THE VACANT JUDGESHIP.

Evening Post, Volume L, Issue 38, 13 August 1895, Page 2

THE VACANT JUDGESHIP.

«. The delay in appointing a successor to Mr. Justice Richmond on the Supremo Court Bench points to politioal intrigue going on. If fitness and fairness had been the only consideration, there would have been no exonse for delay. District Judge Ward would at onoe have bsen elevated to the Supreme Court Bench. But tho Premier seems determined iv this, as in many other cases, to give evidence of his utter -insincerity, and of hi* readiness at all times to sacrifice principle to exnedioncy. The Supreme Court Judgesbip, like other appointments, is to be jobbed, and made to serve politioal and personal ends. It is not a question of strengthening tho Benoh by tbe appointment of a sound lawyer whose judgments would command the rospeot of the legal profession and the confidence of. the general publio. It is not a question of providing for the puro and effioient administration of justice, but one of working points to suit politioal purposes. Never was there a period in the judioial history of the colony when thore wo.b a greator necessity for the appointment of a really strong Judgo — suoh a Judge as Mr. C. D. R. Ward has under aoting-appointment proved himself on several occasions to be. His qualifications being beyond question. Mr. Ward hai beon too long passed over. It will bo a publio scandal if ha is again ignored, and this high office made tho subjeot of politioal log-rolling. Rumour has it that tbe Attorney-General is likely to appoint himself, and that the Promior is quite willing, as snob a conclusion would facilitate other arrangements of a political nature. No doubt, according to English precedent, the Attorney- Genoral oan claim the appointment if he desires to. The rule and precedent are not adapted to colonial circumstances. In England the politioal office of Attorney General is a' most invariably filled by a man already eminent in his profession, nnd whose fitness for a Judgesbip would be admitted apart from bis political position. Tho Attorney-Generalship in tbo colonies is not always so filled. In the majority of colonial instances the ruin which givos an Attorney-General a right to any judicial vacanoy is generally more honoured in t';e broach than in the observance. Sir Patrick Buckley's beßt friands would be nnablo to honestly congratulate him ou bocoining a Judge of the Supreme Court. Tbe reading matter on the fourth page comprises reports of meetings of the Petono Borough Conncil and the Athletic Park Company, another interesting communication from tho clairvoyant who has favoured us on several occasions, notes on the Westport ooal industry, sporting news, a letter to the Editor, and the annual report of the City Missionary. An English parool post miil came to hand by the Ruuhine yesterday afternoon. The 1500 th oriminal case since tho beginning of the yfar was called this morning in the Magistrate's Court. The terms of office of the following members of the City Counoil will expire next month: — Councillor Anderaon (Thorndon Ward), Councillor Harris (Lambton Ward), Councillor Smith (Te Aro Ward), Councillor Penty (Cook Ward). The elections will take plaoe on the 12th prox. Two deaths took place daring the voyago of the Rnahine from London. The first occurred on Ist July, the victim being a saloon passenger (the Rev. C. Ewbank) who, with his wife, was bound for Adolaido. Mr. Ewbank was in the last stages of consumption when be joined the vessel. A seoondolass passenger (Miss J. Aberorombie), who was also going to Adolaido, died of consumption on the 31st July, lioth bodies were buried at sea. Some weeks ago a press cable mosaage was received in the colonies whioh was interpreted as conveying tho information that the Canadian Parliament hod passed a law providing for national Prohibition, Bubjeot to the opinion of the Privy Council as to its legality. Files now to hand prove that what actually took plaoe was that the Dominion House of Commons passed a resolution to tho effect stated, coupled with an amendment that "no attempt to givo legislative effeot to the proposal embodied in the resolution shonld bo made until the opinion of tho Imperial Privy Council hod been obtained as to the right of tho Dominion to enaot suoh a law." Mrs. Ballanoe, widow of the late Hon. J. Ballance, returned from England by the Ruahine yesterday. Mr. Torke, a representative of a large Manchester produce establishment, was also a