The Wairarapa Daily WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 1890. An Illicit Judgment.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3498, 30 April 1890, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 1890. An Illicit Judgment.

The case against Mrs Craunier, deoided in tho R,M, Court yesterday, Wiiß one of tho most singulai illustrations of Justice's justice which has, as yet,coineunderournottce: Twofactsin connection with it may bo submitted as tho the gist of the prosecution, and the defence. Ist, that a worm for distillation purposes was found on Mrs Oranmer's premises and that she was liable under the law to a penalty for being in possession of the same. 2nd, that the worm was placed there without her knowledge for a nefarious purpose and that morally sho was guiltless of wrong-doing in any shapo or form. The presiding Magistrate, bound by his oath to administer the law as expressed in the Act of Parliament, had absolutely no alternative but to convict; but associated with the R.M, was a Justice of the Peace, who apparently considered himself at liberty to" ignore the Strict letter of tho law and grant an acquittal, The Court ns divided, but as the B.M. is entitled by bis office to two votes the position was, as we understand it, two votes for conviction and one vote foracquittal, and a verdict ought to have been given forthwith in accordance with the established rule, However, it was decided that the case should be reheard, and the Bench augmented by an -additional J.P. When this decisjon was made known, it was at once accepted by the public aB an arrangement for'the acplta] of the accused, and tho farce of a second, trial might havo been dispensed with, because a foregone conclusion wob as plain as a pikestaff. Even at the second hearing' there must have been som,e eljght difficulty. The E.M., who was understood to be pledged to a' conviction, represented Jtwo yoj§s, and'the Justices on the #gf acquittal only represented a similar number, How was the dittjculty got over ? It was understood and even expressed in Court, that the R.M., when he sat with a Justice, only represented one vote. This is a new reading of tho law, which we Venture to say is contrary to all precedent, and,which has seen the light for the first time in the ilasfertou Court, Clause .5 of the Resident Magistrates' Act, 1867, runs as foljowsi-'

"Every JJesident Magistrate, though "silting alone, shall have all 'such "powers, unless pthor\yise 'sneoially "providedas now aro or hereafter ujay "be oOTiied by lw Justices of 'the "Peace,"

It appears to us that the K.M, in tills instance allowed the clear lettoi' of the Act to he strained by the Justice of the Peace associated with biro, and benco arose the fiasco, tho Ira-vesfy pf justice, which has characterised this ,ca£o, ■ Wo arc, personally, exceedingly glad tl/at Mrs ( Cranmer has escaped a pitfall which was apparently laid 'for iier by an evil disposed person, but we aro also exceedingly sorry that for the protection of the innocent it should be deemed necessary to strain or evade the iaw, .Once admit that the law may bo twisted as occasion require, or a Court cm be got together vkkk con «e depended upon to register .a foregone conclusion, and the public respecj for botli tho law and its administration will be (liminiahed. In lb case of the Distillation Act the law is, we helfero, vicious. An evil-disposed person might thjs very niefht plant a distillation worm on the premises of the Resident Magistrate pr the Minister of Justice himself, and then .claim a reward as an informer. The Aot requires amendment, but so long as it is the las of the land,, and Magistrates are sworn •to, administer it a« such, there ought to no alterative but to enforce it,

It.ia uiiaeratoodtliafc School GomJMtees in; the Wellington distriot bave the?; cMpe "between " three candidates for the seat now vacant °n the Edition Board. ':. First to is,Mr H,D, Dell, a gentleman of the highest personalcharaoter, who is fit for any public position to rah he may aspire, and who would do lionor to any public body with which he might be associated. Still he is not the coming man on tliiß occasion, because lie is comparatively a stranger to many of the CommiUees,and the seat to be filled is a Wairarapa seat. Then there ia Mr Hawkins, who is working hard for the position, and who lias those local connections whioh Mr Bell lacks,. But wo. do not think even Mr Hawkins will go in this time, for sohool committees are very conservative bodies, and the majority o[ them will be true to their old love, Mr Beetham,. We vonture to anticipate the return to be deolarod a few weeks heuce, by placing Mr Beetham, 1, MrHawkins 2, and Mr 1301 l 3.

Wellington Football Club will pay a visit to Masterton on Queen's Birthday.

The balanceßheet of,the Dimedin Exhibition Co., shows a dobit of £6OOO, apaiust which aro buildiugs and unpaid calls.

The Groytown School Committee has nominated Mr George Beetham, ii. H. R., for the vacant seat on the Education Board. •

A football match between the Masterton 'Municipal and Groytown ' Fire Brigades will be played on tho old Star ground oh Saturday next.,

The Directors ( of the Wellington Opera House ■.'Company are arranging to lease tho Theatre' Royal for a term of five years at an annual rental of £BOO.

Tendors aro invited by MrR, V. Smith, of Mangamahoo, for felling about 100 acres of bush.

