Mr Chapman this morning applied for a special jury in the dummyism case. The Judge askod what precedent there was, and Mr Chapman mentioned the case of A.llan, accused of stealing amal gam on the West Coast last year, and of Cooper, the a&ylum warder, charged with embezzlement. The Chief Justice said there were special circumstances in both those cases. Mr Gully objepted, saying that it looked as though accused was anxious to have the benefit of a jury drawn exclusively from a class to which he belonged. After considerable argu ment, Chief Justice Prendergast said he would give his decision at 3 p.m. The Fire Brigade Bill, drafted by the Wellington City Council for submission to the Municipal Conference, provides for the establishment of Fire Brigade Boards and the gazetting of districts, such Board to consist of seven members, two ap pointed by the Governor-in-Council, two by borough councils, and two by insu rance companies, with the president ap pointed by the Governor. The Board to make regulations for maintaining a thoroughly equipped brigade, and regu tete the height of buildings, the nature of roofs, and for conducting houses of public entertainment, and providing escapes therefrom. The owners of un insured property to be made liable to the Board for expenses in protecting ie from fire, such expenses not to exceed one-fifth of the value of the property. The funds for the maintenance ot the brigade are to be contributed in equal proportions by the Government, borough councils, and insurance companies. The contribution of the latter is to be divided among the companies in proportion to their premium recipts for the year. The Chief Justice gave his decision this afternoon upon the application for a special jury in the case against Coleman Phillips for dummyism. He said that on looking into what authorities there were he had concluded this was a case in which a speciil jury might properly be granted on defendant's application, It was a kind of State prosecution, and was of an unusual character, and notwithstand ing the opposition of the Crown a special jury could be allowed. It must not, however, be understood that it was lay* ing down any general rule. The trial was previously fixed for the 17th instant.
