Matters remained in this state of suspension till March 3, 1897, when the hearing of the case commenced. The following is an abridged report, culled from the columns of the Melbourne _Age_ of March 4 and 6:— LAWYERS AND JURORS—THE PONTING APPEAL CASE. CONDUCT OF COUNSEL AND SOLICITOR “HIGHLY INDISCREET AND IMPRUDENT.” MAJORITY OF THE COURT FAVOUR A NEW TRIAL. The Full Court, consisting of Mr. Justice Williams, Mr. Justice Holroyd, and Mr. Justice A’Beckett, yesterday commenced the hearing of an appeal by the plaintiff in the suit of Ponting _v._ Huddart, Parker & Co., Limited, against a decision by Judge Chomley refusing to grant a new trial of the action. The first ground of the appeal was that the jury, or some of them, did not act fairly and impartially; but were biassed or influenced by reason of the fact that they, or the majority of them, had had conversations with defendants’ senior counsel, Mr. W. T. Coldham, and the defendants’ solicitor, Mr. Gordon R. Stewart, with reference to the action and the matters in dispute therein. That three of the said jury were for a period of at least fifteen minutes drinking and smoking with defendants’ senior counsel and solicitor at the bar of Menzies’ Hotel, and conversing with them with reference to this action, such interview having been made by arrangement and appointment. That a written communication passed between one of the jury (McGregor) and Mr. Coldham, and the contents thereof were discussed at the Law Courts, and afterwards at Menzies’ Hotel, such communication having reference to a point in connection with the action, as to which McGregor had from the jury-box expressed himself as being unfavourable to defendant. That the learned Judge exercised a wrong discretion in refusing to grant a new trial on facts as detailed and set forth in the several affidavits filed in support of and in opposition to the summons. The other ground on which the appeal was based was that certain documents were improperly admitted as evidence at the trial. Mr. Leon, instructed by Messrs. Ebsworth & Wilson, appeared for the appellant plaintiff; and Mr. Box, Mr. Coldham, and Mr. Schutt, instructed by Messrs. Malleson, England & Stewart, for the respondent defendant. It will be remembered that in July last Ponting, the sole survivor of the wreck of the _Alert_, brought an action against the owners of the vessel, Messrs. Huddart, Parker & Co., Limited, to recover damages for injuries sustained by him as the result of the disaster. The case was tried before Judge Chomley and a jury of four, and resulted in a verdict for defendants. On August 20 last plaintiff applied for a new trial on grounds similar to those of the present appeal, but his summons was dismissed with costs.