ANOTHER SCANDAL.

Colonist, Volume XIX, Issue 2280, 6 September 1877, Page 4

ANOTHER SCANDAL.

There is another scandal,-whichijwill; of course, bring up sundry rmemberSijto. ask questions and to move motion's.-. Theistory is thus told by the Post, and ■ has "reference to the Waha Maori libel•; case, now, being: tried at the instance ofthe.HoD.vH. Kusseli against the Government Printer^ >Mr fl. ; iN!v "Wilson, solicitor, of Napier, was being" examined, and Mr Macaasey.was eliciting,froml him the history of certain dee,da constituting the so-called "Honi JJiani flwindlei'' ; oMr "Wilson's demeanor bespoke the high-minded solicitor who would be no party'to anything Bhady or questionable. He had to explain why, in a certain transaction between, fche plaintiff and some, natives, the consideration being £500, two deeds had«been -executed' instead of a simple conveyances taain'elyya mortgage for £400, and;a conreyanceofithe equity of redemption for £10i,: Mr iWilHon. eaid very bluntly, "I prepared a. conveyance expreseing the. true consideration!, but Mr Eussell, acting at the suggestion of a gen tie-1 man well known in the profession,1 adopteda* rather ingenious device for evading the ;duty; under the .Native Lands Act to ;the amount; of £50, and a fresh conveyancewaa engrossed by Mr Eussell's clerk in lieuiof.itheVbne >I had sent." The witness.added that:hei'e'n-' tirely disapproved of this:clever idevioei i Im cross-examination, Mr Gonolly elicited^tnat the gentleman well known in the prbfenaion was Mr Dudley' "Ward. ;i Mr lObnnolly quietly remarked, "For the credit of> the profession, I am glad you-have mentioned, the name." His Honor said: "I presume, MrWikon, the duty under* theilStampilAct1. was likewise evaded?" To which the witness replied in the affirmative; .H^fHonor:: "VasMr Ward in practice at this tinie PV ; Mr Wilson: " No, your Hpnpr; he occupij3,d, then the distinguished position; he still fills, —that of District Judge." Themembergpfi the Bar exchanged significant jlooks^ and there was an expression of blank; astonish-! ment on the faces of many ia ,the CourV'htHi Z. EGratd. ; -., ; V;.; ; ''^\ it^-'.'-J