Wanganui Herald. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 1886.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XX, Issue 5881, 17 April 1886, Page 2

Wanganui Herald. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 1886.

A NEEDED REFORM.

«—« — Every time the sittings of the Supreme Court are held here cases are sent for trial, which could just as -well have been dealt with in the lower Court if an alteration were made in the law to allow Resident Magistrates to deal with them, instead of sending them to the Supreme or District Courts for trial. Where the evidence is clear as to the guilt of the accused, and the property stolen is of small value, -we cannot see why such cases should be left for a jury to try, as there is no reason to suppose that the interests of justice would not be just aa well served by the R.M. being allowed to try such cases, and to sentence the culprit, if convicted, to a moderate term of imprisonment. The jury system was inaugurated at a time when the liberties of the people -were not so safe as they are in these democratic days, and when there was no outspoken newspaper press ever on the watch to prevent injustice being done, even to the humblest and least deserving subject of the Crown. That a lot of people should be taken from their avocations and compelled to act as jurymen in trumpery cases, is a real hardship, and serves no useful purpose now-a-days, and the system might with advantage be revised to this extent, that only the graver kinds of crime should be sent to the Supreme Courts for trial. At the present session of the Supreme Court, now being held in Wanganui, we venture to assert that there was not a criminal case tried which might not have been dealt with by the R.M. who committed the prisoners for trial, as they were of an unimportant character presenting no great difficulties. Then Eesident Magistrates are able to weigh evidence better than the average jurymen, and might safely be trusted to deal with cases of mere larceny, where the value of the things stolen did not amount to any very serious sums. The law points in such cases are so simple that they do not require the time and legal lore of a puisne judge to decide them, and the weighing of the evidence would be quite as efficiently, if not better, done by a trained magistrate than by an ordinary jury. Of course, in cases of grave offences against the properties or

the persons of the people, the prisoners should be sent before the higher courts fer triaK; but such cases are happily few in New Zealand, and exceptionally so in this part o£ the colony. If thu reform we have alluded to were carried out, the duties of jurymen would be graatly lightened, and no injustice done to anybody. We would like also to see oaths abolished in all our courts, and the punishment for giving false evidence made even more severe than at present. All that is wanted is an Act making it peual for any witness in a law Court to give wilfully false and corrupt evidence. No oath or affimation is necossary to ensure this being done, ii the law be made swift to punish anyone reckless enough to infringe it in the way mentioned. The most uneducated person would understand the danger of giving wilfully false and corupt evidencf| r r supprf esing anything material to the case *li3y were called upon to give their testimony in. Oaths and affirmations have not been found to lessen the crime of perjury, of which there is far too much j especially in cases between private litigants, as hardly a week passes in the R.M. Court that some one does not lie unblashingly on one side or the other, and not unfrequently on both. It is not easy to sheet such cases of false swearing home to the culprits, as it is generally in cases where there is no chance of the falsity of the evidence given being exposed, that the offenc6 occurs. An oath is administered in the belief that the person taking it has a moral nature averse to endangering his or her future state by a breach of it; but experience tells us the perjurers are not troubled with qualms of conscience of that kind, their only fear is of being found out and punished by the laws of man ; they have no sufficient fear of any other kind to keep them truthful ; it is, therefore, a waste breath to place them either on their oath or their honour. We know there, is a strong disinclination in the minds of our jurists to alter existing usages, which have lived so long that the world has gone past them, and demands a reform in many directions, particularly in the ones we have mentioned in the foregoing remarks, which may perhaps, ere long, bear fruit, and lead to a change for the better in the administration of justice. We hope so at all events.