passenger. Mr. George Hunter has already announced his intention of again contesting the Waipawa seat in Parliament at the general eleotion. The question of the maintenance of the northern end of Waterloo-quay was considered by the Publio Works Committee of tbe City Connoil last night, and it was decided to recommend that an offer shonld be made to maintain the quay in repair if the Governrnont will contribute half the present cost of putting it into a thoroughly good condition. The following resolution was passed by the Distriot Lodge of Good Templars last night: — "This Lodge approves the four proposals to be submitted to the electors aa provided in the Government Lioensing Bill ; all the provisions of seotion 7, for taking tbe licensing poll on general eleotion day ; the logical completeness of the soope given to tho distriot and the national no-lioenße vote ; the very satisfactory provisions for enforcing national Prohibition ; the abolition of bottle and New Zealand wine licenses, and ths prohibition of the sale of liquor to aboriginal native women— but maintains that the only equitable arrangement for the popular option voting will be to give every voter the option of voting for or against any one, two, or three of the four proposals; that the fixed minimum for reduotion should be much higher than 5 per cent. ; that no provision should be made for any inorease of the existing number of licenses ; that either a bare majority, or something mnoh less than a three-fifths vote, should be required to carry either distriot or national Prohibition ; and that in the event of a national vote for restoration of licensoß, a district vote should be also provided for upon the voting paper." About 7.30 o'olook lost evening the till of a fruiterer'B shop in Upper Taranati-strcet was bodily removed from the oounter to which it was fitted. The shop was lighted with gas at the time, and the owner's family was not off the premises. There was only about 8s worth of silver in the till. Two Maori prisoners — one convicted of forgery, tho other of horse-stealing— wera admitted to probation by Mr. Justice Conolly at Gisborne the other day. Tho despatch of the last expedition of 30,000 troops from Spain to Cuba to oope with tho insurrection whioh has been going on for some months past, has necessitated the chartering; of a number of merohant steamers for use as transports. When the Ruahine left England it was reported that the Shaw, SavilT, <fc Albion Company's s.s Arawa, late of the New Zealand service, had been secured for the purpose, and that Mr. Holmes, who had command of ihe Matatna on her last voyage to the oolony, was to be the Arawa's ohief officer. An example of olever and painstaking pen-and-ink work is to be seen in tbe window of Diederioh and Sons, Cuba-street. It ia a very large and handsomely-framed collection of sketches of W. E. Gladstone and other ohief supporters of Home Rule, there being altogether 21 portraits and sooneß, the whole done by means of pen and ooloured inks. The picture is the work of Mr. J. R. Ingram, of thia oity, who was engaged 16 weeks upon his task. The pioture will be sold by art union. The Pnblio Works Committee of the City Connoil deoided last evening to recommend that the use of the Basin Reserve should be granted to the Wellington Football Clnb on sth Ootober, aud to the Federated Trades Union on Labour Day (9th Ootober), both applications to be granted on the same conditions as last year. Play in the annual handicap tournoy of the Wellington Chess Club is now so far advanced that the following eight players oan Srooeed with the final tourney : -Seotion A, [essrs. H. Amadio and H. S. Cooks ; seotion B, Messrs. J. F. Ryder and C. T. Richardeon; seotion C. Messrs. J. Williams and P. Still ; seotion D, Messrs. C. Matthews and F. Kelling. Mr. R. C. Sim qualified for the final tourney, but haying been appointed Registrar of the Native Land Validation Court at Gisborne, his plaoe is taken by Mr. H. S. Cooks, the next high eat soorer in seotion A. The remaining 24 players drop out of the competition after playing their outstanding "games. Lady Stout has undertaken to present the prizes at the Wellington Rowing Club's sooial" in Thomas' Hall to-morrow evening. The musio will be supplied by Mr. Ciniino's band, and Messrs. Rowell & Sons will provide the snpper. '

