NO BILLS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 139, 10 June 1909, Page 5

NO BILLS.

JUDGE PRESENTED WITH WHITE GLOVES.

After the Grand Jury was summoned yesterday, the Crown Prosecutor presented his Honor Mr Justice Cooper with a pair of white kid gloves as a memento of there being once a <yain, and for several times in succession, no presentments to place before the Grand Jury. The pleasure of making the presentation to his Honor usually devolved upon the Crown Prosecutor, but he pointed out 30CUlarlv that the absence of criminal cases was not remunerative to him. Blenheim, however, held pride ot place in the matter of white gloves, and it was a matter for congratulation that the people had such respect for the law. He did not think that the dearth of criminal cases was due to the police not doing their duty: in fact, he was sure that the police did not shirk their responsibility in any Mr McNab said that there had been no criminal cases before the Court for fourteen sessions in the past 32 years. His Honor congratulated the Grand Jury upon having %o bills to deal with," and also expressed his gratification at the absence of serious crime in Marlborough. Of • course, there had been certain cases of ordinary crime which had been dealt with by the magistrate, but it was unique that for three ordinary sittings of the Supreme Court in Blenheim no criminal charges had come before the Court; in fact, as Mr McNab had mentioned, there had been none for fourteen sittings for over 30 years. He mentioned that crime was steadily diminishing, and stated that at Palmerston North recently there had been no criminal charges, which was-the first time in his experience of that town. He was satisfied that the < police were doing their duty, and if there had been any crime committed the Court would have heard of it. Taking into consideration that Marlj borough was a large district- with a considerable -population, .and also, the fact that the Grand Jury for twerve months had not had a bill presented to.them for its investigation, it was a creditable reflection upon the residents of the district, and represented a very satisfactory state of affairs. He then discharged the Grand Jury, which was as follows.—-Messrs W. R. Allen, A. -E. Austin, L. C. Bartlett, R. J. Bell (foreman), J. Benning, H. V. Browne, H. .C. Cheesman, B. S. Clouston, J. J. Corry. A. L. Craven, G. L. Dodson, L. Griffiths, H. F. Hall, A. J. Maclaine; J. T. Mowat, W.'O'Brien, F. R. C. Priddle, J. R. Sharp, D. J. Wemyss, A. Wiffen, J. G. Wolferstan.