APPEAL COURT.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12506, 6 April 1909, Page 3

APPEAL COURT.

■ ""■ . ♦ ;.. - • THE ALLEGED BRIBERY OF A - LICENSING COMMITTEE. . : [United Press Association.] -" - . Wellington, April 5. . The. Appeal Court was engaged today with the appeal case of Cook and others versus the' Attorney-General arid Mr Justice Sim. Mr Skerrett,' K.C., Mr Baume.-K.G., and Mr M. Luckie appeared for the plaintiffs, and Mr Chapman, K. G., and Mr Findlay for the defendants. The plaintiffs were members of the Ohinemuri Licensing Committee in June,. 1900, and it Avas alleged that bribery was committed in connection with the issue of a li-' cense to a house at Waihi. On these allegations being - brought under the notice of the Government, a commission' was issued to Mr Justice~Sim oh the; 27th of February to inquire into the'-matteT.- The plaintiffs-" are now seeking to have the commission quashed, and to restrain Mr Justice Sim from proceeding with the commission. It is contended for the plaintiffs that theGpvernor-in-Council had no power to issue.a commission to inquire into an alleged criminal offence, and conse-quently-the issuing of the. commission was. illegal, and should be quashed.- : .'•;■ There was a full Court, with the exception of the Chief Justice, who is absent from the Dominion. The case is not finished. *