THE RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT AT AUCKLAND.

5

G.—No. 31a

And I ask this more especially as the Government is the only tribunal to which I can appeal. Since the time when I formerly communicated with the Executive upon the subject, I have had most serious cause for complaint against Mr. Beckham. In many instances in which I have been engaged as counsel he has given decisions glaringly wrong, especially in cases where there was no appeal, or where the matter was of so peculiar a nature that appeal would be practically useless. Among these cases, I would notice more particularly the cases of Eraser and Tinno v. Thorpe; an application made by me to settle the case on appeal of Moeller v. Casey and others ; an application made by me to withdraw certain moneys lodged in Court in the case of Ogilvie v. Campbell; Spray's case for perjury; the proceedings of the last licensing meeting in Auckland; the decision under the Winding-up Act in the case of Bucholz v. The Golden Crown Extended Gold Mining Company, Begistered. These, among others, are cases in which I was myself concerned, and I complain that in all of them Mr. Beckham gave wrong decisions, and behaved in a manner unbecoming a Magistrate or a Judge. Indeed at the Licensing Meeting he was guilty of conduct towards the other Justices and to the visitors in Court that would not be tolerated in any other Colony. Ho first made a statement which was not true as to a decision which he said the Bench had come to, and then, when contradicted by Mr. O'Borke —now in Wellington—and then by other Justices, he rose and (while I was addressing the Bench) retired from the place he occupied as Chairman, and left the Court. I complain against Mr. Beckham that he attempts to injure me in my professionalcharacter, and I state that he has given unjust and unrighteous judgments against my clients, and I ask that the Government will see whether I make false or true accusations. In more ways than one, Mr. Beckham's conduct on the Bench is becoming matter for public scandal: in relation to me and my clients, I assert that it is wrong. lam prepared to substantiate my charges, and I trust that the Government will give me an opportunity so to do. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Judicial Branch. W. L. Bees.