JUSTICES DOING JUSTICE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 38, 17 January 1874, Page 9

JUSTICES DOING JUSTICE.

The following is an instance of the sad amount of ignorance of the way to perform tl « commoneff jfldiciul duties, on the part of a very large number of J. P's. in this colony. Lately, in the Resident Magistrate's Court, Dunedin, two estimable citizens, whose names appear on the Commission of the Peace, were endeavoring to (he best oi their ability to administer justice in place of Mr Strode, who ha 9 been called upon to take part in the enquiry respecting the wreck of the Surat. The defendant, in a case which was called upon, waff charged with havitfg obstructed a highway by ftrect-ng & fence across it. Evidence was taken on behalf of the plaintiff,- at the conclusion of whose case the Magistrates intimated their intention of delivering judgment. Counsel for the defendant, however, mude the happy suggestion that the defendant's ca^ should be heard before any decision should be arrived at. The hint was taken, And an apologj was tendered by One of the magistrates for the contemplated irregularity of procedure on the part of the Bench, with an explanation to the effect that the Bench had not been accustomed to deal with cases of that kind.