The Taranaki Herald.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 2195, 22 April 1874, Page 2

The Taranaki Herald.

PUBLISHED ON WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 18/4.

The Patea District furnished, with the exception of a purely formal application to the Supreme Conrt for the discharge of recognizances in the late libel case, the criminal and civil bnsiness of the Court at its oircnit sitting in New Ply month, on tho 20th aud 21st instant. One man, an unfortunate inebriate, whoshould have been dealt with on the spot as suoh, sent up for trial for his life for attempted suioido ; another man on a charge of arson, for which the depositions gave no pretext ; a third case, one of appeal against the decision of the Patea Bench in an A.B.C. oase of innkeeper's Viability, describe the three oases which have pnt fche Colony and numberless individuals to needless oost and inconvenience. Whilst on the subject, we may romark on the incongruousness and oppressiveness of the criminal law whioh allows costs to the prosecution but none to the defence. We have taken the trouble to read the depositions whioh in no way implicate the luckless individual commitled on the charge of arson, and, we are assured, had the case gone to trial, he must have been honourably acquitted. The grand jury, however, gave practical effeot to the address of his Honor by throwing out the bill. Witnesses for the defonoe attended from Hawera and Auckland, at serious inconvenienco, to cloar an innocent man, but they have to pay their own expenses. Each session of the Assombly produces a hoavy volume of statutes, but no law would apparently bo more just than one indemnifying individuals in honest defences. One can realise how a man without funds, and as likely without friends, might bo a victim to a charge affecting his liberty from inability to undertake a defence, particularly where, as in tho owe under notice it had to bo conducted a hundred milos from home.

Football. — Lovers of this manly game will be enabled to witnoss on Saturday next, at 3 o'clock p.m., on Poverty Flat, a contest between tho Taranaki Club and a country team (fifteen a side), which promises to be a most exciting match. There is no donbt bnt that a large number of spectators will be present, for whom the Committee has made every arrangement in the *ray of obtaining refreshments, Messrs. Clarke and Bun bury having promised to attend.' The respective teams are (Taraneki Club) — Messrs. A, Drew, R. J. Matthows, W. Cook, W. H. Skinner, N. King, R. J. Collins t L. McDouongh, E. Norris, C. W. Chtltnan, C. Moon, A. Hoby, S. Curtis, F. King, J. Ainslio, and J. Russell. Conntry Team (subjeot to alteration) — Messrs. G. W. Potts, R. Stevens, S. J. Cox, — Adams, J. Blake, C. Barriball, S. H. Barriball, J. Dingle, C. Cnrtis, R. Honeyfield, J. Canningham, G. Cunningham, G. D. Draper, R. Pitoaim, and G. Newman.