JUDGE RICHMOND AT NELSON.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 788, 14 March 1871, Page 2

JUDGE RICHMOND AT NELSON.

His Honor Mr Justico Richmond, in his charge to the Grand Jury at Nelson, on the Gth instant, delivered himself as follows: Mr Forcinau and Gentlemen, —The business of the present Circuit Court may be introduced in few words. There are outy two cases for trial. This stale of things I find not peculiar to this district, as I learn from a brother judge by this morning's mail from the South, that at Dunedin, one of our principle centres of population,, there, were only four cases awaiting trial at the Circuit Court opened at that place to-day. Gentlemen, if, as I hear on all sides, money is scarce, it should be some consolation that crime is scarce also. I can recall a very different stato of things. I can remember when the Dunedin escort van used to dash into town weekly with its 20,000 and 30,000 ounces of gold ; and hand-cuffed just above the iron boxes were soim- three or four unfortunates who were the week's contribution from Tuapcka to the quarter's calendar. All around were the troopers—the militarised constabulary, with drawn sabres. At that time we used to have as many as forty cases for trial. I am not going to utter'sny half truths about the connection of gold and crime, or to contend that wealth to a people wise enough and virtuous enough to use it is other than a benefit conferred by the Author of all good ; vet a criminal Court of Justice is no unfit place whereiu to recall the profound truth that "a man's life consisted not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth ;" and that, in the eyes of the philosopher and of the Christian, the true prosperity of a people is something wholly different from what is implied in the addition of a cypher or two to the return of exports. His Honor then dismissed the Grand Jury, who found true bills against John Hodgkinson, for obtaining money under false pretences, and E. Ash well, for obtaining goods and money under false pretences.