The Imperial Institute Journal for June (to hand by last mail) contains tbe following pieoe of information :—" Tbe Imperial Government having conceded to New Zealand an extension of the Coinage Aot, that colony will, it is expectnd, undertake the coinage of its own money." It is the intention of Councillor Tatum to move *■) follows at the meeting' of the City Council on Thnrsday:—l. "That tho City Solicitor be instruoted to report as to whether the Wellington City Corporation lias power tD establish a Chinese quarter in this oity; if not, what atepß would bs neoesBary to obtain that power, and to oompel the Chinese to occupy suoh quarters as in Melbourne and in other large oentres, and that the Town Clerk be instruoted to write for information to the oitios whero Chinese quarters aro already established, Viz., Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane." 2 " That effect bo given to notioe of motion No. 18 V, viz., that five or six acres of Town Belt in eaoh ward be immediately fenced off and prepared for tree planting, and that the societies and citizens interested in tree planting be requested by letter to assist in planting snoh roservea. This morning the Hntt Connty Counoil, on tho motion of its Chairman (Councillor H Cook) placed on record " its sincere regret it the loss which the colony had sustained through the death of Mr. Justiao Richmond, and its high appreciation of his exalted oliaraotor and intrepid integrity, whioh have dono so much to elevate tho judioial Bonoh of .Vow Zealand." A letter of condolence was ordered to be sent to Mrs. Richmond and her family. The prisoner Plank, charged at the Supreme Court with the Grey town burglary, concluded his letter of instructions to his counsel as follows :—"Methinkß 'tis a strong point; many things will Buggest themselves to yon if —is non eel. Justitia fiat, ccelum mat." The Hutt County Council recently desired to close a disused road whioh ran along the bank of a small stream, but was prevented from doing bo by the Lands Department, because the road followed the course of a "river," and therefore the publio were ontitled to uso it. The Connty Counoil is now asking the Lands Department for an explioit definition of the word " river," so that it may know how to act. The fines imposed on Mcßsrs. Holmes and Elder for non-attendance as jurors at the Supreme Court yesterday have bwn remitted. | There are now 8G people in the Benevolent Home. While off Cape Farewell on the passage from Greymouth to Nelson, Capt. Dil'Lean, of tbe Mawhera, piokod up a log of timber 70ft by 3ft Gin, marked with the initials " W.H.," and towed it to Nelson. 1 The mails brought to the Bluff by the Waihora from Australia will arrive in Wellington on Friday. Tho following ladies have had charge of tho sonp kitchen in Courtenay-place since last report:—Mefidames Bannister, Hancox, Chappie, and Smith, and Miss Pinny. Donations of meat have been received from tho Gear Company and Barber & Co., a donation of money from a friend, split peas from Mrs. Pinny, and scones from Mrs. A. Reod. The conductors of the kitchen would be thankful if their friends would replenish the baker's shop. They are clean out of bread. It is understood that the negotiations are completed between tho City Council and the New Zealand Electrical Syndicate for lighting the oity by the use of steam-power at £4,10s per lamp per annum. Tbe neoessory additional plant has already been ordered by Mr. Sunkling-Baron by cable, and the now arrangement is to oome into force six months hence. The members of the Wellington Shorthand Writers' Assooiation met last evening at the Kdncation Board offices, and listened to a liighly-instruotive leoture by the Vice-Presi-dent, Mr. A. W. Kitson, on the " Litoratnre of Shorthand." After alluding to the earliest records of stenography, the lecturer described the processes for producing the numerous periodicals and books whioh aro now published in England, America, France, and Germany for the use of students of the art. A oordial vote of thanks to Mr. Kiteon concluded the proceedings. Blenheim papors record the death of Mr. C. MD. Fulton, of Bohally Farm, Sprinclands, a< ihu age of GO. Mr. Fulton had livod in tho Wairau distriot since 1852, and was widely known and respected for his sterling strength of oharacter and his kindly and hospitable nature. Yesterday afternoon a young man named Henry Collins, while under the influence of liquor, went down to Waterloo-quay, and seeing there an old man named Miohael ICindregan at work breaking atones, soized his best hammer, and threw it into the harbour, telling the man to pet it