The Wairarapa Daily. SATURDAY, MARCH 22, 1879.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 115, 22 March 1879, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. SATURDAY, MARCH 22, 1879.

We a.re very pleased to notice that Mr Wardell intimated in Court on Thursday last an intention of introducing a very desirable improvement in the mode of procedure in civil cases, viz., to disallow in all but exceptional instances the practice Hitherto indulged in by counsel of summing up evidence and recapitulating in long addresses the facts which have been brought out in evidence. These addresses have always appeared to us to be useless excrescences, and in many cases terrible inflictions. We honestly believe that they are rarely, if ever, instrumental in obtaining a verdict, and we have frequently noticed that the particular issue on which a case has turned, as expressed subsequently by the Court, has been some point which has not been to the smallest appreciable extent the bone of content as between the learned counsel on either side. We we're sorry, but not surprised, to find that the bar opposed the proposed innovation. When Mr Wardell explained that tho rule he desired to introduce was acted upon in the Wellington, Dunedin, and Christchurch Courts, a learned counsel replied that it did not obtain at Nelson. It is generally understood that Nelson is the slowest town in the colony; and this, we presume, is the reason why the legal profession in this neighborhood should adopt it as its model, Another objection raised by counsel was that the plaintiff could not anticipate the line which a defendent might takeinacase, and without the closing oration plaintiff's counsel would be placed at a disadvantage. Mr Wardell pointed out that this objection might- be met by counsel having a definite understanding, before a case was opened, as to the issues which were to be submitted to the Court, and that such an understanding would materially facilitate the despatch of business. Then another learned counsel" let the cat oat

of the bag" entirely. Qouhsel, lie explained, could not have such an understanding, because cases were often put into their hands in an imperfect form, and they frequently were without proper instructions from tlieir clients. One can, after this readily, understand liow it is that cases drag along with endless twists and turns in the Wairarapa Courts, We scarcely think, however, that public opinion will admit that lawyers are justified in bringing cases into Court without due preparation, or that when they do so they pay a proper respect to the bench, to their clients, or to themselves. Such a systefn is vicious in principle, and must necessarily be,injurious in practice. If for no other'reason than putting a step to slipshod cases of this character, we trust Mr Wardell will persist in his resolve to to follow the method of procedure adopted in the principal towns in the colony. We very readily admit that the legal profession in the Wairarapa possess a reasonable amount of legal knowledge; that it displays a conscientious interest in its work; that even sometimes it brings forth a little eloquence; and lastly, that it can rival any other branch of the profession in the colony in the construction of that most wonderful production of human ingenuity a bill of costs. But all this excellent material wants—a little organizing—and we are very glad to see that Mr Wardell is putting kis hands to the plough.

Bkker & 00. sell an express and four horses at the Empire Auction Mart this day.

The Rev. A, Halbwachs will hold a service in the Town Hall, Masterton, on Sunday at 11 a.m. We understand that Bishop Redwood has appointed tho second Sunday after iiastor (April 27th) for consecrating the new Catholic Church at Masterton.

A blacksmith named Ramsay died suddenly at Greytown on Thursday morning at 2 a. m. An inquest was to have been held this morning at 10 a, in. Messrs Salmon & Hathaway, of the Rising Sun Hotel, Greytown, have dissolved partnership, Mr Hathaway is the retiring partner.

While driving through Greytown on Thursday Mr T. McCarthy and another gentleman were capsized opposite the Rising Sun Hotel owing to the horse shying at a heap of dirt on the side of the road. No damage was done. Messrs lorns it Fergusson hold a sale of furniture in the Town Hall, Masterton, this afienioon, The same firm announces its next market sale for sth April, a satisfactory number of entries for it having already been received.

There are now 11? names in the Committee of the Masterion Horticultural Society, but as it takes 5 to form a quorum, it is found in practice impossible to get a meeting together. If the number of tho Committee were increased to 70 and and the quorum reduced to' 3 the thing might bo done. Tho following statement of the receipts and expenditure in connection with the concert recently given in aid of the Masterton Hospital has been handed to us for publication By tickets sold, £7 8s; money taken at door, £7 lGs Gel. Total, £ls 4s lid. To hire and carriage of chairs, 10s; Refreshments, 12s; Printing, £4; Rent of Hall, £2;' Cheque to Hospital Committee, £8 2s. Total, £ls 4s Gel,

Messrs R. and J. Brown report the sale of a seven roomed house and one-sixth of an acre of land in Church-street to Mr G. Young for £650, also a 5-acro section with cottage and brick-yard at Kuripuni to Mr A. Tinsley for £BSO, Three acres in Fergusson'a Estate have been placed this week by the same firm at £GO per acre, and an allotment in the Keaton Estate for £63.

We understand (says the Times) that Mr James, the cabinet-maker of Lambtonquay, has filed his schedule, His estate lias been valued by two impartial and competent valuers in this city. They estimate the effects as being worth not less than £30,000. The whole of the liabilities do not exceed £6OOO. It is difficult to conceive why it should have been necessary for Mi' James to adopt this course. At the meeting of the creditors a solution of the mystery may be looked for if the proceedings are made public,

The Masterton Male and Female Servants Registry Office weekly report is as follows Female servants of■ all classes still in great demand, but the supply still scarce. Wages obtained for thoso engaged during tho week as follows: General servants, 14s to 18s; housemaids, 12s toliis; cooks for hotels, 30s to 355; nursegirls, 8s to 12s. Business with men has been quiet, a few engagements with bush hands at 20 to 255. Wages for station hands as follows Station hands, 20s to 255; bush and farm hands, 20s to 2os; married couples, £BO to £100; shepherds, £75 to £BO.