SUPREME COURT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 13306, 16 February 1914, Page 6

SUPREME COURT.

(Per Press Association.!

AUCKLAND, thjs day

Mr Justico Cooper, m the charge to the grand jury at the Supreme Court, _efei*red to the cmoparatively peaceful conditions that prevailed m Auckland during tho industrial upheaval, and to the wisdom of tho magistrates ,m closing the city and suburban hotels. The cases before the Court included only one arising from that - regrettable period. Ho believed the state of things was largely due to the action of the magistrates, as well as to restraint exercised by tho leaders of both sides involved m the struggle. The fact that liquor was kept out of tho trouble was a powerful factor m keeping quietness and preventing breaches of the law. Judge Cooper remarked that the number of cases before the Court was 29, which, considering tho extent of the Northern judicial district, and rapid increase of population and growth of the city of Auckland, compared quite favorably, with other centres of New Zealand m respect to absenco of serious crime.

At the Supreme^ Court) m the case of Minnie Ereewin, a young woman, charged with setting fire to a billiardroom at Huntly, Mr Justice Cooper said it had been represented that she was driven by ill-treatment from her home by her husband, betrayed by another man, and again led astray by the owner of the .billiard-room. It was an extreniely sad case. He did not want to send the woman to gaol. He placed her m the hands . oi the Solvation Army. Subsequently his Honor gave the woman some; advice privately, m the presence of counsel.