OTAGO BENCH,

Otago Witness, Issue 52, 15 May 1852, Page 2

OTAGO BENCH,

Wk attended at the Resident Magistrate's Court on Thursday for the purpose of reporting the proceedings of the Bench, but found the entrance to the mysterious abode of Justice guarded by a corporal of the police. We have, however, ascertained the following particulars of the proceedings :—: — The object of the meeting was to consider a communication from His Excellency the Gover-nor-in-Cliief relative to proclaiming Hundreds in this settlement. Present :— Messrs. Strode, Kettle, Valpy, Jeffreys, Williams, Todd, Cargill, Macandrew, and Reynolds. The Reporter for the " Otago Witness" applied for admission.

_Mr. Strode requested the clerk to read the minute of the last meeting, at which it was resolved to exclude the Press for ever from the meeting of the Bench.

Mr. Macandrew stated his astonishment at such a resolution, and as he had not been present at last meeting, moved " that the reporter benow admitted, the business of the meeting being of a public nature." It was seconded by Mr. Reynolds.

Mr. Williams expressed his intention of moving that the question be not put to the vote. The question was put, however, and lost, all the Justices voting against, with the exception of Captain Cargill, and the mover and seconder. Mr. Williams then, holding up the last number of the '• Otago Witness," asked Mr. Reynolds whether the statement of the paper, that he had furnished part of the report of the proceedings of last meeting, was correct ? Mr. Reynolds replied that it was, and that he reserved to himself the right of reporting the proceedings when he saw fit; whereupon it was moved by Mr. Williams, seconded by Mr. Todd, and carried by the same majority as before —

That the Bench are of opinion that Mr. Reynolds, in reporting the proceedings of their meeting O n Thursday the 6th inst., after a resolution had been passed by a large majotity that the Reporter of the 11 Otago Witness," should not be allowed to be present at their meetings, acted in a most irregular and objectionable manner.

Captain Cargill then moved, in furtherance of the business of the meeting, the following resolution :—: —

That application be nmde to His Excellency the Govemor-iu-Chief, to proi laim the Otago block (about 400,000 acres) as one or more Hundreds, and that the Pasturage Regulations of Ordinance Sess. 11, No. 10, be therein administered as one Hundred!

Seconded by Mr. Macaxdrew.

Mr. Williams observed that it was by no means certain as to the Association getting a charter ; and for his part he would prefer the matter to stand over. He then proceeded to write an amendment, but declined to read it; thereupon the motion was put to the vote and negatived by the same majority as before, Mr. Macandrew observing that the Association and its charter had nothing to do with this matter.

We propose in our next to give an account

of a meeting which was held some time since, but which we refrained from noticing at the time, as the case was not then completed.^ Our curiosity has also been raised to the highest pitch by a rumour that a communication has been received from His Excellency, which the majority intend to keep quiet and decide upon in secret.