PARLIAMENTARY. (From the Cross Special Correspondent.) Wellington, Saturday.

Waikato Times, Volume VII, Issue 347, 4 August 1874, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY. (From the Cross Special Correspondent.) Wellington, Saturday.

A private correspondent informs me that yesterday Judge Ward was several hours before the Inquiry Committee, and made a statement in general terms like that contained in his telegrams. He insisted that eitheir there was* gross partiality on tlio part of the chairman or gross negligence. He contended that as he was a barrister-at-law he (Judge Ward) was entitled to practise as counsel, and his solicitor and client, to the prejudice of defendant j and this fact entitled him to complain of partiality in this particular case. He spoke of the intimate.relations between Judge Chapman* and Mr Macassey, and the general public dissatisfaction regarding these which prevailed in Dunedin, and as his private business was interfered with by Judge Chapman's excuse made on rescinding the order that it was made in the hurry of business, Judge Ward said there was no colerable warrant for such a statement on the records of the Court. That in case of orders in Court Judge Chapman was in the habit on application being made of asking are all your papere right 1 And on being answered in the affirmatave to say "take the order at your oavii peril." tf gross partiality had to be waved in this instance there was gross negligence on Judge Chapman's part. To one or other of these points he adhered. Regarding the issue of similar orders for inspection of telegrams, Judge Ward declaeed that manifold repetitions of wrongs did not warrant the wrong of the order he complained of, and that all were equally illegal. In course of examination amusement and hilarity were produced by this question of Mr T. B. Gillies', who put it •with that well-known sardonic twinkle : " Did you, in Dunedin, Judgo Ward, say that you had had rows with all the other judges, and that now you were to have one with Chapman?" Judge Ward : " I cannot recall such a statement ; but it is very likely I did, for there was this dispute imminent, and there was what you may choose to call a row some years ago with the other judges." The committee does not appear to be making much headway. lam informed that one witness not yet called, can testify to the ofi'er of a bribe of £50 to one or other of the telegraphists to secure or steal copies of telegrams. The story that Mr Murison is ill "is all gammon." Mr Larnock is here, and is believed to know all the circumstancss, but is under honour to Mr Mwison to disclose nothing without his permission.