Alterations and improvements having been made in the Herald office on the Quay, we have to inform our subscribers and advertising patrons that on and after Tuesday next the Avenue office will be olosed, and all business in future will be conducted at the Hbrald office, Taupo Quay. Mr T, Bußh announces a special show of drapery and millinery in hia window/a this evening. The latest addition to the Telephone Exchange, is Mr E. H. O. Suieted, Masonic Hotel, 173). It would appear as though a volunteer ball were to be held in the Drill Hall on Easter Monday after all. Preparations are now under way for this event, and so far there is every indication of the affair being successful. The New Zealand Tract and Bible Society have opened a branch establishment in the Avenue next to the Hbbald office. Mr Mathers hps charge of the agency, and havirig previously be*n ia Wanganui on the Bame errand, hi 3 customera will have an-oppor-tunity of renewing their acquaintance. We have to acknowledge the receipt of Part 111 of the statistics for 1885 issued by the Registrar-General. This section deals with Trade and Interchange, the figures relating to shipping, imports, and exports, wages, prices and Cußtoms*Revenue all finding a place in it. It seems well compiled, and nicely printed. The N.Z< Times Btatea that on Wednesday last Mr Ballanoe telegraphed that he had every reason to believe that ho had effected a permanent reconciliation between Tawhiao and the Government. Tawhiao has visited the Native Minister at Alexandra, and even dined with him. Tawhiao seems to have been very cordial, expressing a strong desire to live on terms of peace and friendship with the European race. The quince orop up the river seems to have been a very good one judging by the large quantities the Maoris have brought to town during the last week or two, Baveral tons of the fruit having been brought down and Bold at prices ranging from £d to Id per lb. For jam and jelly making they are a cheap fruit at these prices and careful housekeepers are now fully employed replenishing their atock of these preserves. Quince would can splendidly, if treated as skilfully as the Calif ornian tinned pears and other fruits, For the third competition for the City Rifles' trophy the following handicaps have been declared :— Parkes, McGonagle, Mooseman, Love, and Jensen, scratch; Briggs, King, and Laird, 2 points ; Wallace and Johnson, 3 points ; Spurdle, 4 points ; Reed, Thuaaton, Blythe, and Astbury, 5 points ; Dewson, 6 points ; Low, Brosnan, Jamieson, and Rowe, 7 points ; Henry, 8 points ; Pisken, Smith, Parker, Parkinson, and Bason, 9 points. All others not mentioned, 12 points. I It has been thought by some of his friends here that the body found at the Taiaroa wreck with a large sum of money is that of Mr James Ferguson, who is known to have had £100 on him to pay his expenses on his pleasure trip. Deceased was about sft B£in, in height, Bandy complexion, wore whisker?, beard, and moustache, had prominent features, was dressed in a grey tweed suit, and had on a pair of new lace-up bootai Deceased left two horses with Mr McElwain and told him to have them shod, ready to go back to Murimotu in a week from Friday, Referring to the meeting between Mr Ballanoe and Tawhiao, a press telegram Bays :— Too much importance cannot be attached to the proceedings of to-day, whioh have been more satisfactory than any of the previous meetings. The meeting of to-day has been perhaps the most important ever held with Tawhiao, and promises to be the most satisfactory. He is evidently moat desirous to be on friendly terms with the Government, and manifests the utmost confidence in the Native Minister; A letter haß been received by Mr Filmer from P. Doddy, dated Kihikihi, 13th April, in which the writer states his intention of stopping all prospecting till he can prosecute lub enquiries unfettered by the natives. At present he oannot move without being followed by natives, who insist that all gold obtained in prospects is theirs. Doddy believes that if he struck anything the natives would simply bundle him off the plaoe and then keep watoh over it themselves. He suggests that that the whole country should be thrown open under certain restrictions, J>ut under the present system he will not do any more work. He has found indications of gold in various places. A press telegram states that at a meeting of the Government Insurance Association yesterday, a resolution was carried to hand over the management of the association from the control of the policyholdera to the Government. All the nominated and official members voted for the motion, except Mr G< V, Shannon, a nominated member, who has resigned his nominated appointment, and offers himself for election in the interest of the polloyholders at the next general meeting, which takes place next month. Mr H. D. Bell, an elected member, voted for the motion. It ia understood that a resolution has been moved, That the appointment of Mr Driver be revoked, and this question will be discussed on Wednesday next.

