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Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 670, 11 June 1870, Page 2

The position of Judge Clarke is causing most contradictory reports, and we are constrained to say manv rumours—not at all creditable to the Government—lt seems, from a paragraph in the Grey River Argus of 9th instant, that a memorial was presented to Mr Fox upon his visit to Dunedin praying the appointment of a second Judge for Otago—that Judge to be Mr Dudley Ward. It seems that certain difficulties in reference to the claims of Mr Wilson Gray, a District Court Judge, senior to Mr Ward, led to the abandonment of that scheme. It appears, however, that the Government—it cannot be said by a foregone conclusion—at that time seems to have anticipated a vacancy at Hokitika, and hence we must account for the premature announcement in question. So far as we can ascertain, the enquiry held by Judge Gresson terminated against thrbse who made charges against Judge Clarke; and yet if we are correctly informed, some fresh enquiry, based upon the same matters is purposed, If this be so, we can only say that it is opposed to every principle of fairness, and attacks the very foundation of public and private safety. We have always understood, perhaps in error, that no one could be twice vexed for the same cause. If what has reached us be true, it will be our duty, as it will be the duty of all who value fair play and an observance of constitutional usages, to protest in no measured terms against such proceedings, and not only to protest, but to see also that the matter is carried as a grave question before the representatives of the people.