SYCOPHANCY.

Auckland Star, Volume III, Issue 801, 12 August 1872, Page 2

SYCOPHANCY.

To the Editor of tlie Evening Stab. Sib, —Allow me, through your columns, to thank Mr W. L. Rees for his manly denunciation of Mr Brookfield's sycophancy. It is not much to the credit of the other lawyers of ~nd that they have allowed the stigma to rest on them of being the meanest members of a learned profession to be found in the colonies. Are we to think that these gentle» men, who are supposed to assist in unravelling complicated cases and obtaining justice for their clients, shoald have committed themselves uncompromisingly to support a particular side in lite pendente ? As reported, Mr Brookfield said, addressing Mr Beckham, " He wag only the mouthpiece of the members of the profession present and absent ; but he could only say that if any investigation tcok place, the profession would be most happy, so far as it was in their power, to support his Worship in this investigation." Any thing more impudent or more unfair it is hardly po> sible to imagine. I will not say anything on the case between Mr Russell and Mr Beckham, and I am personally unacquainted with either; Tbe publio have their own opinion as to Mr Beckham's demeanour on the bench, and the parliamentary enquiry will bring the truth out. But I do not think so meanly of the profession as to believe that any of them, unless a very few, could have consented to Mr Brookfield's unbecoming conduct. It is so like a pettifogging attorney, that I am surprised that no other lawyer with gentlemanly feelings has been found to disowa the disgrace. Will you permit me, sir, to ask e_.ch of the practising lawyers of Auckland if Mr Brookfield was his "mouthpiece?" and now when the subject is so much one of public conversation, any lawyer declining the opportunity of explaining himself through some one or another of tho daily papers, must be regarded as having lent himself to this exceeding meanness, or as being afraid of Mr Beokham. In either case, I, for one, am ashamed of the profession, which is supposed to be one cf gentlemen. Thank Grod I can sign myself Nor an Auckland Lawyeb.

To the Editor of the Evening Stab. Sic, — I think it was very unfair for Mr Brookfield or anj other person to predjudice the case of Russell v. Beckham. Judge Beckham u.e. language commonly on the bench protected by his position, which he would not do if he was on equal footing with those whom he addresses. This is a matter of notoriety. Mr Russell tried to get the satisfaction which any gentleman has a' right to in a Court of law, but found Mr Beckham fenced in behind privileges, and had no other course for redress but an appeal to parliament. For Mr Brookfield in the circumstances to take such . decided and unwarrantable cou.se> could only have arisen from private animojity against a brother striviug for his rights, aud from a desire to curry^favour with Mr Beckham. —I am, &c„ A Lovee oe Faibplax. MEDICAL TITLES. To the Edicor of the Evening Stab. Orphan Home, August 10, 1872. Sir, —May I request the insertion of the following correspondence in your columns.— I am, &.., GrEOBGE P. PIEEOE, Hon. Secretary.

Auckland, August 8, 1872.—M. E. B. Nicholson, Esq.—Emily Place.—Sir, —l am happy to be able to claim from you the sum of fiive guineas for the Orphan Home, in accordance with tho promise conveyed in your letter headed " Medical Titles" in tho Evening Stab of the sth insi. I believe I can satisfactorily prove, by oath if necessary, that there is a Registered member of the Royal College Physicians, LondoD, resident in the suburbs of Auckland, vi/, Edward Shortland, Esq., A.M. Cantab, now residing in Parnell, who is a member of the Royal College. of Phycians, London, 1860, and if you will kiudly call at my office I can satisfy you that such is the case.—l have, &c, G-eobge P. Pxeece, Hon. Secretary, Orphan Homo. Auckland, August 8, 1872.—Sir,—Will you kindly make application for the five guineas through the columns of the Stab. 1 may tell you that I was quite aware that Dr. Shortland bad the credit of holding a diploma from the Royal College Physicians of London, but as he is not registered in Neio Zealand. and is not in practice, I dont see that your claim is good; however, I prefer giving a public answer. —Yours, inc., M. E. B. Nicholson.—Q-. P. Pierce, Esq. Auckland, August 10, 1872—M. E. B. Nicholson, Esq.—Sir,—l am in receipt of your letter of tbe Bth inst., and still think I have a good claim for the five guineas, j inasmuch as Dr. Shortland, although not i re_.ist.erod in Now Zealand, can aod does ! practise here. On referring to your letter of the sth yon will find that no mention was made therein about registration in New , Zealand, and which is, as you are doubtless '

well aware, not necessary by tho act,-if 4 practitioner is registered in the United Kin<r. dom.—lam, &c, G-eobge P. Pxebce, Hon. Secretary, Orphan Home.