THE WARD-CHAPMAN CASE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XI, Issue 3997, 3 September 1874, Page 3

THE WARD-CHAPMAN CASE.

To the Editor of the Herald.

Sir, —Wo are continually hearing of the Ward- Chapman case, or scandal, as it is often called. With the exception that Judge Chapman gave a wrong decision about the production of some telegrams, I have not yet been able to make out why Judge Chapman's name should be mixed np with the business before the House called the Ward Chapman case. Those persons who are in the habit of reading the English law reports know how often they have to read of wrong decisions given by the judge, yet it is not found that a judge's name is connected with a scandal case, or that he is charged with partiality because lie has given a wrong judgment. Mr. Ward has charged Judge Chapman with having acted from wrong motives, but, with the exception of Mr. Fox, I do not think that Mr. Ward's opinions 011 any subject are eared for by the public. Judge Chapman may in this case have given a w r rong and hasty decision, but I have yet to learn that in some cases a judge may not have it in his ?owcr to order the production of a telegram. .From the maimer in which Mr. Fox has acted, I fancy that he must have 110 good feeling towards the judges. He evideutly wishes it to be understood that on account of something which has been done by one of their body, it is necessary that there should be an interchange of judicial circuit. You say, sir, that "it has never been doubted but that the fountains of justice in our higher Courts of judicature have run pure and undefiled. "it will be a very dark day for Xew Zealand if at any time this should prove to be the case. We may have a corrupt Government, but so long as the seaOs of jus. ce are pure very much wrong cannot be done. But if, from inferior abilities or insufficient stipend, our judges should be influenced by the Government of the day, then all the hopes of New Zealand becoming a great or prosperous nation must be abandoned. The inhabitants of this province will, 1 trust, never consent to th" : "

being left without a resident judge. We have, from apathy and waiit or energy, lost the influence we ought to have in political affairs. The time has arrived when it is absolutely necessary that the Auckland people should shew that they sometimes mean to have their own way. They must not allow all the gcod things to go to "Wellington. Wellington has already more than her share of them. She is never satisfied, but is always ciying out for more —more.—l am, &c.,

An Electoi:.