12 JANUARY 1884, Page 3

The compromise on the Ebert Bill, described last week, has,

it is said, been accepted by the Legislative Council. There was a momentary difficulty on the question whether, if no jury could be found, the Magistrite should try without one ; but this was settled by allowing the Sessions Judge, who, living at the principal station, can always find a jury, to try such cases, his powers of punishment being restricted, of course, to those of a Magistrate. The controversy has therefore ended, we wish we could say happily. The compromise, however, is not a good one, and can last but a few years.