AN EVERGREEN AUCKLANDER.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 714, 9 January 1903, Page 3

AN EVERGREEN AUCKLANDER.

THE OBSTRUCTION CASE,

Auckland, Tuesday. Prohibitionist Richardson is still in Evidence, and has been providing the papers with some entertaining dialogue. In tho course of the ease against him for obstruction, which was dismissed. Mr Richardson crossexamined Constable Shaw at some length as to a cab which witness said came down Victoria street, and could not get past owing to the crowd. He asked the witness to get his memory in order, a remark which drew a remonstrance from the Bench. Mr Richardson assured the Bench that he did not mear to .be insolent. After some further questions, witness said that he did not arrange for v the cab to come down. Mr Richardson then asked witness how' it was that he (defendant) was Summoned while other people who addressed public meetings were not. Witness said he did not know. The real reason that the proceedings were taken was that the street was block-

ed. Defendant: Were you instructed by anyone above you to watch Mr Richardson’s meetings ? Witness : No, I received no instructions whatever* Defendant: Then you acted entirely on your own initiative ? Witness : Yds. .. .. Defendant at this point said Ins a meeting was an advertised political j, meeting. . 7 c Defendant : Are you an abstainer . g Witness : No. a Defendant: Don t you think that v policemen should be abstainers . g His Worship objected to these ques- t tions, and deiendant replied that he might show that the police might t s work in the interest of the publicans. . Defendant continued to ask some•what similar questions to this but His Worship again objected, and atter a short argument Mr Richardson continued his cross-examination of the witness. , , .. After a while defendant asked witness if he knew that High street was blocked by a drunken crowd the day c after the'election. | His Worship again interfered, and reminded Mr Richardson that he was i in charge,of the Court, and that Mr s Richardson had to obey him. | Defendant: No, sir. . . ’ His Worship : You are not going to i make questions the occasion for tern- ■ pcrancc speeches. * am not going to let you or any other man use tins Court for oratorical purposes. Defendant then asked Witness whether the Salvation Army did not take up as much room in the sreeet . as himself. Witness said they did not. Constable McGorman corroborated the evidence of Constable Shaw. Defendant proceeded to question witness as to whether he was an abGainer or not, and how often no drank and whether he knew whether could get drink «* »££ pries hut His Worship told the wit ness’not to answer. Defendant persisted" but His Worship still refused to let the questions be answered, and said, “You are doing all you can to be convicted.’’ ... Continuing, witness said that the meeting was an orderly one. ca b came down slowly through t crowd The footpath was blocked, and there were ‘between three and four hundred people present. Defendant : Have yon any bias against me ? Witness : None whatever. Defendant: Have you any ledgo that I am regarded m the c c partment as an obnoxious sort of individual, Who ought to be Shifted out of Tho witness said he had no such

“f&d- proceeded lo g whether witness knew it U l> 1 could go round to a certain ' an Hi.fwS-ip told witness not to 1 Witness, continuing, said £K wS ‘delayed" until after the election.