JUDGE AND COUNSEL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13479, 2 July 1907, Page 6

JUDGE AND COUNSEL.

PRESS OF WORK AT THE

SUPREME COURT.

An irritating deadlock, brought about by exceptional circumstances, took place yesterday morning in connection with the civil business of the Auckland Supreme Court. Through the Calliope Dock case absorbing so much time, it was generally understood that Mr. Justice Denniston would have to go South to attend other engagements without dealing with any of the other cases filed for hearing. His Honor, however, arranged, after some difficulty, for the New Plymouth Court to be presided over by another judge, and decided to take the more pressing cases in""Auckland—cases in which delay meant hardship to the litigants. The result was that the counsel engaged in some of the actions were quite unprepared for the alteration made, and had to face the judge with explanations and apologies. Several cases were adjourned by consent for the next or following sessions.- In two other cases a counsel, who appeared in both, suggested that an adjournment be made till Wednesday. On being pressed for a reason why he could not get together his witnesses, who were resident in the city, before that day, he had to humbly and respectfully confess that he had not up to that time read through his briefs. "* His Honor was evidently surprised, and he administered a rebuke for office remissness.

Counsel pleaded that he never mastered the details of a brief until a few days before the hearing of a case. " But I'll go on with the action, if Your Honor compels me," added the penitent member of the Bar. "Well, I will compel you," promptly retorted the judge, with evident displeasure, at the unexpected interruption in his care-fully-made plans to get rid of some of the business. His Honor, perhaps touched by remembrances of his practising days, eased his sentence, and, no doubt, the embarrassment of the counsel, by asking him to, be ready by this afternoon. With a courteous " Thank you," counsel sat down relieved.

The only other case was mentioned, and counsel for the plaintiffs said he was ready, while his learned friend for the defence would be prepared in an hour. The Court accordingly adjourned for the hour, and when his learned friend for the defence appeared, blowing hard, and in a state of heat, he pleaded that it was the first notification he had had of the case being proceeded with, and added that he could not possibly be ready for a day or two. The Court was then adjourned till this morning.