CROWN PROSECUTORS.

Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 23, 29 January 1881, Page 2

CROWN PROSECUTORS.

«. As our morning contemporary is evidently undor a misapprehension aa to the position and duties of Crown Prosecutors, and as some of the remarks contained in an article which appeared to-day are calculated to extend that misconception, it may be worth while to give a few words of explanation on the subject. In the first place there is no such office as that of " Crown Prosecutor," excepting in places where a District Court sits with criminal jurisdiction. In each judicial district of the colony there is a "Crown Solicitor" appointed by the Governor, whose duties are to take all Government business within his district, when required by any department. For what he does he is paid, but all hia bills ha.ye to bo taxed by the Regiatrar before being sent to the treasury, and by this means he is fixed to a certain scale. Hia bills, i.e., what he charges himself, are not paid, "as a matter of course," till after taxation. Incidental to his other duties is that of prosecuting criminals at the Circuit Courts, and for this duty he is paid a fixed fee of £3 3s for the indictment, and a further fee of £2 2s if the grand jury find a true bill. The absurdity of the arguments of the New Zealand Times would be obvious in the case of any other district than that of Wellington. Nowhere else could the Crown Law Officers — Messrs. Whitaker, Reid, and Lewis — take the ordinary Government business. Suppose a Customs prosecution in Dunedin, and the Customs to require legal assistance. They have their Crown Solicitor there to whom they go, and who charges them much less than an ordinary lawyer not holding a Government appointment would. If one of the Crown Law Officera had to go to Dunedin to conduct the case his passage and travelling expenses would cost five time 3 more (at the least) than Mr. Haggitt would charge. The Crown Law Officers have their hands quite full of the General Government work — advising departments and drafting Aots — and could not possibly take in as well the routine work of the Crown Solicitor at Wellington. He ia the only Crown Solicitor who, even upon the New Zealand Times' showing, could be dispensed with. """"

A large quantity of interesting correspondence on the St. Andrew's Church difficulty and other subjects will be found on the fourth page of to-day's issue of the Evening Post. In reference to the proposal to postpone the Pahiatau land sale, owing to the date fixed clashing with the races, the question was submitted to the Government whether this would be practicable. The reply received is to the following effect : — As the law stands, it is not possible to postpone the sale of the Pahiatua Block until the 17th February. The sale must therefore take place on the date advertised, namely, 10th February, at Masterton. The reductions made in the assessment of property in this city and the Hutt County will not very appreciably affect the Budget this year, the total amount being £25,000, or a reduction in the revenue of a little over £100. The Wellington Reform Association held a meeting in their rooms, Dixon-street, last night, when a statement of the progress of Municipal affairs was brought forward. The laying down of larger mains in the principal streets ; the resignation of Mr. J. Barton, the Assistant Engineer ; the impropriety of the City Valuator actmg as General Government Valuator ; the unsatisfactory manner of watering the streets — flooding Lambton Quay, Manners and Willis-streets, and neglecting the principal Thorndon streets ; and the imperative necessity for lessening the legal expenses of the City Council, were among the subjects adverted to. Messrs. Laery, Campbell and Co. offered at auction to-day the privileges in connection with tho cricket match, Australians v. Wellington. The following are the names of the buyers and the prices realised: — Publican's booth under grand stand, Mr. H. Bennett, £28; right to erect a publican's booth, Mr. H. Bennett, £17 ; refreshment stall, Mr. Harris, £2; fancy bazaar, Mr. Boonstra, £4 ss ; scoring cards, sa— total, £51 10s. Mr. Watson, assistant master at the Terrace School, who recently received the appointment of head master of the new Te Aro School, was yesterday presented by Mr. Young, on behalf ef some of the Terrace School pupils, with an inkstand and album, as a token of their esteem. Mr. Young, the master, said they all felt deeply the loss of Mr. Watson, but at the same time, conld but congratulate him on his promotion. Mr. Watson replied in feeling terms, and remarked that he would always look back with pleasure to the years he had spent among them. The New Zealand Bradshaw for February ha 3 reached us as usual at a commendably early date, and is compiled with the customary care and accuracy. We throw out the suggestion that the maps appended to the books are no longer correct or reliable guides to the New Zealand railways and stations, but require considerable revision. " The Yankee Farmer" was repeated at the Academy of Music last night. To-night " Shin Fane " will be produced.

