At the Oamaru Resident Magistrate's Court on Monday, before Mr Robinson, R.M., H. B. Crawford, solicitor, was charged with sending a packet through the post office containing jewel lery at less than the ordinary rates for such a packet. Mr Crawford made a statement to the effect that he was returning the watch to Wel lington, and to make the packet more secure he had obtained a small grain sample bag, and to make the case fit the bag better he had left some grain in it. It was not with the object of pass ing the packet as a sample of grain that he had done so, as he was not aware it the time that there was any difference in the charge for grain and any other kind of packet. He quoted from the act under which the information was laid to show that before a conviction could take place it must be proved that he bad knowledge that he was contravening the law. He distinctly denied that hfi had any knowledge at the time as to the rates of postago. Tho words printed on the bag had escaped his notice. He had written on the label "sample only "under the impression that all packets went under one general rate. His Worship said he must dismiss tho case, as it had not been proved that the de fendant had any knowledge that he was infring ing the law. It was tho general rule that every person should be held to know the law, but in the face of the specific terms of the act he could not do otherwise than dismiss the case.
