SUPREME COURT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1201, 8 July 1884, Page 3

SUPREME COURT.

Wellington, July 7.

The Supreme Court criminal- sessions opened this morning, before Judge Richmond, who. referring to the calendar, said none of the cases were of a serious character. There was, however, one of an unusual nature, that of making false representations under the Marriage Act 1860. His Honor, addressing the Grand Jury, said that there was an urgent need of some reform in the Jury law. The right of the prisoner to challenge twelve was in his opinion excessive, and was continually abused, in such a manner as selecting as unintelligent a jury as possible. He did not refer to the Wellington district alone, but to every district in which he had sat; this abuse frequently led to a failure of justice. It seemed to him that the benefit lo be obtained by the amalgamation of Grand and Common Juries had been frustrated by the excessive right of challenge. Judge Richmond also said that the large number of the Grand Jurymen summoned pressed very hard cn the citizens. He hoped that some steps would be taken with reference to a reform. W. M. McDonough, for larceny, no bill. Afred Hawley, for attempted suicide, was convicted and discharged, on bis own recognisances. Robert McCarry was found guilty of larceny. Sentence was deferred. Christchurch, July 7.

The criminal sessions of the Supreme Court opened to-day. The Judge’s charge contained nothing of special importance. There are ten oases on the calendar.

Dunedin, July 7. Judge Williams, in charging the grand' jury, said that although the number of cases was in excess of the average, none were of a serious character, the majority being larcenies of a common-place description. The only special feature of the calendar was the number of females accused. James McGill and James McFarlane pleaded guilty of house-break-ing. The former was sentenced to six months, the latter, an old offender in Christchurch to three years.