PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1201, 11 August 1874, Page 4

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

[Bx Electric Telegraph.] WELLINGTON. August 7. In the House, the Premier announced that the Government was not going to run the risk of taking legal proceedings again t Mr "Webb for non-fulfilment of the mail contract. The select committees appointed to enquire into the breach of privilege case regarding Judge Ward and Chap • man, have been made a joint committee. The Premier made a statement with, out notice regarding the North Island. It appeared that the State Forests Bill ■was looked upon by some provinces, notably, Wellington, as aimed at the extinction of provinces. In consequence of one speech in particular, the Government were induced to give more attention to the question of provincialism in the North Island. They found that the amount of colonial money indirectly spent in the North Island, was enormous, and more than had been or cotdd have been dreamt of. Erom assurances received from members, he felt a majority of the House would support such measure, but he also felt that although the people throughout the whole colony would welcome such change, it would not be prudent to establish such a precedent, however justified by necessity, of making a great orgauic change without allowing the public an opportunity of indicating their desire by petitions or public meetings. He was not, however, prepared to say whether the Government would, or would not, bring down resolutions upon the subject, but he did not wish to prevent any member of the House expressing his opinion on the point. In the House of Representatives Mr Carrington presented a petition from J. S. Macfarlane praying that Mr Von der Heyde's election should be disallowed, on the ground that he is an alien. On the motion of the Premier the House meets at half past seven on Monday for consideration of Licensing Act Amendment Bill. The chief portion of the afternoon sitting was occupied in discussing Auckland Waste Lands Bill in committee. Mr O'Rorke has introduced an Act to amend the Petty Session Act, IS Go. August S. At the evening sitting the Premier announced he would bring down measures next week, dealing with the following questions, namely :—Proposals made in the Financial Statement regarding Provinces; Polynesia Islands trade ; Further loan for immigration and Public Works; Amendment of Public Revenues Act. He would also make ministerial statement regarding immigration.

The House went into Committee on the Forests Bill, which passed through after a considerable opposition with the object of securing further duty (delay ? ) The report of Joint Committee of both Houses on the breach of privilege regarding the "Ward—Chapman inquiry has been brought up. The substance was that Judge Ward and Mr Luckie were responsible for publication of information, Judge Ward having told Mr Luckie, who telegraphed it. Mr Luckie apologised to the House and said he was indebted to Judge Ward for allowing him to inform the Committee who supplied him with information. Mr Luckie then withdrew. Mr Sheehan made some spirited remarks on the absurdity of the whole proceeding as absolutely laughable. He insisted that the public had just as much right to be nmde acquainted with the proceedings of Select Committees as of those of Courts of Justice ; and that the standing orders required amendment in that direction. The apology wa3 accepted, aud Mr Luckie returned. The Chamber then adjourned. > LATER EUROPEAN NEWS GREYMOTJTH. July 8. The s.B. Alhambra arrived hero from Melbourne to-day. She brings later cablegrams. ENGLISH NEWS. (PER REUTER'S SPECIAL CABLE.) LONDON. July 24. The Commons have voted unanimously an annual income of £15,000 to Prince Leopold. Disraali has abandoned the Judicature and Land Transfer Bills, and withdrawn the obnoxious clause in Endowed Schools Bill. Prorogation of Parliaxenfc takes place on the eighth of August. July 25. Count Schouvaloff has been appointed Russian Ambassador in London aud succeeded Baron Brunnow. Hon. Donald M'Lean, of New Zealand, has been appointed K.C.M.Gr. Cnrn market declining at prospect of good harvest. July 27. The Australian mails via San Francisco have been delivered. The British fleet in the Pacific is ordered to rendezvous at Panama to enforce payment by the Republic of Guatemala of indemnity of £ 10,000 to Mageo the British Vice-Consul at San Jose. The landing Btages at Liverpool, half n mile long, have been entirely destroyed by fire.

CORRUPTED JUSTICE. [WESTPORT EVENING STAR.] The boast that trial by jury is the " safe guard of life, liberty, and property, and invaluable as a means of education," would appear to bo a trite maxim losing all force and application under certain circumstances of time and place. Exemption of members of Brigades from duty as jurymen has been objected to on the plea that it would increase an inconvenience already felt in the scarcity of jurors of good repute, and lessen the impartial administration of justice. To some extent the objection was valid, although it had not sufficient weight to prevent the purposed exemption being resolved on. Yet from another point of view, it would appear that not only the exemption of certain privileged persons from the office of petty jurymen is advisable, but that the abolition of juries, petty or special, would in some instauces increase the chances of justice being impartially administered. In Auckland the case of Macfarlane v. Harris, was lately heard. The charge arose upon some accusation of conspiracy to murder, the evidence was to the point, the charge of the presiding judge clear, explicit, and unmistakable, and yet the jury could not agree. The foreman said if they sat for three weeks they could be no nearer an agreement, and so they were discharged. The Auckland Press commenti thereon and the Auckland Star in its indignation poitrs forth a very torrent of invective. It says : —" That no special jury will be found to agree against certain interests in Auckland has been made a boast : and last night's proceedings are but one of a series that confirm its truth. We solemnly declare cur belief that there are those in Auckland who might commit murder in Queen street in broad daylight, nor could there be brought together in Auckland a bench that would have the daring to commit for trial, nor a jury that would agree to a conviction. The terrorism and the vile influences that prevail have corrupted the streams of justice and no man is safe. It is in vain that we have on the beich of the Supreme Court a. man who holds the scales of justice with impartial baud; in vain that lie lays down the law of equity and of common sense so that a child may understand; for so much scoundrelism have wc in our midst, so much villainy have we enrolled from among us on our jury list, that the very gates of justice are closed and barred. The machinery of our law Courts can be used by some for oppression and wrong, to ruin by cost and grind under the iron heel of power ; and it can be made to stand still when others appeal to it for protection. Law, as we know it in Auckland, is a mockery ; trial by jury a delusion and a snare. There is no need for any explanation of the causes that produced no verdict. There is no need to scrutinise the names of the jurors or to enquire who they are that held for Harris and who for Macfarlane. This will all doubtless soon be known, but cut lono? There will be impunity and commendation and more for those that were prepared to endure starvation in behalf of power ; the others will be marked. Heaven help the weak in Auckland ! for in the law courts there is no protection. The result of the trial is in defiance of evidence, in contempt of the ruling and direction of the Judge, and an insult to the moral sense of the community. What are we coming to ?"