ALLEGED EVASION OF TEE CUSTOMS.

Evening Star, Issue 10341, 15 June 1897, Page 4

ALLEGED EVASION OF TEE CUSTOMS.

Among other matters dealt with by Mr Justice Oonolly in Chambers at Auckland Jesterday were two applications made pa ehalf of the plaintiff in the oases of Richard John Seddon v. G. Hannah, claim of £9OO and £6,480, for aliened fraudulent evasion of Customs duties. These cases were set-down for the coming sittings of the Court, and Mr Cooper (for Messrs Tole and M'AUjlter) applied for a postponement of the trial, and also&skod that tho hoard by a spools! jury* He said the prosecution had been unable to procure a person to translate, a number of documents in Arabic and Syrian bearing on the cases, and that a material witness was absent in Wellington. Mr Campbell, who appeared for the defendant, strongly objected, and submitted that in bringing an action of this kind the Grown should nave such evidence as would justify its course. The Crown should first have considered what effect the charges-would have. Mr Campbell read affidavits in objection to the postponement, in which it was claimed that the bringing of the charges bad damaged the defendant’s business, that delay would only make it worse, and that the documents in Arabic or Syrian did not seriously affect the case. Hie Honor pointed out that the affidavits that were filed showed the most important documents were in those languages. The explanation was said by Mr Cooper to be that there was a dispute as to which were the true documents. Mr Campbell asked His Honor if he did not think that the Crown should not have commenced the action without further consideration, but His Honor replied that be could not say, as there might have been a reason for summary proceedings. His Honor adjourned the cases to the July sittings, and a special jury, was agreed to by Mr Campbell. £2 2s costs were allowed in each case to the defendant. Mr Campbell asked if bail might sot now be given up. His Honor, however, said he could make no order in that matter.