The Evening Star. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1870.

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 204, 3 September 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1870.

The Legislature has just shown a laudable desire to put from itself " the unclean thins," by excluding place-holders from its d4iberitions. Disguise it as ministers may, the power of patronage, and especially patronage extended to those by who*e favour they hold seats on ministerial benches, is immensely influential in the progress of d*hate ; but there is another department to which the reforming s»p Trit of the legislature might be >io*t beneficial'v extended; that is, tlie Commission of th» Pea-e. Kveryoue knows the con^ant complaining regarding Justices' j>isti<?e, an! the chaacter of some appointments to a s*ut on tho B*nch is a standing reproach. We are jcnlous or' impurity on he Bench in the hijher Courts, and yet in that C'>urt with which the public hare more frequent intercourse, and which consequeatlr, largely mould* the feelings >f the people as to the administration of justice, persons notoriously unfit, both in character and ability, receive Ht Majesty's commission to exoonni law, and dispense justice. In a Southern contem orary we find <v«ntiv>v >ray regarding a person made a Justice of the Pea«e wh>' had been found ''■ in a helpless *tate of intoxication under i v«>rindah." But such

■ degrndi g exhibi i->n is n^thinjtothp c araeter 'or notorious dishonesty thnf •nn be found at time* seated on the Bench. Tt ii bat a natnra 1 sequence o he manner in which aopointtn nt-s are nade. Tt is acVnowledg »d that the com nission of the p«»ce is purchased by political services rendered at election times ; and a man. whatever b* his character, if he prove himself a good electioneering igent, and if a little unscrupulous in hi* agency, so much th« better, will, if hi* candidate ia successful and a good supoorter of existing: Government.have aclaim that cnnnot be ignored at the period when the shower of Commissions descends. Ft true that the Crown is the fountain of honor, and from the Governor in Council guch oonmisaions must proceed- But in ?iew of the scandalous abuses that have brought the Commission into contempt. »nd made it an " honour " which is often declined by our best colonists, it is imperative that a change should be made. The appointments shoald really be made for the right administration of justice, and if honors must be given, let a "Legion of Honor" be in*ti'uted, including all f'ose, whether drunkard or swindler, whom the Crown " d*»liarhteth to honor;" but let the Judges, whose character is beyond suspicion and political influences, who are by education and esprit ie corps j«ilons regarding purity in the administration of the law, and who have opportunity of observing and reviewing the proceedings of benches, nominate to appointments on the Commission of th« Peace. We are sure that the removal of the responsibility would be welcome to Cabinet Ministers, and equally certain that the alteration would be hailed with satisfaction by the people.

In the Prince of Wales theatre last night there was an excellent attendance. The " Hunchback" and the " School for Scandal" were produced, and well received The " Ticket of Leave afan's Wife," and a farce, will be the piew» for to-night. We are glad to tee that in accordance with a general desire, the Caran mi family are about to hare another short season at the City Hill. The tint of the grand "Promenade Owncerta" ii to be given on Monday night, at " Million Priori." The intention! of our correspondent "Flic" are good i but hii versification U hardly up to owr sUadajr*.

We, congratulate ourselves andoui1 suffering fellow citizens on the evident, fact that the dork of the weather hat at la»t ahown sigm of relenting The tadden change from the bleakness and muery uf the past to bright blue skies and warm air is apparently the harbinger of Spring, of whole arrival we had almost began to. despair

The charge against Mr. Cosgrave in the Police Court today, wat really a very •mall one to make a fuia about. If the footpath i» obstructed, or any inconvenience given to citizens, at by a wooden sign-board, those in charge are bound to compel removal. But a poster fluttering in the wind, some ten feet above the head of the biggest man in Auckland, oannot be much annoyance to any one unless he is very nervous. We commend th« zeal of th* Inspector of Nuisances, but really if might be more profitably expended on other objects. Even the barber's pole would be worthier ; for a man by jumping could hit his head against it, but we defy him to touch the paper arrangement unless he got upon some ether person's shoulders.

There will be a meeting of Justices at the Police Cjurt on Tuesday next, for considering applications for the transfor of publicans' licenses.

The monthly inspection of the Auckland Naval ArtUlery and Naval Volunteers, will be held in the Drill-shed, Fort Britomart, on Tuesday evening next, at 7-30 p.m. **