The Press Association has taken proceedings against the Gisborne Standard for publishing copyright telegrams. A movement is in progress, having for ita object the amalgamation of the sawmills on the West Coast under a syndicate. Mr Comford is said to be the movin? spirit in the matter.

The fund for the Wellington .Free Public Library ha 3 increased very llttlo ot late, and singular enough the intorest at first displayed, m the matter has almost entirely subsided.

Mr J Charlton, ot Wellington, piano and organ tuner, is now on a visit to Masterton and district. Ordets may be left with Mr lunos, stationer, or at Mr Mason's, chemist,

Judgment was given yoatorday by Colonel Roberts E.M., for plaintiff with costs, in tho caso Wag« v Lyons. On the medical certificate of Dr Hoskhig, tho man named Ross who was brought down from Braneopetb yesterday by. Constable Collerton, of Tonui, was committed to the Mount View asylum, Mr W Eastuii, Evangelist, dolivored an interesting and impressive address to a large congregation in the Presbyterian Church last evening, MrEaston occupies tho platform at the Salvation barracks to-night.

Mr F H Wood's next Taratahi stock sale is announced to be held on Thursday, May Bth. Already the entries are very numerous, and as entries are still invited the sale should be an extensive one.

Mr W H Boetham's vinery, covering an eighth of an acre, yielded 1700 lbs woight of grapes this season for vintage purposes, in addition to a considerable number of bunches picked for table use, Tho Masterton Riflo Volunteers will parado for inspection by Colonel Butts to-morrow (Thursday) evening. Fines will be strictly adhered to for nonattendance.

At the meeting of tho Borough Council last evening, the offer of Mr Boimll to supply water to tho town for the'sutn of £2O per annum waß considered, and tho Works Committee was instructed' to prepare estimates and report to next meeting.

The firsf of a series ol winter evening dances was hold in tho Temperance Hall last night, there being a nice company present. Good music was provided by Mr Yon Keisonberg, and a most enjoyable evening was spent. Our attention hasbeen called to the fact that, on several occasions ot lato, papers have been removed from the Masterton public reading room, A sharp watch is being kept for the delinquent, who, if discovered will bo dealt with in the mannor such petty pilfering desorves. At the Greytown School Committee meeting on Monday evening, tho hoad teacher was spoken of in vory complimentary terms, nndspeoial reference was mode to Mr Cuff, tho late chairman, now in Auckland. Tlio School is reported to be iu a very satisfactory condition, both as regards teaching staff and attendants, Tli.e ''apple cart" of Wong You was upjet" pi 'Queon-Btreet this morning through its collision ivitliatelegraphpost. the result of a bolt. Tlio only danyige sustained was tho breaking of tho harness,.

Tho annual meeting of the Masterton Licensing district, to consider applications for tho renewal, transfer, or removal of licenses within the district, will be held on Saturday, Juno 7th, At tho uieoting of tho Ne w Zealand Grand Lodge ot Masons now being liola the follflivlntr local appointments have been mado;—fhe Hpy. W. E, Pake, Grand Chaplain |MrG. 'S, W, Pairymnls, Grand liteward; and Mr N, Grace, Grand Steward,

Wo learn from Mr Jos. Bennett, of Otahuao, that tho rainfall registered for tho month of April has been 1.89 inches on si; days. For tho corresponding period last year tho amoi),tt registered )vas'Q.osjnchcßqnoight.day3, aruj fpr 1838 jt was 1.41 inches on' ten days'-

Messrs Wm Sinitl) and Co. of Wollingfoiijwhoare at prosppt buildjog Dudson's shop, have:"secured; tho contact for removing tho old town hall, Carterton, from its present Bite to a moro central position. Their tender was £3915s Gd. The .Borough Council has nut yet definitely decided upon the new site for their chainbors, but it is ourrontly reported that they are using cyery endeavor t« secure a portion & the '(government "reserve upon, which at present 'stands' the Court house and the police station. If this'junior is correct, and' t|)py succeed in" their application; the necessity q'f byyjnga' private Bfte will to avoided.' There aro soyeral yacaiit sections in a good pqsiflon iij Carterton, but trr.m ivhat we hear pnly Qne has boeu offered at a price likely to be acceptable if the Court house site is not granted.

