CORRESPONDENCE. [Our correspondence columns are Impartially open to all, but we do not in any way identify ourselves with opinions expressed therein.] JUDICIAL BUNGLING.—EDGAR V. MONTROSE.

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1389, 28 May 1881, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE. [Our correspondence columns are Impartially open to all, but we do not in any way identify ourselves with opinions expressed therein.] JUDICIAL BUNGLING.— EDGAR Y. MONTROSE.

TO THE JSDITOE. Sir, — I have to thank you for dealing with the case Edgar v. Montroae, in which I have the misfortune to be plaintiff. The circumstances of the case, as you justly remark, are very hard indeed, and but for the kindness shown to me by a few. friends, mattera wonld have been a good deal worse; Since your remarks appeared in print, there have been further developments with regard to the defendant, (Mr Montrose), which go to confirm an opinion I have all along entertained, viz.: that between him and the presiding Magistrate, I am completely done out of my wages. I refer to the advertisement which appeared in your paper to the effect that the real proprietor of the Mail, (Mr. Jos. Ivess), has determined' to sell off the concern. This is nothing more than I expected. I was aware from the outset that the talk about getting evidence from a distance was a mere myth. The parties he ' spoke of knew nothing about my engagement. They were away out of the place .before the engagement under which I' sued was entered into. Moreover, I have a letter from Mr Jos. Ivess, in which he states that fact, aad likewise adds that, he knows nothing tvhatever about the matter. Again, what about the evidence he promised to bring from Auckland. That evidence has never made its appearance, and yet the Magistrate, as you state, has gone on week, after week, granting adjournments on a simple statement, made in a kind of off-hand way, that he wanted to get evidence. , Then again'we have the delay which took place .in the first instance — 13 days — in taking any steps to secure the evidence professing to be wanted from Canterbury. When I add that it was only, as pointed out by you, the day before -the Court met at which the second, adjournment wap applied for and granted, 'that any step whatever was taken, I feel perfectly convinced every disinterested person will agree in thinking that the motive, was splely delay, and not an honest purpose of profeurins; evidence. The question will be asked, what was the motive of this anxiety to obtain delay ? I reply, that the advertisement of the sale of the paper by the real proprietor,"abundantly answers that. 'It was merely to atave my claim for wages off until things were so arranged that its recovery became highly problematical. I repeat that lam very much annoyed and greatly inconvenienced by this proceeding, but I am not the least surprised at it. The Magistrate has left the whole thing, from beginning to end, entirely at the disposal of the defendant. He no doubt knew he was dealing with a man who -wields an unscrupulous pen and he did not at all relish the idea of getting under its operations. You no doubt remember how I was treated in the assault case. Montrose actually pleaded guilty, and yet, strange to relate, I was condemned in costs. I will only add in conclusion, my firm conviction that our Resident Magistrate's Court as constituted is quite incapable of affording redress for wrongs perpetrated, more especially if it be sought by one belonging to the wages class, and, like myself, solely dependent on his labor. My advice to such an one is : Suffer the wrongs you have, for by going to the Resident Magistrate's Court, Cambridge, you will only fly to others you know not of.— l am, etc., Johx P. Ejdqab.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,— Permit me to correct a statement which appears in print and which is attributed to the Resident Magistrate in dealing with the long pending case of Edgar v. Montrose. It is stated the Magistrate consented to the case being heard, or rather partially heard, on the first occasion for the purpose of enabling plaintiff to leave the district and obtain employment elsewhere. Such is not the fact. The Magistrate was given distinctly to understand that plaintiff was dependent upon recovery of the waares he had earned to enable him to leave the district and get employment elsewhere. The real object of what is termed the partial hearing, was to enable my evidence to be taken, as I was then under engagement to leave the district. Of course, at that time, I had no idea that in Waikato a simple wages claim took weeks or rather months to settle, otherwise I might have left and remained away as long as I pleased, and yet been back in good time for all the requirements of this interminable affair. — Yours, etc., Ro. Carrick.

Free will. — It may be heresy — many old-fashioned people will think it so— but I believe we ought to encourage in all children, from the first dawn of reason, a reasonable free will ; which should be exercised, whenever possible, in all unimportant things, gradually becoming more and more important as reason and common sense increase. Under due supervision I would allow a child to choose its own clothes, pursuits, companions ; subject to advice, suggestions, or a veto if necessary, but sfcill made to understand that to guide > and control itself, to act aud decide itself, is, not a crime to be punished, but a duty of life to be fulfilled every year more perfectly and more wisely., And above all, I would teach children never to lean where they can stand upright, never to ask another person to decide for 1 them what they can decide for themselves, or to do for them' what they are 'able to do for themselves. At all ages, and all crises, if we must act, let us act without troubling other people ; if wo must suffer — alas ! it is hard to teach a child this, and yet we onght — let us, as much as' possible, learn to suffer alone without inflicting needless 'pain upon other people. Sharp discipline this. It is even more difficult to guide a will than to break it ; but what a different result we shall find if w,e succeed ! Instead of feeble, helpless^ useless creatures — conies, in short — we shall have made' our children into capable human beings, whom we can rely oh, trust in, who will be a help to us 1 , and not us only, through the thorny paths of life ; whomif it be God's will, we may even leave without fear to fight the world .without us. That sharpest agony of parents— to die and leave our childrenhelpleßa— is greatly lessened if in our life-time we are able to make them helpful, by 1 ' urging them' to independence not dependence, tq decision not. indecision, and brave action rather than' a passive endurance. They may make a few mis* : takes — we all do — and some enemies ; the , weak often secretly 1 hate the strong, oven ■ while making useofc'thetn ; butin ihelong run they'will have the ' best of it. — Good , Words, •, h' . / / > ,' J . ffinii'-K <j« ■ An exchange says : — Eyeryonejknows ( of the bequest made by the. k dyingrherp when'lying on the deck of the Victor l^, a bequest commending to 7^England's, protection his little "Horatio,, the ; daughter of Eady'iHajttil^n,, "jThat^lii^le "Horajiju^ii nowopce^tnore b*efoijej f the, world's ti^tre in 'the guise of" a very' old iadylying dead. 1 Prol)dbly>"fr¥m-%e time of her bequeath-, raent by her reputed; father, Horatio had *VriioVe v d^o^din¥ry^Ma^m *Wdfof 'Hf^£isiffr'fcfaS»?tfl froWmiimHrotoHti wmms ife'tMbWas ws w&ofhmM