A Lively Little Breeze.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 54, 15 October 1887, Page 2

A Lively Little Breeze.

THE HERALD AGAIN.

Before the adjournment of the Native Lands Court yesterday morning, Mr Ward said that in justice and fairness, after what had been said by his friend on the other side, he must bring before the notice of the Court the report of the case that appeared in the Herald of the, previous evening. It was not customary in matters that are sub Judice to report them, and than with a heading like that—-“A peculiar ease; some very extra ordinary revelations,” &e. Mr Booth would remember there were no representatives of the Press present, sb that some person present must have supplied the report. It was both Impolitic and wrong for a newspaper to make such statements. Although the Court had not the powers in such a matter that a Judge ol the Supreme Court would have, it was onlv fair some reference should be made to the matter—it was not right such statements should be allowed to crop up and be sent away to different places. Once a thing was put in writing it was hard to eradicate the impression on the public mind, xhis was not fair criticism and was not proper, Mr Finn rj have read that report, and sav that every word of it is correct Mr Ward : Probably you wrote it. Mr Finn said that a deed of transfer put in hadnot been stamped. c

Mr Ward said that deed had only been borrowed, and it was now before the other Court to have the amount of duty assessed. He would not ask tor an order unless these deeds were in proper form. It WB9 e im P ; y a question ot duty. r J Mr Booth; The judgment of the Court will be that the order will be made subject to all duties being paid, and subject to the costs of commission. Mr Ward : Reference was made—< Mr Finn: A very good thing— Mr Ward; I— Mr Finn—Allow me, I am speaking to the Court. Only 23 shares—Mr Ward: 28|. Mr Booth then read the judgment of the

Mr Ward; My friend stated that the report Was correct. *

Mr Finn; I say it is, and will substantiate lb| tOO. Mr Ward: Does your Honor consider, this matter being sub Judice, this is a proper way to report it ?—>it is a reflection upon the Court and everybody connected with, and has evidently been instigated by parties interested, as there were no representatives of the Press present.

Mr Finn: Tnare are members of the Press present now-will my friend say one paragraph of it is not true ? Let him deny it. It was not reported that one woman was said to have been born in 1864 and the Court has said the woman was only 19 years of age. Xhere were some further remarks as to ” he » reflection had been made, when Mr Ward said: Mr Finn says there was nothing mentioned about stamp duty. Mr Booth: Oh, yes, there was. Mr Ward : When I put in the deed I said it was not yet passed. There was nothing hidden from the Court, and your Honor knows the matter is still before you as Trust Commissioner. There has been nothing hidden as implied by this paper. Mr Finu : I say there is no judgment. Mr Ward ; I wish you would Mr Booth : There were statements made. Mr Finn : When I was absent. Mr Ward: That was not my fault. Mr Finn : Potutu was fixed for ten o’clock. Mr Booth said it had been, but that as he had other business on he proposed toput it ofi, and some of the parties said they would be glad of taat, as they were not prepared to go on.

Mr Finn; Pocutu took seven minutes, Mr Ward: There again my friend is in error.

Mr Booth : The Court commenced at 10.30. Mr Finn ; I was here at a quarter to eleven. Mr Ward ; You did not come down in time, Mr Finn: I remember the Court adjourning because you were not here. Mr Ward: I admit my faults, Mr Finn. The Court might have shown some respect to me.

Mr Booth said he never objected to reporters coming there. At the same time as a report had been put in a paper he thought they should have had a representative there, who should have given the facts as declared. Mr Ward: If a reporter had been present this would never have appeared. Mr Finn : I say it is correct—the judgment of the Court has been written since that was published.

Mr Booth repeated that the judgment of the Court was subject to all stamp duties being paid.

There was a little further acrimony, when Mr Finn said they had not got the 231 shares yet.

Mr Ward: I think we will have it soon. Mr Finn got in the parting shot, with : It might happen in this Court—l quite agree with that.