We havo boon favoured with quite a rush of appreciative customers to our maatlo showroom during the past', fortnight, both from the oily and country, which of itself jj an evidence that our season's imporJajioiis at'i'e ho. IIqu;o have secured widespread approval, ' ''' " Wb biyosome attractive and fashionable ttrtfclcs [o show this \yeejf, which liavo been just reoefyed by direct Reamer, tlf.e most novel holng tho ; -'iHigl(wmai)''.Md : " Coachman" capes, in great ygvicty. Some of the leading colors aro fawn, gray, brown, nr,vy, terra ootta, aud black, These are worth inspecting at Te Aro HGB6O, Ouu' wlc.etiou of ladies' plush and sealetto jaok'ets Is mejt attractive. Wo have theso'inair'tlie"n#cst and most (ippvftved .styles, aud would call special atiimtjpj} to "Tlwlfife," with medic'a cojlai', ".and'''\Caprma,'!. with 'embroidered silk' revera; wkieVave ejtc'sijjiggjy becoming, and 'are'.'ah" the Couijjjy, ' Tljeao b'aye .attracted much altcikibn topi'tPfflg *0 f e Aro Hqusc. ' . i\v.w' tweed in great pvofuslea,' and in tfe rost fesß-' ating and charming stylos, We WOW particularly call attention to the " Clanloal' jaokets, such as" The. Milton," " Tho ljyrouj"!'. Tho Tonuysoii.". Theso are very.handsome, .have beautifully eiiibroid«{d vests siid lapels, end should be seen at onco at Te Aro House, WeEipjtoftl^nYj,

Captain • Edwin, at 1p: m, taday, wired ;-«W to B and SE.galo within next.six hourß, with colder weather: glass riso Boon." t The fi M t annual general meeting of the Wellington Agricultural and Pastoral Association Was held at, the Chambor of Commerce yesterday, a brief report of the proceedings of which will appear to morrow.

A report of tho■proceedings at the fifth annual ineeting.of tho Wellington Acclimatization, gooiety, which was held last ovening, will appear in our next issue.

Tho eloction of a member for No 2 sub-division of tho Mastcrton Head Board will bo held to-morrow. A good deal of interest w. centred in tho election.

WohoarthatMrOTßengiehassold his property of twelye and a half acres and house, nenr the Carterton lhilway Station, to Mr J Daysb, Tho latter resident .has in turn sold his homestead of fiye acres in tho Belvedere Koad to Mr W Bond,

_ Mr Ayson, curator of the Accliinatisa" tion Society's fish ponds at Mastertom telegraphed to the Secrotary of that body yesterday that the egn harvest had already begun, and that 2000 fontinalis ova had been takou that morning-two weoks earlier than the bcgihninp of tho harvest last year.

Tho prospects of Carterton are fairly prosperous at the present time, despite the contemplated departure of some of tho sawmills, There is hardly an ompty houao in the township, and a numbor of small parcels of land havo changed hands within this past weok or two, Ab a matter of fact, although the cessation of tho.sawmill industry, when it conies about,, is bound to-make itsolf folt.it will only bo a temporary cheok-, for more and moro country is overy day being opencdup to dairyingand cultivation, and this of tho two is tho moro substantial means of support for the residents to rely upon, A football match was played at Tenui on Saturday last between a team picked from Langdalejaiid lea Station v Tenui, the latter proving victorious by 6 points to nil, The following playors doserve special mention .--Messrs Owen, Hudson and Speedy, for tho winners, and Messrs Innis, Andrew, and Stewart for the losing side. As this was tho first practice match of the newly-formed Whareama Football Club, the play, taken as a whole, was far better than was expected, .

It will be soon by an announcement in our amusomont columns that tho Groytown Amateur Dramntio Club will play the late W J Byron's three act comedy, "The Ouv'nnr," mi Friday evening noxt, in the Tlwatro Royal, The cast is an exceptionally strong ouo, as there are nineteen characters in the piece, In addition to the cast, tho Society's Orchestra, consisting of ten performers, will play some choice operatic selections, Altogether a really first-rate evening's amusement can be anticipated, end, we havo no doubt, thero will be a bumper house to meet tho Greytown Amateurs, The annual meetim; of tho WairarapaKugby Football Union was hold at the White Dart Hotel, Carterton, on Monday evening, all tho Clubs in tho district being represented. Mr V W.R Seed, Vice President, occupied the chatr. Tho report and balance sheet wero read and adopted, the lattor showing £l3 on the wrong sido, Tho following officers were appointed: Patron, Mr W C Buchanan (re-elected); President, Mr G Beetham (to-elected); Vice Presidents Messrs FWR Seed, J P Russell, and A It Bunny (re-elected); Secretary, Mr 11 Acheson; Treasurer, Mr Scod; Management Committee, Messrs Duff, Webster; Hirachberg, Wilsono, Grigg, Manihera' The appointment of Match Committee was postponed. The Clubs in the Union wore classified as follow: Masterton, Hod Stars, Te Oro Ore, Greytown, and Carterton to be seniors; tho second fifteens of these clubs and the Greylown Fire Brigade team to be juniors, It was decided to carry out the rules for playing junior cup matohes more strictly this season. The first round of- oup matohes was fixed for Saturday, 14th Juno. A vote of thanks was passed to retiring officers, and a similar vote to tho chairman concluded tho business.