, he should at once resign, and, if he is incapable of performing them, he should never have been appointed, and, if appointed, should at once be struck off the roll. When a man accepts a Justiceship he volunteers, as does his military brother, to perform certain duties for the State without fee or reward, and he should either perform them or resign. The most useful provision in the Bill is included in Clause 13, which provides that a coroner shall have power to commit a prisoner for trial on the finding of the jury ; in fact, is endowed with the same power as if he had held the inquiry whilst sitting as a Stipendiary Magistrate. This will avoid, as is the case at the present time, the absurdity of the evidence being first taken by the Coroner, and secondly by a Stipendiary Magistrate, which entails loss of time and money to the community. It will, we dare say, be in the recollection of our readers the great loss of time that took place over the trial of Scott, who poisoned the husband of the woman with whom be had improper relations. The Coroner's inquest took several days, and all the evidence had to be repeated in the Magistrate's Court before the man could be committed for trial at the Supreme. Court, when the evidence bad to be taken for the third time.

Mr John ICewish has been returned unopposed as a member of the Mangahoi Drainage Board. The captain of the gunboat Alarm reports that it is impossible to salvage any more of the Galatea's cargo unless the hull is destroyed by explosives. Owing to the carpenters having possession of the Cambridge Public Hall, Pastor Steed's service to-morrow night will be held in the Oddfellows' Hall. Last week Mr Steed traced the Bible back to the dark ages, 10-morrow he will give proof of its existence before that time, aud will do so by evidence furnished by its greatest enemies.

The first election of trustees for the Ngaroto-Drainage District resulted in the return of Messrs D. Cavanaah, E. Ell's, T. Fry, G. Finch, and W. J. Hunter. A telegram from Wanganui last nicht states tint the barqucntine St. Kilda, which stranded on the bar. has been floated off. About 100 tons of coal were jettisoned. The vessel sustained uo damage. Wo understand that Mr P. Le Qnesne has disposed of his store in Hamilton East on a long lease to Mr H. W. Pennington, formerly of Tamahcre. The change will take place at the end of a couple of months. At Messrs McNicol and Co.'s Ohaupo sale on the 19th hist., they will offer 80 choice four-year-old bullocks, from Mr J. W. Ellis, Puketiti. The cattle from that country always command a ready sale, aud as the above lot have been eight weeks on turnips and are very forward, there should be litt'.e difficulty in disposing of then. The Pukekura Mutual Improvement Society was re-organised last Tuesday evening, and from the great interest taken in it we believe that, it will prosper. The principal business was to elect officers for the ensuing session, and a strong committee was formed to work the society. The next meeting is to be held in the Cambridge West Public Hall on Thursday, the 14th insf., the evening being set aside for songs, readings, recitations, etc.

At a meeting of the Hamilton Chess Club, held on Tuesday evening last, correspondence was retd from th«> Te Awamutu Club, arranging for a telegraphic match, six a-side, to b» played on Tuesday, July 26th. As these clubs have beaten each other once last season, the coming contest is looked forward to with interest on both sides. A match is also being arranged between the Rcmuera and Hamilton 'Clubs. The local club now has permanent quarters in the dental buildings, where it is open to members every Tuesday evening.

It is our painful duty to record the death of another of our old settlers, in the person ot Mr Henry Warr, who died on Thursday, at Howick. Mr Warr was one of the members of the 4th Waikato Militia, had resided in Hamilton since its disbandment, and was well known and respected. His wife predeceased him a week or two ago. Deceased leaves a grown-up family, to whom we tender our sympathy. The funeral will leave his late residence (Claudelands). Hamilton East, to-morrow (Sunday), at 2 p.m.

That portion of the Hautapu district which has hitherto beeu drained by what is usually known as Selby's drain has at length been gazetted a drainage district under the Lmd Drainage Act, 1893, and Mr Thomas Hartly has been appointed Returning Officer. The election has been appointed to be held at the Borough Council Chambers, Cambridge, on Saturday, the 23rd inst., but how Section 10 of the Act is to be complied with and the election held or. that date is more than we can understand.

The volunteering movement is stiil agitating tho minds of the young men of the Waikato. Meetings have been held in various parts of the district, and we understand that branch companies of the Waikato Mounted Infantry are about to be formed in Kihikihi and Waihou. If this is correct, and we have every reason to believe that it is, the number of men in the troop will be considerably increased by a set of men who possess all the essentials that go to make good volunteers. Capt. Reid informs us that he expects ere long to be able to muster quite 250 men.

We learn that the enterprising Anglo-New Zealand Cycle Company have just completed arrangements with G. Sutherland, the champion cyclist of New Zealand, and W. A. Thompson, of Wellington, who holds some valuable records, to travel for them in New Zealand for the sale of their Osmond, Anglo Special, and other cycles. Mr J. W. Jones, of Christchurch, the amateur champion, will also straddle an Osmond duiing the approaching season.' We hear that many other prominent racing men have also booked orders for Osmond racers. The New Zealand Clothing Factory is the depot for the above company.