get Curtis back to his old place, some nonsensical stories about the superstition of the " Evil Eye," or what the Italians call malocchio, and cited instances of its pernicious effects upon friends of his o w n in Ireland. This information, so authenticated, seemed to make a strong impression upon the not usually simpleminded Magistrate. Whether it did so or not was never known, but, singularly enough, Mr. Hull so far relented on the ensuing Wednesday as to invite Curtis to offer an apology for his misbehaviour; which " J a c k " had-not the slightest objection to do, and so, with a gentlemanly caution to be better behaved in future, he was permitted to re-enter the Elysium, from which, like a fallen angel, he had been banished. OFFENDING ATTORNIES.
Now and then a legal practitioner would get into trouble through some sort of misconduct, ex. gra., appearing in a " state of beer" before their Worships, extorting money from a client, or using disrespectful language. S o m e of the Attornies of the time were the most arrant pettifoggers, though in the colony the profession has never been free from that species of bird of prey which profits by, if not battens on, everyone having the misfortune to be numbered amongst its clientele. T h e greatest rogues of them were hunted, through fear of Judge Willis, from the Supreme Court, but the large and small vermin ratted about the Police-office and watch-house on the look out for scraps or crumbs. Having only a trifle more law than honesty, bounce was often tried on, sometimes successfully, with the more timidminded Magistrates, but often a sad failure. I heard Major St. John one day order a drunken Solicitor out of Court, and tell him if he was not quick about it he would kick him out; and in one week after the same fellow so ignominiously evicted, returned "tighter" and cheekier than before, when the Major, happening to be in high spirits of another kind, considerately adjourned a case, in which the Bacchanalian was engaged, for a couple of hours to enable the " gentleman by Act of Parliament" to take himself over the way to Sibering's for a sleep, and a bottle of soda. T h e sinner, overwhelmed by the consideration shown him, hiccuped out his acknowledgment, and reeled off, but instead of taking his two hours' grace in seidlitz or balmy sleep, he wooed a different " Nature's sweet restorer," and if he did take half the Major's advice, and dip his lips in the soda water, its effervescing restorative potency had been well dashed out by a copious admixture of P.B. T h e result—"Half-seas-over," and the m o m e n t the Major caught a glimpse of " Staggering B o b " struggling to enter the sacred precincts, he roared at him to get out of his sight, commanding the constable at the door not to let him pass. T h e case in which the delinquent's valuable services were retained, was then called on, and so that justice might not be frustrated, the Major actually leant to the party done out of the fee, and pulled him safely through the difficulty. Attornies were often suspended by particular Magistrates for offensive expressions, and as there was a doubt whether a general suspension could be legally enforced, the offended official would simply decline to adjudicate in any case in which Mr. So-and-So appeared. O n one occasion the whole Bench struck against a particular Attorney. Attornies, as a rule, were the aggressors, and Magistrates bore with more impertinence than was becoming. O n e thing, however, must be recorded to the credit of the Justices, that no matter how outrageous the disrespect, they were always ready and willing to forgive the m o m e n t an apology was tendered. T h e suspended Attornies often bounced a good deal, and threatened an appeal to the Supreme Court, but cooler moments taught them that an apology was a cheaper and surer m o d e of putting matters right. For years the " T o w n and District" business was transacted in the one room in the old wooden store by assigning certain days of the week for each branch ; an arrangement unacceptable to the Territorial Justices, but there was no alternative, for they had no other place wherein to meet. A special meeting of the District J.'sP. was held on the 3rd March, 1845, Mr. James Simpson (then Warden of the County of Bourke), presiding, at which resolutions were passed, viz:—(a) in favour of separating the T o w n and District business, and (b) asking the Government tofitup an old abandoned gaol building in West Collins Street as a District Police Court. A memorial to such effect was transmitted to the Executive ; but nothing ever came of the movement, and the L a w Courts remained joint tenants of the Market Square Establishment so long as it continued such. Increase of business, the growing importance of the community, and the advancing infirmities of what was once Strachan's store, n o w wheezy and asthmatic, at length rendered it necessary that a suitable
