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SANDHURST.
PROM Ol'R OWN UURUIiSrONDENT.
21st January.
An adjourned mooting of tho local justices
was hold at the City Police Court this after
noon to tnko into consideration the reply
from the Attorney-General's department, re
ceived in answer to a communication for
warded by tho clerk of petty sessions on
tbe 14th inst., requesting to bo tnrnisned
with - information in reforenoo to "tho
powers of magistrates holding inquiries re
lating to tho causo of death in cases whore
investigation is necessary." Only thirteen
magistrates wore present, viz. : — Messrs.
Bayne (the mayor), Hayes, Connelly, Run-
dell, Edwards, Abbott, Buckley, Horwood,
Colin, Aspinall, Woodward, R. Clark,
M.L.A., Glover, and Dr. Boyd. Tho
answer recoived from tho Law department
wao as follows : — " The points upon whioh
advice was sought should have been stated.
I have seen Mr. Clark, M.P., ire., on the sub
ject, and he is now fully informed. (Signed)
B. C. Harriman. J5th January, 1878."
Homo discussion took place upon the nature
of the answer recoived, and an opinion was
very generally expressed that the department
must have known theuatureof theinformation
required, as similar questions were being
raised in all parts of the country, aud dis
satisfaction was also expressed that an answer
lrad not been sent direct to tho magistrates.
Mr. R. Clark, M.L.A., repudiated the idea
of being inailu the medium between tho do-
partninut and the bench of magistrates,
na suggested in -Mr. Harriroan's reply.
It wan then resolved — " Tbat the reply from
the Attorney-General's department be re
ceived, aud tbat the clerk of petty sessions
he instruoted to again write, stating that this
meeting regrets thnt the letter sent on the
14th inot. wnu not considered sufficiently
explanatory to enable the Attorney-General
to send a written reply fully explaining the
legal position of justices in' tho matter
alluded to." It wns ulso resolved, on
the motion nf Mr. R. Clark, M.L.A.,
"That tho clerk write to the Attorney-
General for liiB opinion ou the fol
lowing points : — 1st. Under what autho
rity or statute magistrates hold ma
gisterial inquiries into tho cause of death.
2nd. If magistrates havo power to sum
mon witnesses to give evidence in connection
with such inquiries other that medical
witnesses. 3rd. Have magistrates power to
order po»t marten examinations ! 4th. fn the
event of any suspicion being attached to
anyone connected with such inquiry, have
magistrates power to order the arrest of suoh
person, and, if so, py what means can it be
done? . 5th. Will the Attorney-General
afford any clerical assistance to magistrates
conducting inquiries as before mentioned,
and, if bo, to what oxtent ? Gth. Will the
magistrates he held harmless in any
action at law in connection with any case
that may he brought against them? 7tb.
Will the departmont reliove the magistrates
from any contingent expenses that may be
incurred in holding inquiries at a distance?"
Mossrs. Aspinall aud iHoldswortb wero re
elected as licensing magistrates, and tbe
meeting then adjourned until an answer to
tho ubovo queries is received from the At
torney-General.
22nd January.
The new State school in the Reserve was
opened to-day by the Minister of Education,
Mr. W. C. Smith. There was a gathering of
1240 children. Besides the' teachers and
children there were present the three mem
bers for Sandhurst, the mayor and Bevoral
councillors of the city, members of the board
of advice, and a goodly number of leading
oitizens. Mr. W. C. Smith was received at
the sohool building with much good feeling
aud cheering. After inspecting tbe school be
declared it open. A champagne luncheon
was afterwards partaken of at the oxpense
of the bond teacher, Mr. Cooke. Several
speeches were mado, all bearing on the'
utility of tho present Education Act.
Tlio detectives require an owner for a lady's
gold open-faced geneva watch, with gold dial
plate, iuund in the possession of a person sub- .
pected of having stolen it.
We havo received n copy of tho issue of W eeUty
JFf kome for November. "The number contains a '
variety of superior engravings and much excellent
reading matter.
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