Mr. Henry Neal writes to us as follows :— "As I find a remark reported in your columns as having been made by me at the meeting of 6. North's creditors has been misunderstood, will you permit me to explain that when I spoke of ' pumping a relative of North's,' I did not refer to his brother, Thomas North, of Carlyle, who had nothing at all to do with the matter." The weekly return of Hospital patients shows that 4 pationts have been admitted, 5 discharged, and 1 has died -the first death in the institution this year. The number of patients is now 60—46 males and 14 females. The authorities acknowledge, with thanks, the receipt of presents of fruit for the patients from Mesdames Tarn and Tooley. Our readers are reminded that the last day for application for shares in the Hutt Industrial Company (Limited) is Monday next. The share list closes on that day. The charge against Henry Moore of stealing a kitchen range belonging to David Bell, was to-day formally called on at the Besident Magistrate's Court, and further adjourned until Tuesday nt-xt. Concerning the entertainment given by Professor and Madame Haselmayer, which opens at the Theatre Eoyal on Tuesday, the Australian and Sonthern Press publish very favourable notices. Among the specialities to which particular attention is drawn are — Psycho, the automaton figure, which plays whist and makes calculations, and does a number of other wonderful things ; the aerial bell, which also performs calculations in a mysterious manner ; the " Crystal Cabinet," &c. The Professor also gives interesting electrical experiments, and exhibits some extraordinary feats on the part of some performing mice and canaries. There was a moderate attendance of members at Thursday evening's meeting of the Wellington Gardeners' Mutual Improvement Society. The treasurer presented a balance-Bheet, which showed a balance in favor of the Society. The adjourned discussion on vine culture was again taken up, and concluded after a spirited discussion. Mr. Luckie's letter relative to St. Andrew's Church is unavoidably crowded out to-day, but shall appear, if possible, on Monday. Two of the publicans' booths (Nos. 3 and 4) for the Wellington Eaces will be resold by Messrs. Laery and Campbell, on Monday next, at 3 p.m., the original purchaser being unable to attend to them. Captain W. E. Williams, coal merchant, announces in another column a considerable reduction in the price of coal on and after the Ist prox. The announcement will be read with pleasure by most householders in the city. Mr. T. Myers notifies by advertisement that all pictures left for framing during the past year, if not cleared in fourteen days, will be sold. On Monday next, at 2.30 p.m., Messrs. T. Kennedy Macdonald and Co., will hold an important sale of landed property, full particulars of which appear in another column of this evening's Post. Mr. A. A. Barnett will hold an important sale of household furniture on Monday next at his auction room. About 100 vols. of modern novels and standard works will also be offered for sale. Mr. George Thomas will sell Nelson apples, pears, plums, greengages, and Hobart fruit, at Mr. Gandy's store, Greystreet, on Monday next, at half-past 10 half-past 10 o'olock, absolutely without reserve.

We are indebted to the Americans for a vast number of labor-saving domestic machines, one of which, the "apple parer," deserves special notice at this season. It saves waste of the apple by paring much thinner than hand, and in one-twentieth of the time. It can be procured at Robt. Gardner & Co.'s, Clearing Sale, Lambton Quay. — L-^dvt.] One Pound Free Gifts. — The proprietors of Wolfe's Aromatic Schnapps, to induce the destruction and prevent the improper use of their wrappers and labels, and thus further protect the public againts fraud and deception, have inclosed in the bottles, or under the label on the quart bottles, since Ist October, 1878, and continue to inclose in eveby day's packing THROUGHOUT THE YEABTHBEE £1 OBDEBS, which are drawn upon the undersigned, and which will be cashed by their agents. To secure these gifts, the public must be careful to ask for and accept nothing but the Genuine Udolpho Wolfe's Schnapps, with our name upon the top label. M. Moss and Co., Wynyard Lane, Sydney. — [Advt.]