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Wanganui Herald, Volume IV, Issue 1221, 11 September 1871, Page 2

The Same Najii?, not the Same Person.—A case came oa in Court a few days ago under the heading of " W. 11. Sheparcl v. Walter Taylor," and was reported in our columns. We have been asked if the defendant was our old friend Mi* Walter Taylor of the limes, an impression which' we understand is pretty general. In justice to Mr Shepard, we think it necessary to state that the defendant in the action was one "Walter Taylor, a jockey, whom plaintiff sued for cash lent. Mclndowe v BioAMrsH ajjd Dale.— We are requested to explain that this case, in which the plaintiff was non-suited on Thursday last, was one of disputed account. Chiropody.-* The arrival of Mons A. Morel the skilful chiropodist and aurist will be hailed with delight by the martyrs to those troublesome and painful protuberances on the pedal extremities—yclept corns and bunions. Mons Morel brings with him the highest testimonials from Auckland and the Thames, where he has earned the gratitude and pocketted the fees of many of the worthy citizens of those places. Should M. Morel receive a liberal patronage, we may expect to see a great change in many of the denizens of the town ; their gait will be more upright, and instead of sour-crabbed countenances expressive of bodily agony at each step, jovial, good-tempered expressions will be more prevalent. Any one that effectually cures such troublesome afflictions as wo have above referred to, is a philanthropist of the highest rank.

"Wairoa Town Hall.—The progress at Wairoa, where settlors have been locating themselves in groat numbers since the late war on this coast, has exhibited one of the most satisfactory signs of the progress of the district. Our correspondent at Wairoa informs us that the new Town Hall Avhich has just been erected there, will be formally opened on the 20th inst. The Rev. Mr Ehnslio will deliver a lecture on the occasion (subject not yet known) for the benefit of the funds, to commence at 7 p.m. Service will be held every Sunday at 11 a.m. in the new building, which is to be placed at the disposal of a School, free of charge, when one is established. The settlers around Wairoa are some of the best in the colony, and the building which they have just finished is a record of their enterprise and spirit. It will be remembered t/iat when Titokowaru marched past Wairoa, the settlers clung to their posts, erected one of the best redoubts in the colony, and maintained the Queen's supremacy within three miles of the fatal Moturoa, until the conclusion of the war. We hope the Hall will be well filled on the occasion of the opening cere-

mo ny.

The Oountkh-Petitioit.—Mr Nathan assures us that he has sent a counterpetition to Wellington containing a "Teater number of names than vras on the original. If this is so, no other course is left than to petition again. Meantime the question of electing a Mayor is premature. This counterpetition has been enshrouded in a little mystery, which will be cleared up in a day i or Wo. Mr Smythies.—Mr Henry Smythies, sen., who was admitted an attorney in the Court of Westminster in 1833, but has, since December 1868, been suspended from legal practice in this Colony, is about, for the second time, (says the Cromwell Argus) to petition the Legislatue for redress. He complains that the Legislature has made an ex post facto law, and arbitarily deprived him of his rights, without instituting a fair enquiry—petitioner being able to prove his innocence of a crime imputed to him. The petitioner demands exemption from the act above referred to, and asks to be heard at the bar of the House.

Native Lands Couiit. — This Court has been adjourned till the 29th November next. The reason for this long adjournment, alike vexatious to European and native, has been explained to us as follows : —Judge Smith is compelled to hold a Court at Rangitikei before a certain date, which is close at hand for the purpose of hearing several adjourned cases of great importance. It is expected that they will occupy about ten days in investigation, and after that, another Court with similar cases will be held at Otaki. From there the Judge will proceed to Wellington, and will not make his appearance in Wanganui till the latter end of November next. The last Court held here previous to last week, was in July, 1870, some fourteen months ago. Since that time the cases have been accumulating, till no less than forty-eight applications were set down for hearing. Only five of the least important have been settled, and the remainder adjourned. The natives are terribly disgusted, as they have been looking forward to this Court for i many months. In one instance, out of many, that have come to our knowledge, the facts disclose a case of great hardship. The native owners of a block of land at Taupo, with the European lessees, have had their block surveyed some ten months back, everything prepared for the Coiirfc. The natives after coming all the way from Taupo and staying in town for nearly a fortnight, are now told that their case will not come on for hearing before November next. They reply that they will be planting then and cannot come; but all to no purpose ; Judge Smith is master of the position, and the unfortunate natives, and the still more unfortunate pakeha lessees, have to wait. It may be necessary that Judge Smith should have closed his Court on Saturday last, but is it impossible for him to come to Wanganui before Nov. next ? We also feel curious as to what Courts Mr Smith held in the long interval I between his visits to Wanganui. If he is so terribly overworked that Wanganui cannot be attended to of toner than 10 months, then it is high time part of the burden! should be lifted from his shoulders and another judge appointed. Courts should be held here not less than twice a year, as it would facilitate the opening up of the country. We trust Mr Smith will bestow I the light of his countenance much oftener upon Wangauui than previously, and that no more intervals of sixteen months will occur again.