Hawke's Bay Herald TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1869.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 13, Issue 1095, 26 October 1869, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Herald TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1869.

At Christchurch, a few days ago, His Honor the Judge, si .ting in insolvency, adopted a course virhich, for the first time in New Zealand, has exhibited tbe laws relating to I mnkruptcy as something more than a dead letter, at least so far as the protect ion of the creditor is concerned. Hith erto the process of being "whitewashed," as it is technically termed, has been the simplest thiug imaginable. Money enough to pay tbe lawyer seemod to be the only desideratum. A few formal meetings, at which nobody attended, and, generally speaking, the process was completed. That, in these titmes of depression of property, many unavoidable cases of insolvency have occurred is undeniable. On the other hand, how many instances have presented themselves, even in Napier, where the insolvent, after incurri.ug debts in the most reckless manner, got his discharge without having his feelings hurt by any " impertinent " questions, and who then found lliimself, by some extraordinary process, in a position to J live comfortably, to build houses — even, it may be, to speculate in shares ! This state of thing;s, however, is at an end if all judges choose to interpret ! the law as Judge Gresson did. Two I cases came before him in one day, in neither of which was h e satisfied with the I conduct of the applicant. He accordingly, without more ado, suspended their certificates for two years, aud, upon the application of opposing counsel, withdrew protection in both casesrendering them liable, at the option of creditors, to imprisonment for that period.

Napieb Debating Club. — We observe that a society under this designation has been formed, and that an inaugural address will be delivered on the evening of Thursday next, by the Key. G. Morice. Native Lands Court. — It is intimated in a Provincial Government Gazette tbat the Native Lands Court will sit as follows : — at Napier November 9, and at Waipawa November 17. Wairoa.— J. G. Kinross, Esq., has been duly elected to represent the Wairoa district in the Provincial Council. His return was notified in a Provincial Government Gazette, published on Friday last. Nova Scotia, as we learn from extracts kindly sent us, and which we shall take an early opportunity of publishing, is indignant with England for its threatened withdrawal of Imperial troops, saying that the only possible danger to the Dominioh would be through Imperial quarrels — either with the United States on the one hand, or Ireland on the other. Preserved Meats.— -It will be seen, on reference to our shipping column, that two small shipments of Hawke's Bay preserved meats were made on Saturday by the Rangatira for Auckland. The Flax Mill of the Messrs. Nelson, is now, as we learn from the letter of a correspondent received last evening, in working order, and likely soon to originate a new export from Hawke's Bay. The communication referred to shall appear in next Herald. Napier Brass Band. — We observe that the Napier Brass Band announce a picnic for Monday next, the Ist inst., at Taradale, the rate of admission to be ls. and refreshments to be provided by Mr. Anderson, of the Duke of Edinburgh Hotel. The Band certainly deserve more real support than they have hitherto obtained, and we hope that a good attendance on Monday will to some extent repay them for the trouble they have taken. English Outward Mail. — The Chief postmaster is in hopes that another opportunity will offer for writing by the English Mail, viz., on Saturday next, by the return of the Rangatira ; but of coarse he would not be justified in making any authoritative announcement to that effect. Capt. Renner said that he expected to arrive on Saturday, in which case he would sail, on the same day, and, doubtless, catch the mail boat at Wellington.