when the tide went out. Collins was arrested by Gunner Mitchell, and this morning appeared before Mr Martin, rf.SI., charged with drunkenness, and the theft of the hammer. His Worship fined him for drunkenness. In regard to the other offenoo, as Collins had been given an excellent character, and had offered to pay all expenses, bis Worship cautioned him not to " skylark" in the future, and ordered him to apologise to Kindrogan, and to pay for the hammer. Annie Johnston, for drunkenness, was fined 10s, or 48 hours' imprisonment in default. The weekly Forward Movement Peuny Readings entertainment was held last night. A first-rate programme was submitted, comprising songs by Mrs. Reid, Rev. W. A. Kvans, and Mr. Butterfield, recitations by Misses Year and Richardson, Master Gain, and Mr. Bntterfield. Miss E. Billman acted as accompanist. The chair was taken by Mr. D. Gain, who urged on the parents piesent to take to heart the terrible lesson of the Masterton tragedy. At tho close of the meeting three pledges wore taken. Mr. David Gacra, the well-known footballer, ia now a farmer at Kihikihi, Auckland. His services were not available to tha Auckland footballers for their present tour. Mr. Stoddart, who ban been conneoted with various of tbe Union Steam Ship Company's Bteamors, has resigned from the company's service. A sooial gathering in oonneotion with the Tailoresscs' Union was held at Thomas' Hall last n; gbt. It was the best yot hold under the Union's auspices. Fully 70 couples were present, inoluding Messrs. Rig<r, Jenkinson, and Jennings, M.L C.'s, the Hon. Mr. Carroll, and Messrs. Collins, W. Kelly, J. W. Kelly, R. M'Kenzie, ORegon, Heko, and Pinkerton, M.H.R.'s. An excellent programme was given, comprising songs by Misbos Frith, Carruthers, Lepper, Stirling, Mrs. Webb, and Messrs. Woodcock, Dunne, Coleman, and W. Hargreavoa, and a recitation by Mr. W. Naughton. Moastß. King (2) supplied the dance music, and Mr. E. J. King, jun., played th<s accompaniments. Mr. Allan Ward and F. Costello acted as M.C.'s. 'Mr. Mawson was caterer, acting under tha direction of the ladies of the Committee. Tho Committee of Management comprised the Hon. J. Rigg, Misses L. Playle, Newton, Luko, Christie, Austin, and Mesdames Wood and Skinner (Seoretary). There was a good attendance at the ooncert given in the New town Wesley an Schoolroom last evening in aid of the Churoh Debt Reduotion Fund. An excellent programme was provided, consisting of a duet by Misses Swiney and Ellison, a trio by Mrs. Riohardson and Messrs. F. Warren and Swiney, pianoforte dnets by Misses Swinoy and Tasker and the Misses Short, a flute duet by Messrs. Benbow and Wilson, a violin duet by Masters Ward and S. Danks, violin solo by Mr. Light, reoitations by Messrs. F. Costello, Haslam, and Tasker, and songs by Mosdamea Bell and M'Farlane, and Messrs Coulton, Sayor, J. Gamble, and Master Light. Many of the performers were encored. Mr. Short, sen., aoted as chairman. On 9th September a leoture will be given on " Bootetiology." The Dresden Piano Company has imported for the Scinde Masonic Lodge, Napier, a very fine Amerioan organ. The instrument has 14 stops, knee swell, and grand organ. It has five sets of roeds with ootave ooupler. Miss Gwen Daviea, Messrs. Maughan Barnett, A. F. Hill, and W. Turnbull, will be the performers at Mr. Maughan Barnett's fourth oonoert in the Art Gallery to-morrow. The programme will consist of songa and instrumental works by Sterndale Bennett, Grieg, Goring Thomas, Ries, Kes, Musin, Chopin, and Schubert-Liszt. The concert commences at 4 o'olook. The date of the annual concert of the Caledonian Society is advortiied in our columns. The concert is to be held under the patronage and in the presence of His Kxoollonoy. The Sooiety's ohorns, whioh inuludea a number of the best voices in the oity, will render items quite now to Now Zealand. The Karori Cricket Club will hold its annual general meeting on Thursday evening. All members are requested to attend. Members of the Orchestral Society are notified that a special meeting is to be held beforo the usual praotioe this evening. Every member ia reqnested to attend. The weekly praotioe of the Liedertafelwill ba held in the Art Gallery this evening. Scoullar ana Chisholm's monthly price-list for furniture, &c., is advertised on the fourth page. Freeman B. Jackson mil sell to-morrow, at Johnsouville, stock, frinoie Sidey and Co. will seU to-morrow, the standard-bred entire trotting hone Gtolden Kiug.