DUNE DIN

(From Our Own Correspondent. ) i Another dull week is over ;in fact, no dull i has it been, that I shall be obliged to refer to matters that should have been noticed in ; my last letter, in order to supply the modi cum of news which is expected from me. ! On Monday last the legal fraternity hold ' another meeting with respect to the proposed alterations of the Law Practitioners Act. ! The principal matter discussed was the prac tice of persons, who, without having served under proper practitioners, practising in Ma gistrate's Courts in the country. The pro fession ie unanimous in its condemnation of the magistrates for countenancing these per sons appearing before them. The following resolutions were carried: — ''That in the opinion.) ;^th;s meeting it is inadvisable, both as regards the interests of the public and those of the profession, that legal business should be carried on by person, not qualified as barristers or solicitors of the Supreme Court of the colony ; and it is especially objectionable that articled clerks should be allowed to conduct business in the names of the solicitors to whom they may be articled, at places more than five miles from the places of business of such 1 solicitors. 'I hat in the opinion of this meet ing, legislation of a most stringent character is required to repress the illegal practices which li=vve been brought uuder the notice of [ the meeting." "That a committee (consist ing of Messrs James Smith and Haggitt) be appointed to prosecute with vigilance and effect, such inquiries as will lead to the pro secution and conviction of all persons who shall be shown to have been guilty of any offence against the Conveyancing Ordinance i and the Law Practitioners' Act." Some of the gentlemen present did not thoroughly agree with the first resolution, notably, Mr Haggitt, who did not object to solicitors sending up managing clerks of experience to conduct their business in the counti-y, and to be directly responsible to them. The best way, he thought, to prevent the continuance ' of the present state of matters, was to make it known to the public that neithei ar ticled clerks nor their solicitors, unless the latter were present, and superin tended some portion of the business, were entitled to be paid for their services. 