THE MEIKLE CASE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIV, Issue 18, 20 July 1907, Page 6

THE MEIKLE CASE.

TO THE KOTTOB. Sir— l, with many others in this dity and throughout the colony, have been, and am still, sadly disappointed with regard to the delay with the case of Mr. ' Meikle, who was convicted and sentenced to seven years' penal' servitude in 1887. The finding of the Royal Commission appointed to enquire into tho case was made known on the 9th April b>st,- and not ono word appeared in tho Governor's Speech about the wrongful conviction of Mr. Mcikle. -It appears' clear that the libeity of the subject is a secondary consideration in this land of 1 boasted freedom and fnirplay. That a man should be wrongfully branded for marly twenty years a,> a convict is. a most serious matter, and should have been one of tho first thing* dealt with this session — his conviction should have been quashed and he should bo paid fair compensation." No, sum of money can fully compensate him and his family for the suffering and loss sustained. All England howled about Mr. Beck's loss and suffering ; he was nine years branded as convict, and he received £5000. Mr. Beck had no law suits to fight ; Mn Meikle has had to fight many, has suffered grievous injustice for over nineteen years, and it is yet unredressed. How long will the Government and Parliament of this colony neglect its urgent duty to this man? In the name of justice, I appeal to the beet and noblest in the consciousness of every member in the House — nay, more, I make the same appeal to every unbiassed member of society, to see to it that immediate steps be taken to do justice to Mr. Meikle, and theieby remove from {his colony ono of the darkest blots that could rest on any land professing to bo one of the leading lights of modern civilisation. I write aa a consistent and unfettered supportor of true Liberalism; I have no axe, to grind but that of fairplay, and sincerely trust that prompt action will be taken £o deal with tho case. — I am, etc., J.J. Wellington, 19th July, 1907.

West Australia is this year, for tho Orst time, exporting wheat. One hundred and sixty thousand bushels haveso far hecn shipped, and it is expected that the total surplus for lar.t sc.ison will bo over three-quarters of a million. Mrßsrs. A. E. Mcech and U. M. Bannehr (Sieluy, Mooch, and Co.) notify that they liavf. disposed of their general auctioiict'rinpf, laud and ' ostato business to Hiwr,. A, Treypn^'latc of Nelson) and R R Thompson. The new proprietor-, will Mill continue *ho business in the. old proi mises, under the old name, S;dev, Mcooh,