Win Raploy, saddler, filed his petition in bankruptcy to-day. The caae Mitcheli v Richards having been r r ' ' Iml out of Court, epeoial jurors are noti* fled, by advertisement, that they are excused irom further attendance) Tho Advocate Bays Mr John Bennie, of Wanganu', has been trying to obtain barley in that distriot without any success. Some years ago he could easily secure 9 supply of 800 bushels. He has now had to charter the b.b. W allnbi to bring grain from the South Island. Surely the Kangitikei and Manawatu farmers are unwise to thus allow money to go out of the district. In connection with the terrible Taiaroa disaster it may be appropriate to mention (says the Auckland Star) an instance of the wise forethought of the Union S S. Company. They require that every officer on their vessels Bhall have his life insured in the Governmeot Life Insurance Atsooiation, and one;third of the premiums are paid by the company, Captains and first engineers are required to hold polioies for at least £500, and officers of leaser rank for smaller sums down to £200, whioh is the minimum. \ The Navals are to be cougratulated on the fact that Mr Gifford Marshall has accepted the position of lieutenant rendered vacant by the promotion of Lieutenant Clspham. < That Mr Marshall means business it obvious from the fact that he has already taken steps to have his uniform ready by Easter, and he is now busily preparing himself for his duties. Mr Marshall is the right stamp of man to make a popular officer, while his gentlemanly bearing will do much to maintain the tone of the company. ; A Sacred Concert will be given in the school house at Okoia on Wednesday next, commencing at 7 30. An attractive programme haß boon arranged, and tho various items will be in the hands of performers j competent to Irender them effectively. Visitors from town may leave by the 4.15 train, and the concert will be breught to a oonclusion in sufficient time to allow them to return by the late train. The time from the arrival of the train at Okoia to the commencement of the concert will afford an opportunity of inspecting the Dairy Factory, which we understand will be thrown open for the occasion. In Mr Drew's window may be seen a handsome Past Master's jewel, whioh has been made to the order of the Tongariro Lodge for presentation to P.M. Bro. B. N. Manley. The jewel, whioh is of 18 carat gold, and excellently finished, is in the shape of an oval. It bears in raieed letters the words "Tongariro Lodge, 705, E.C." In the centre, on a blue ground and raised above these letters, is a square, and the usual Masonic geometrical problems Attaohed to the jewel is a ribbon of a light blue color, and in the centre of this is placed a monogram made up of the letters " B.ft.M." On the reverse Bide of the jewel is the following inscription :-—" if resented to Bro. B. N. Manley, P.M., by the members of the Tongariro Lodge, 705, E.G., as a token of their esteem." While in Wanganui, Mr Manley was one of the most energetic officers in the Tongariro Lodge, and now that he is a resident of Wellington, this token of esteem from his Wanganui brethren in the Masonio fraternity, will serve to indicate that his friends here have not forgotten the warm interest taken by him in all matters appertaining to Masonry* In connection with the Taiaroa disaster, and the many mishaps of late years to steamers on the coasts of this and the neighbouring colonies, arises the reflection that, when the said coasts were hardly lit, or properly surveyed, few mishaps occurred, and that the old school of shipmasters rarely or ever got their vessels ashore. Men like Captain John McLean, formerly of the Aldinga and other steamers belonging to McMeokan, Blackwood & Co., and now in charge of the B.s; Victorian, trading between Melbourne and Adelaide never made such errors as lost the Otago, the Tararua, and the Taiaroa. The new school of steamboat masters is, we are afraid, a bad one ; there is too much dependence placed on the SDience of navigation, and not enough on actual experience and observation. It is all very well For a master to lay off a course, which, if rigidly kept to, will take the ship clear of all Hanger ; but experience tells us that the course given, and the one actually travelled over, are never identical, owing to bad steering, faulty compasses, and varying forces of current. The land is hugged too closely, leaving no room for an error to be made, without causing disaster. This should be put a Btop to, and masters warned against so dangerous a practice. In attempting to save six miles the late maßter of the Waihora Btruok a rock, which a less v§nture»ome man would have not steered within miles of. The error caused the Union Company some thousands of pounds, and might have caused a number of people their lives. The accidents to the Orient Company's Chimborazo and Sorata were of the same character, and the narrow escapes from total loss of the Ringarooma and the Takapuna go still further to illustrate our meaning, as they were all the outcome of the bad practice in question. On the Now Zealand coast especially, masters cannot be too cautious in thick and dirty weather, and should allow a safe margin for unforeseen causes of deviation from the proper course. Truth and Sobbbness. — What is tho beßt family medicine in the world to regulate the bowels, purify the blood, remove costiveness and biliousness, aid digestion, and stimulate the whole system ? Truth and soberness compel us to answer, American Hop Bitters, being pure, perfect, and harmleaa, See. Beware of packages of injurious stuff pur* porting to make genuine Hop Bitters ; also' preparations and fluids said to contain all the properties of American Hop Bitters. They spring up on account of the great popularity of the genuine, which is only put up in large Bquare-panel amber-coloured bottles, with the name "Dr Soule," and "Hopßitters " blown in the glass, and ia the best amily medicine ever made. Read.