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Typo: A Monthly Newspaper and Literary Review, Volume 4

[miscellaneous paragraphs]

We can scarcely imagine that any one (except proof-readers) ever reads « Hansard; » but, dry and unprofitable though it be, one may sometimes find a good thing in its pages. We accidentally fell upon such an item in No. 24, page 561. Mr Cadman, in the House, urged the Government to appoint more J.P.'s at Mercury Bay, and in support of his application read the following extract from a letter: « There is a great dearth of Justices here. Mr Clay, the only Justice, has gone to Whakatane for a short trip. On Saturday night there were three in the lockup: all of them had to be let go. One of them broke into the upper hotel on Sunday morning »!! One would think that, after an experience like this, the good folk of Mercury Bay would be the last people in the colony to ask for more justices. Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

In the House of Representatives Mr Withy asked the Minister of Justice whether he had seen a copy of the Northern Luminary, published at the Bay of Islands, and dated the 19th July, and whether he had read therein a report of an affiliation case, tried before the Resident Magistrate, and if so, would he cause an inquiry to be made as to how it was that such a case was heard in an open and crowded court, and whether he would endeavor in the interests of public decency and morality to prevent in future the publication of such details as were contained in the article alluded to.—The Hon. Captain Russell said he had seen a copy of the paper referred to, and the report of the ease was very disgaceful to the paper. The position was clear that the Resident Magistrate had ample power to clear the court if he thought fit, and it was inexpedient for the Government to interfere in these matters with the administration of a judicial officer.

It is with sincere regret that we note the death of Mrs Henry Heron, daughter of Sir William Manning, a well-known and highly-esteemed writer, who, under the signature of « Australie » (one of her Christian names), had contributed to nearly every important periodical in New South Wales. In 1887 a collection of her poetical pieces was published by George Bell and Co., London, entitled « The Balance of Pain, and other Poems. » Prom the five specimens selected from this work by Mr Sladen for his collection, it is clear that, as a poet, Mrs Heron's sentiment was better than her execution. Her descriptions of scenery are vivid and faithful, though somewhat encumbered by technical names, and both in her blank verse and rhymed pieces one often meets with a line of unmistakeable prose. One of her pieces in Mr Sladen's book, « The Explorer's Message, » is marked by genuine pathos as well as true poetry. With her prose work we are not acquainted. Regarding Mrs Heron, the Sydney Daily Telegraph says: « Her life was characterised by unselfish devotion to the interests of the suffering and necessitous, and in all her writings and actions she was animated by a high purpose that won for her the loving esteem of all with whom she came in contact. »