WELLINGTION NEWS NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 7896, 15 March 1887, Page 5

WELLINGTION NEWS NOTES.

[BY TELEGRAPH.— OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Wkllington, Monday. THE CONVICT HALL. The public mind here is much exercised upon the decition of the Judges of the Court of Appeal. I hare spoken with aeveral pereons just arrived from Christohuroh. who inform me that the public feeling amounts to something more than surprise. This attitude of the public mind is openly stated to be the consequence of the anticipation expressed by the presiding judge, who delivered the judgment, that such a feeling would be awakened by the conclusion arrived at. But those learned in the law treat the judgment with great respect, and regard it as a moot able exposition of the law as it at present stands. The suggestion that Parliament should pass an Act assimilating criminal oasee to civil cases in respect to granting a new trial does not fiud much favour. The decision is based upon the fundamental principles governing the law of evidence. There are all sorts of rumours here as to the possible action of the Minister of Justloe in reapeet to the state of the law in which such a decision could be possible. Epithets ot the most opprobrious kind are laid upon the wretohcd man who is still held in the public mind as guilty of the offence with which he was charged. The Post ban a long leader this afternoon, in which it makes tUe following extraordinary statement: "It requires gold to bring to light the hidden niceties and refinements of the law, and this oase of Hall's shows conclusively how very differently e»en the criminal law bears on a rich man as compared with a poor one. In this connection we feel bound to utter a word of warning as to the future. The same means and influences which have been used to save Hall's neofc from the halter will undoubtedly continue to be used in efforts to relieve him from the full performance of the sontence he is now undergoing for the atrocious attempt on his wife's life. It is a well-known fact that soon after the sentence was paeeed he openly and sanguinely stated that certain political changes were certain to take place within a few years whioh would result in a remission of his life sentence. The public, year after year, until that sentence expires by the convict being called to answer for his crimes before a Higher Tribunal, will have to watch vigilantly that chere is no further miscarriage of justice in regard to him. SALMON OVA. The s.s. Doric, due here to-morrow, has on board 330.000 salmon ova for the South. MINISTERIAL'MOVKMBNTS AND RETRENCHMENT. Tho Hon. Mr. Reynolds has gone South, [t is said that he has submitted to the Cabinet a schedule of reductions whioh he should like to see embodied in the estimates. This schedule, I am informed, includes the recommendations suggested in his evidence given last session before the Parliamentary Committee on legislative expenditure. He coneiderii that the honorarium paid to members of both houses should be subjected to the revision of Parliament, and that the salaries of officers should be applicable to work done in the recess as well as in session. As to the civil service, I understand he reoommenda reductions upon a graduated scale, according to the amouut of salaries at present received. The Hon. the Premier, it is said, will be in Auckland towards the end of next mouth, but I think his movements will be greatly influenced by the development of the political campaign which is about to commence. The Hon. Mr. Tola is still confined to his house. The ankle sprain which he has sustained is very severe. He if not likely to be »ble to attend to public business for another week or ten days. All the Ministers, i am informed, have been constantly engaged in considering what reduction the estimates for the respective departments admit of.