(Per. United Phess Association.)

New Plymouth, May 1. Judge Gillies th-s morning, in summing up in the case of alleged perjury against Nelson, re ferred to the unusual length of the case, owing to so much irrelevant and trivial matter being introduced into it by the defence. During the 14 years he had sat on the bench, in which time he had held circuit in every district in New Zealand, he had never seen a case spun out to such unprecedented length. He referred to the way the defence had been conducted, and re marked that if it gave counsel for defence (Mr Jellicoe, of Wellington) gratification to insult counsel opposing him (Mr Samuel, New Ply mouth), or the officers of the court, and even the court itself, theD he (the judgei was sure he (Mr Jellicoe) was ;welcome to such gratifica tion. He would not notice the matter fnr ther, as it was beneath contempt. Even such conduct should not influence the jury or himself. They had to judge from the facts alone. Nelson was acquitted without a stain on his character. A similar charge against M'Laughlin was withdrawn, after : the verdict returned by the jury in. Nelson's case. This was the outcome of four days' trial. Mr Justice Gillies ordered the signature of the deed of lease, Petrie to M'Laughlin, to be photographed in the interest of scientific in vestigation on the subject of forgery. The charges of perjury arose out of two witnesses swearing that the signatures were forgeries and two swearing that they were genuine. ■ ; ■

Timabu, May I. The criminal sessions were concluded this morning. An old offender named Percy A. Smith was sentenced to three years' penal servitude for burglary at the Melville Hotel. The last case—a charge of larceny by a hotel waiter of a £20 note found in a pocket book in the street—had to be adjourned till next session, one of.. the principal witnesses having levanted. /

MEETINGS OF CREDITORS.
