Privy Council Criticises Fiji

Chief Justice

The English Privy Council, in allowing the appeal Mahadeo versus the King, on June 11, strongly criticised the ad ministration of justice in Fiji. It declared that the Chief Justice appeared to have treated the case as murder or nothing.

Their Lordships added that there were really no materials for a conviction for murder instead of manslaughter. The trial was so conducted as to exhibit neg lect of the fundamental rules of practice necessary for the safe administration of criminal justice.

Judge H. F. Ayson, Resident Commis sioner for the Cook Islands, returned to Rarotonga from Wellington by the Maun ganui on June 9.

Mr. A. Ayres, of Wellington, has been appointed dispensary chemist to the Gov ernment Hospital at Apia. He left New Zealand for Samoa by the Maui Pomare on June 16.