THE COUNTY PETITION CASES.

Inangahua Times, Volume X, Issue 1527, 27 March 1885, Page 2

THE COUNTY PETITION CASES.

(To thk Editor Ikahoabua Times. Sib, — In common with many otbew I am constrained to feel pity for those who like Mr Charles Mirtin, and Mr Janes Lynch are compelled by circumstances to use their attainments in defence of such a cause as that »f County misgovenimrat. A desperate came, and the necessity of satisfying the spleen of clients who find , power -improperly gained and used at jengih slipping from their grasp, may sometimes compel from reluctant advo> cates expressions which in their ok] mer moments, and under other citcu instances, they would be the first to condemn. No doubt both Mr Mirfin and Mr Lynch would, under other circumstances, be the first to condemn — the one, the Herald leader of the 84th instant ; the other, the unmeasured language which fell from hie lips on m»re than one occasion during the hearing of the Election Petitions. The Herald leader of the 24th instant, is one of the moat shandies attempts which, I venture to think, has erei» been (Bade in the Colony to influence the judgement of a Magistrate in deciding a case which has been fully argued, and «pon which he has renewed his decision. Apart from the tisane of mtarepresentattons, baseless **- .sertionn. and bnd law which distfop nish the article, the fact that the cases which form its sul>juct are *uh jndire % will stamp it in the eyes of all right thinkini' men as one of those last shifts of Jesperat"- \ political wrongdoers, prepared tv ahjriuk

fretn n>» expedient to attain their object*. That it will fail t<» attain its evident purpo*c there is uo diubt, nod it it well that ■■> one Vas placed himself on a leTel wi h its author or inspirera by answering it. The e*i4 are in the hands of a Magistrate, in whose honesty of parpnee every confidence is renueta, and who, I feel assured, will not be tempted ta take either his law or his facts from the Herald 'eader. It only remains to exnrMi regret that the provisions of the R. M. Court Acts, do p.»t eiopiwer the Magtatrate to visit contempt of Conrt with the punishment which such conduct deserves. As for Mr Lynch, it is to be regretted that he to* in his recent utterances ha* yielded to the clamor of his influential connection to answer charges damaging an* true, by counter chaiyea disgraceful and false — to answer language severely measured by the circumstances, as proven, by language ridicnloosly exaggerated and inapplicable. However, Meatm Mirfin and Lynch are advocates— the public most bear this in mind, and when their nnf>r*n. nate connection has ceased, remenibefKsljr that one is a journalist of sach Con „»o--uuis standing and ability as to have been chosen by a section of the Tnangabua County Council as its official editor the ethe* a gentleman and a barrister the lustre of whose attainment* nt Stouev kirst and the Mi Idle Temple are only teiuporily dimmed ia public Kstitnatton by his unfortunate and perhaps too enthnsuntie advocacy c 4 which it) the <s«tiin*t^>o.'^_^ <if *J1 iiflaflftfif|lKSSQs Ts vie«re<Pa« a b»i "~~* cause. I am, etc., Reeften, March 9V\ I*WS.