MAGISTRATES COURT, HAMILTON.

Waikato Argus, Volume VII, Issue 491, 23 September 1899, Page 2

MAGISTRATES COURT, HAMILTON.

Yesterday.—(Before Messrs J no. Knox, Wm. Jones and J. S. Bond).

Breach of the Local Elections Act.— Unusual interest was centred in the proceedings in the Magistrate's Court yesterday, and when the first case—C. J. W. Barton v. Emma Cockhead—was called, the room was well filled with an expectant crowd, including some half-a-dozen ladies. Mr A. Swarbrick appeared for the informant and Mr W. F. Buckland for the accused.—Mr Buckland at ouce asked that the case might bo allowed to stand over until Captain Jackson was present. The local justices, he said, had heard a good deal on bot;h sides of the question, and he thought perhaps they might be slightly affected by what they had heard,—Mr Bond, J.P., replied that the justices had discussed the question before taking their aeats on the Bench and they took a similar view of the case, and the case would therefore be adjourned until next court day—Mr Swarbrick asked what guarantee they had that Capt. Jackson would be there next court day. It seemed to him that it was impossible to catch the Stipendiary Magistrate, and he was getting quite used to seeing justices on the Bench pretty well always. He would like the date to. be fixed and would also like to know what degree of certiinty there was that the Magistrate would be here on that date.—The Clerk of the Court, in reply to a question, said that Captain Jackson had been to Raglan, and was supposed to have stayed at Waitetuna on Thursday night. He could not say whether the Magistrate would be present next court day, as he was busy with the old age pension work.—Mr Buckland thought if the Magistrate was informed that the case had been adjourned on that account, he might possibly attend next Court next,—The Clerk said Captaiu Jackson would be informed of the fact. —Mr Bond said the existing state of things was most unsatisfactory. This case, together with the counter-actiou, Emma Cockhead v. C. J. W. Barton, was then adjourned until Octobeiv4th.