The Wairarapa Daily WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 16, 1891.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3914, 16 September 1891, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 16, 1891.

We quite agree with the senti. ments expressed by Mr Sooth the other day when he stated that "it would be better to get a central site and spend, if necessary, £2OOO in buildings and conveniences, and have one Pastoral Show. They wanted be said a permanent place and convenient —a place that would do credit to the whole district, The question of alternate shows or amalgamation could not now be solved as it could have been years ago. The gentlemen from Masterton were only dealing with the ram fair, but would it not be wise to complete an amalgamation which would give one large and important show in a central spot." If the agricultural and pastoral settlers in Wairarapa North and South would endorse this opinion and then proceed to act upon it there would be an end o' the difficulty. The two associations would invite offers (or a suitable site, and it they could cot agree as to which site offered was in the bestinterests of the district they could leave the choice to independent outside referees. We believe that settlers generally would be disposed to fall in with the broad project outlined by Mr Booth, and if so they are absolutely in a position to carry it. Of course there are local jealousies which mutilate against such an arrangement being brought about, but if country settlers decide upon union the antagonistic feeling in the towns would not be strong enough to prevent amalgamation. There are doubtless a few people who will stir op strife, but the good sense of the majority of both town and country settlers would, we believe, be on the side of Mr Booth's proposal,

At the conclusion of a Murdock McKenzie case yesterday Mr W. (i. Beard, the counsel for the prosecution, characterised the position taken up by the Bench as anomalous. J his reflection does not, by itself, amount to much, because it is not unusual for a member of the legal profession to be a little outspoken when he loses a case which he expects to gain, but to a certain extent it is endorsed by the outside public who talk freely about the singular coincidences which have been apparent in this case. We do not know whether the full official record of the evidence sustains the assumption that the course of justice has been irregular, but we should certainly like to have the opinion of soaie qualified expert on this point. It is evident that public confidence I in Justices' justice has been shaken, and that a ptigma rests on the local Magistracy. That body should demand an official inquiry, if only to disabuse the public mind of the prejudice which is entertained. The disparaging statement made by Mr Beard in Court, and echoed by many persons without, ought not to remain unrefuted. The local Justices of the Peace as a body, if they desire to possess the confidence and respect of the public, should ask the Minister of Justice for an enquiry into ohe alleged anomaly in connection witn the late trial.