TRIALS FOR THE JURY

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31316, 11 March 1967, Page 5

TRIALS FOR THE JURY

TT WAS RECENTLY reported from Auckland that hot, humid r weather had made life in that city a sticky business, particularly for the jury of the Supreme Court, and that in a rider to a verdict the jury of eleven men and one woman had complained of “the completely inadequate ventilation” in one of the Court rooms.

Complaints on another ■core were made in the Christchurch Supreme Court on Wednesday, January 8, 1879. When members of the jury resumed their places after the midday adjournment, the foreman, Mr Fred Hobbs, called the judge’s attention to “the very unsatisfactory” arrangements made for providing the jury with refreshment His Honour—it was Mr

Justice Johnston—replied that the matter was in the hands of the sheriff, Mr F. de C. Malet, who in turn explained how arrangements had been made with a neighbouring publican by the previous sheriff.

“His Honour”—reported the “Lyttelton Times" —“thought that perhaps it would meet the wishes of the jury were they allowed to purchase refreshments for themselves. Of course, It would be under-

stood that nothing like conviviality, would be tolerated.”

The foreman then said that the jury would be perfectly satisfied If they were allowed to arrange themselves for their refreshments, and added that what they had been provided with that day they “simply could not touch as it consisted of rancid butter, mouldy cheese, stale bread and colonial beer.”—R.C.L,